US20150010391A1

US20150010391A1 - Fan assembly and air shield apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20150010391A1
Application number: US13/949,254
Authority: US
Inventors: Xiao-Feng Ma
Original assignee: Hongfujin Precision Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hongfujin Precision Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-05
Filing date: 2013-07-24
Publication date: 2015-01-08
Also published as: CN104279177A

Abstract

An air shield apparatus includes a bracket and a number of baffles. The bracket includes a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to the first side plate. The first side plate defines a number of first shaft holes, and the second side plate defines a number of second shaft holes aligning with the first shaft holes. Each baffle includes a blocking piece between the first and second side plates, and two opposite posts protruding out from two opposite ends of the blocking piece. The posts of the baffles are pivotably received in the first shaft holes and the second shaft holes. An inner wall of each shaft hole defines a helical guiding groove. A helical sliding portion winds around each shaft. The sliding portion of each baffle is rotatably received in the corresponding guiding groove of the first and second side plates.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to fan assemblies, and particularly to a fan assembly with an air shield apparatus.
2. Description of Related Art
Electronic devices, such as computers, use heat dissipation assemblies for dissipating heat generated by components therein, thus preventing the components from overheating. The heat dissipation assembly includes a number of fan assemblies blowing air to dissipate heat generated from the electronic devices. Each fan assembly includes a shell, a fan received in the shell, and a number of baffles. Two opposite sides of the shell define a plurality of shaft holes. Two opposite shafts protrude out from two opposite ends of each baffle. The shafts of each baffle are rotatably received in the corresponding shaft holes. However, the baffles are easily swayed by air blown by the fans, which causes the baffles to hit each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a fan assembly, the fan assembly including two air shield apparatuses.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of one of the air shield apparatuses of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but viewed from another perspective.

FIG. 4 is a partial, enlarged, and cutaway view of the air shield apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an assembled, isometric view of the air shield apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1, showing the fan assembly in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a fan assembly 100, which includes a shell 20, two fans 40, and two air shield apparatuses 60.
The shell 20 includes a front plate 21. The front plate 21 defines two circular receiving spaces 22 in the shell 20. The fans 40 are received in the receiving spaces 22 of the shell 20. An air outlet 212 is defined in the front plate 21 and communicates with each receiving space 22.
FIGS. 2-4 show that each air shield apparatus 60 includes a substantially rectangular bracket 62, a plurality of baffles 64, and a plurality of connecting members 66.
The bracket 62 includes a first side plate 621 and a second side plate 622 opposite to the first side plate 621. The first side plate 621 defines a plurality of mounting holes 626 along an inner surface of the bracket 62 and arranged along a lengthwise direction of the first side plate 621. The second plate 622 defines a plurality of shaft holes 624 that align with the mounting holes 66.
Each baffle 64 includes a substantially rectangular blocking piece 642 and two posts 644 oppositely protruding out from two opposite ends of a top side of the blocking piece 642. A helical sliding portion 646 winds around each of the posts 644.
Each connecting member 66 includes a substantially circular positioning portion 664 and a substantially circular latching portion 662 axially protruding from a side of the positioning portion 664. A diameter of the positioning portion 664 is greater than a diameter of the latching portion 662. The positioning portion 664 defines a shaft hole 666 extending axially through the latching portion 662. An inner wall of the shaft hole 666 defines a helical guiding groove 668, for receiving the helical sliding portion 646.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show that in assembly of each air shield apparatus 60, the latching portions 662 of the connecting members 66 are latched in the mounting holes 626 of the bracket 62. The baffles 64 are placed between the first side plate 621 and the second side plate 622, and the sposts 644 are aligned with the shaft holes 666 of the connecting members 66. The posts 644 are rotatably received in the shaft holes 666 of the corresponding connecting members 66. Thus, the baffles 64 are pivotably connected between the first and second side plate 621 and 622, and the sliding portions 646 are rotatably received in the guiding grooves 668 of the connecting members 66. A lower portion of the blocking piece 642 of an upper baffle 64 overlaps an upper portion of the blocking piece 642 of a lower baffle 64, thereby covering the bracket 60.
In assembly of the air shield apparatus 60 to the shell 20, rear sides of the brackets 62 are mounted on the front plate 21 of the shell 20, thereby allowing the baffles 64 to cover the air outlets 212 of the shell 20.
FIG. 6 shows that in use, as the fans 40 operate, the heated air from the fans 40 pushes the baffles 64 to rotate about the posts 644 to uncover the air outlets 212. Therefore, heat can be exhausted out of the air outlets 212. During this process, the sliding portion 646 of each post 644 is rotated in the corresponding guiding groove 668 of the connecting member 66. The sliding portions 646 frictionally rotate in the guiding grooves 668. Therefore, the blocking pieces 642 are slowly rotated to avoid the baffles 64 from hitting each other.
In another embodiment, the connecting members 66 can be omitted, and the guiding grooves 668 can be directly defined in inner surfaces of the bracket 62.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiment have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiment, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An air shield apparatus, comprising:

a bracket comprising a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to the first side plate, wherein the first side plate defines a plurality of first shaft holes, and the second side plate defines a plurality of second shaft holes aligning with the corresponding first shaft holes; and

a plurality of baffles each comprising a blocking piece placed between the first and second side plates and two opposite posts protruding out from two opposite ends of a top side of the blocking piece;

wherein the posts are pivotably received in the corresponding first shaft holes and the corresponding second shaft holes of the bracket, an inner wall bounding each first shaft hole defines a helical guiding groove, a helical sliding portion protrudes out from one of the posts of each baffle, the sliding portions of the baffles are rotatably received in the guiding grooves of the first side plate.

2. The air shield apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first side plate comprises a plurality of connecting members mounted on an inner side of the first side plate, the plurality of first shaft holes is defined in the plurality of connecting members.

3. The air shield apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first side plate defines a plurality of mounting holes aligning with the corresponding second shaft holes of the second side plate, the plurality of connecting members is latched in the corresponding mounting holes of the first side plate.

4. The air shield apparatus of claim 3, wherein each connecting member comprises a latching portion mounted in the corresponding mounting hole of the first side plate, and a positioning portion protruding out from an end of the latching portion, each first shaft hole is axially defined in the corresponding positioning portion.

5. A fan assembly, comprising:

a shell defining an air outlet;

a fan received in the shell and aligning with the air outlet; and

an air shield apparatus comprising a bracket mounted to the shell and a plurality of baffles pivotably mounted to the bracket to cover or uncover the air outlet;

wherein the bracket comprises a first side plate and a second side plate opposite to the first side plate, the first side plate defines a plurality of first shaft holes, the second side plate defines a plurality of second shaft holes aligning with the corresponding first shaft holes of the first side plate, each baffle comprises a blocking piece placed between the first and second side plates and two opposite posts protruding out from two opposite ends of the blocking piece, the posts of the baffles are pivotably received in the first and second shaft holes of the bracket, an inner wall bounding each first shaft hole defines a helical guiding groove, a helical sliding portion protrudes out from one of the posts of each baffle, the sliding portion of each baffle is rotatably received in the corresponding guiding groove of the first side plate.

6. The fan assembly of claim 5, wherein the first side plate comprises a plurality of connecting members mounted to an inner side of the first side plate, the plurality of first shaft holes is defined in the connecting members.

7. The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein the first side plate defines a plurality of mounting holes aligning with the corresponding second shaft holes of the second side plate, the plurality of connecting members is latched in the corresponding mounting holes of the first side plate.

8. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein each connecting member comprises a latching portion mounted in the corresponding mounting hole of the first side plate and a positioning portion protruding out from an end of the latching portion, each first shaft hole is axially defined in the corresponding positioning portion.