Mechanically actuated safety compliant fan finger guard structures and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10309423-B2
Application number	US-201715611921-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2017
Priority date	Jun 2, 2017
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

A fan guard and method of use thereof. The fan guard includes a first lattice, the first lattice comprising a first lattice protrusion, a second lattice, the second lattice comprising a second lattice protrusion and an inclined portion, a catch, a tensioning element, a first end of the tensioning element operably attached to the first lattice protrusion, a second end of the tensioning element operably attached to the second lattice protrusion, the tensioning element applying a rotational force to the second lattice in a first direction, a bezel, the bezel including a bezel extension that extends substantially perpendicularly from a face of the bezel, wherein the bezel extension is configured to rotate the catch and an inclined plane extending from the face of the bezel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fan apparatus comprising:
a fan guard, the fan guard comprising:
a first lattice, the first lattice comprising a first lattice protrusion;
a second lattice, the second lattice comprising a second lattice protrusion and an inclined portion;
a catch;
a tensioning element, a first end of the tensioning element operably attached to the first lattice protrusion, a second end of the tensioning element operably attached to the second lattice protrusion, the tensioning element applying a rotational force to the second lattice in a first direction;
a bezel, the bezel comprising:
a bezel extension that extends substantially perpendicularly from a face of the bezel, wherein the bezel extension is configured to rotate the catch; and
an inclined plane extending from the face of the bezel, the inclined plane configured to contact the inclined portion of the second lattice and configured to apply a rotational force to the second lattice in a second direction, moving the second lattice from an alternate position to a first position.

2. The fan apparatus of claim 1 , wherein crosspieces of the first lattice substantially align with crosspieces of the second lattice when the second lattice is in the first position.

3. The fan apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the second lattice is in the first position, openings between crosspieces of the first lattice and openings between crosspieces of the second lattice are larger than the area proscribed in IEC 60950.

4. The fan apparatus of claim 3 , wherein when the second lattice is in the first position, openings in the bezel are smaller than or equal to the area proscribed in IEC 60950.

5. The fan apparatus of claim 1 , wherein when the second lattice is in the alternate position, openings between crosspieces of the first lattice and openings between crosspieces of the second lattice are smaller than or equal to the area proscribed in IEC 60950.

6. The fan apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bezel extension is configured to rotate the catch and contact the catch.

7. The fan apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second lattice further comprises a second lattice extension extending from a surface of the second lattice.

8. The fan apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bezel further comprises a bezel protrusion that extends from the face of the bezel.

9. The fan apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the bezel protrusion is configured to contact the second lattice when second lattice is in the first position.

10. The fan apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bezel extension extends a distance further from the face of the bezel than the inclined plane.

11. The fan apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the bezel extension is configured to rotate the catch prior to contact between the inclined plane and inclined portion.

12. A fan apparatus comprising:
a fan guard, the fan guard comprising:
a first lattice, the first lattice comprising a first lattice protrusion;
a second lattice, the second lattice comprising a second lattice protrusion and a second lattice projection;
a catch;
a tensioning element, a first end of the tensioning element operably attached to the first lattice protrusion, a second end of the tensioning element operably attached to the second lattice protrusion, the tensioning element applying a rotational force to the second lattice in a first direction;
a scissor arm, a first end of the scissor arm operably attached to the first lattice, a second end of the scissor arm operably attached to the second lattice projection; and
a bezel, the bezel comprising:
a first bezel extension that extends substantially perpendicularly from a face of the bezel, wherein the first bezel extension is configured to rotate the catch; and
a second bezel extension that extends substantially perpendicularly from the face of the bezel, wherein the second bezel extension is configured to rotate a portion of the scissor arm, the second bezel extension is configured to contact and rotate an angled portion of the scissor arm to apply a rotational force to the second lattice in a second direction, moving the second lattice from an alternate position to a first position.

13. The fan apparatus of claim 12 , wherein crosspieces of the first lattice substantially align with crosspieces of the second lattice when the second lattice is in the first position.

14. The fan apparatus of claim 12 , wherein when the second lattice is in the first position, openings between crosspieces of the first lattice and openings between crosspieces of the second lattice are larger than the area proscribed in IEC 60950.

15. The fan apparatus of claim 14 , wherein when the second lattice is in the first position, openings in the bezel are smaller than or equal to the area proscribed in IEC 60950.

16. The fan apparatus of claim 12 , wherein when the second lattice is in the alternate position, openings between crosspieces of the first lattice and openings between crosspieces of the second lattice are smaller than or equal to the area proscribed in IEC 60950.

17. The fan apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first bezel extension is configured to rotate the catch and contact the catch.

18. The fan apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second bezel extension extends a distance further from the face of the bezel than the first bezel protrusion.

19. The fan apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the first bezel extension is configured to contact and rotate the catch prior to the second bezel extension rotating the scissor arm.

20. The fan apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the scissor arm is comprised of a plurality of operably connected links that are configured to rotate in reference to one another.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Arenella Kenneth
• Campbell Levi A
• Ciraulo Christopher R
• Loparco John J
• Mullady Robert K
• Notohardjono Budy D
• Tsfasman Arkadiy O
• Werner John S

Classifications

• F04D19/002

  Axial flow fans · CPC title

• F04D29/703 Primary

  specially for fans, e.g. fan guards · CPC title

• F04D25/14

  and having shutters, e.g. automatically closed when not in use · CPC title