Fan guard with flexible compression member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10436221-B2
Application number	US-201514626317-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

Example implementations relate to a fan guard device. One example fan guard device includes a frame to receive a fan. The example fan guard device includes a plurality of snaps extending in a first direction from the frame. The snaps engage the fan. The fan guard device includes at least one flexible member extending in the first direction from the frame to engage a flange of the fan. The flexible member may compress and remain in contact with the flange. The amount of compression of the at least one flexible member may accommodate a range of flange thicknesses of the fan.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fan guard device usable with a fan, the fan guard device comprising:
a frame including a flange receiving region to receive the fan;
a plurality of snaps extending in a first direction from the frame into the flange receiving region to engage the fan and couple the frame to a flange of the fan to apply a first pressure in a second direction;
a plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers to couple the frame to a chassis, wherein the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers are oriented perpendicular to the plurality of snaps extending in the first direction and positioned opposite each other with the flange receiving region disposed therebetween, and wherein the cylindrical pin receivers and the plurality of snaps are integrated with the flange receiving region of the frame; and
a flexible member formed from the frame and protruding from the frame to engage the flange of the fan and apply a second pressure in the first direction the flexible member being compressible to accommodate a range of flange thicknesses of the fan.

2. The fan guard device of claim 1 , where the flexible member is curved.

3. The fan guard device of claim 1 , where the flexible member comprises:
a convex outer surface; and
a concave inner surface.

4. The fan guard device of claim 3 , where the concave inner surface and the frame form a space therebetween for the flexible member to move into during compression thereof.

5. The fan guard device of claim 4 , where the space formed is enclosed by the concave inner surface of the at least on flexible member and the frame.

6. The fan guard device of claim 1 , where the amount of compression of the flexible member corresponds to the thickness of the flange of the fan when coupled to the fan guard by the plurality of snaps.

7. The fan guard device of claim 1 , wherein the fan guard forms the flange receiving region to receive the flange, where the flange receiving region adjusts in size based on compression of the flexible member.

8. The fan guard device of claim 1 , further comprising a second flexible member.

9. The fan guard device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers are disposed opposite each other with a space in which the fan is to be located interposed therebetween and a length of the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers comprises a gap therethrough.

10. The fan guard device of claim 1 , where the frame further comprises an electrical connector housing to couple to an electrical connector.

11. A system, comprising:
a first frame including a first flange receiving region to removably connect to one side of a fan, the first frame comprising:
a first set of snaps extending in a first direction to couple the first frame to a first flange of the fan to apply a first pressure in a second direction;
a plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers to couple the first frame to a chassis, wherein the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers are oriented perpendicular to the plurality of snaps extending in the first direction and positioned opposite each other with the first flange receiving region disposed therebetween, and wherein the cylindrical pin receivers and the plurality of snaps are integrated with the first flange receiving region of the frame;
a first set of flexible members formed from the first frame and protruding from the first frame to contact the first flange and to apply a second pressure in the first direction; and
the first flange receiving region formed by a fan guard to receive the first flange of the fan, where the first flange receiving region adjusts in size corresponding to the first pressure of the first set of snaps and the second pressure of the first set of flexible members, and

a second frame to removably connect to another side of the fan, the second frame comprising:
a second set of snaps extending in the second direction to couple the second frame to a second flange of the fan to apply a third pressure in the first direction;
a second set of flexible members formed from the second frame and protruding from the second frame to contact the second flange and apply a fourth pressure in the second direction; and
a second flange receiving region formed by the fan guard to receive the second flange of the fan, where the second flange receiving region adjusts in size corresponding to the third pressure of the second set of snaps and the fourth pressure of the second set of flexible members.

12. The fan guard system of claim 11 , where the first set of flexible members comprises a plurality of curved members, each curved member including a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface, where the concave inner surface and the frame form a space therebetween for the respective curved member to move into during compression thereof.

13. The fan guard system of claim 11 , where the first flange receiving region is disposed between the first set of flexible members and outward ends of the first set of snaps and the second flange receiving region is disposed between the flexible member and outward ends of the second set of snaps.

14. The fan guard system of claim 11 , where the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers are disposed opposite each other with a space in which the fan is to be located interposed therebetween.

15. The fan guard system of claim 11 , where the first frame further comprises an electrical connector housing to couple to an electrical connector.

16. A fan guard device, comprising:
a frame including a flange receiving region to receive a fan;
a plurality of snaps that extend in a first direction from the frame into the flange receiving region;
a plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers formed by the frame to connect the frame and the fan to a chassis, wherein the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers form edges of the flange receiving region and are oriented perpendicular to the plurality of snaps extending in the first direction, and wherein the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers are positioned opposite each other with the flange receiving region disposed therebetween, and wherein the cylindrical pin receivers and the plurality of snaps are integrated with the flange receiving region of the frame;
a flexible member extending in the first direction into the flange receiving region to engage a flange of the fan; and
an electrical connector housing formed by the frame.

17. The fan guard device of claim 16 , where the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers are disposed opposite each other with a space in which the fan is to be located interposed therebetween.

18. The fan guard device of claim 17 , where the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers are to couple the fan and the frame to corresponding pins in the chassis.

19. The fan guard device of claim 16 , where the electrical connector housing is formed outside of the flange receiving region.

20. The fan guard device of claim 16 , where respective longitudinal axes of the plurality of elongated cylindrical pin receivers extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, wherein a first end of each elongated cylindrical pin receiver couples to the chassis and a second end of each of the elongated pin receivers does not couple to the chassis.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Sauer Keith A
• Oliver Joseph
• Schulze James J

Classifications

• F04D29/601 Primary

  specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• H02K5/225

  Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132) · CPC title

• F05D2260/38

  by a spring, i.e. spring loaded or biased towards a certain position · CPC title

• F04D19/002

  Axial flow fans · CPC title

• H05K7/20136

  Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans (H05K7/202 takes precedence) · CPC title