Variable height fan

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11240931-B1
Application number	US-202016931027-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 16, 2020
Priority date	Jul 16, 2020
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

An information handling system may include a processor, a memory, and a power source; a base chassis including an outer cover surface; a variable height fan including: a main shaft including a cavity formed centrally within the main shaft; a first set of fan blades operatively coupled to the main shaft; a slide shaft placed within the cavity of the main shaft where the slide shaft is operatively coupled to the main shaft to rotate with the main shaft; a second set of fan blades operatively coupled to the slide shaft; a biasing member to bias the slide shaft to extend out of the main shaft; and a contact point prominence as a rotational point interface with the slide shaft operatively coupled to the outer cover surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information handling system, comprising:
a processor, a memory, and a power source;
a base chassis including an outer cover surface;
a variable height fan including:
a main shaft including a cavity formed centrally within the main shaft;
a first set of fan blades operatively coupled to the main shaft;
a slide shaft placed within the cavity of the main shaft where the slide shaft is operatively coupled to the main shaft to rotate with the main shaft;
a second set of fan blades operatively coupled to the slide shaft;
a biasing member to bias the slide shaft to extend out of the main shaft; and
a contact point prominence as a rotational point interface with the slide shaft operatively coupled to the outer cover surface.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of fan blades are placed to fit between the first set of fan blades.

3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the contact point prominence interfaces mechanically with the slide shaft to cause the slide shaft to slide into the cavity when an outer cover is deformed.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of fan blades are slidably coupled to the first set of fan blades.

5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the slide shaft further comprises a spline that mates with a groove formed within the cavity formed in the main shaft.

6. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first set of magnets;
a set of electromagnets coupled to a non-rotating printed circuit board of the variable height fan to magnetically drive the first set of magnets; and
a fan module controlling activation of the electromagnets to drive the first set of blades.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , further comprising a bearing mechanically coupled to a housing of the variable height fan wherein the bearing allows the main shaft to rotate within a bearing cavity formed therein.

8. A variable height fan for use as a blower in an information handling system, comprising:
a housing to house the fan;
a printed circuit board (PCB) mechanically coupled to the housing;
a power source electrically coupled to the PCB;
and an electromagnet electrically coupled to the PCB and power source;
a bearing mechanically coupled to the housing, the bearing including a first cavity formed therein; and
a main shaft placed within the first cavity, the main shaft including a second cavity formed centrally within the main shaft;
a first set of fan blades mechanically coupled to the main shaft, the first set of fan blades comprising a set of magnets to magnetically couple with and driven by the electromagnet;
a slide shaft coupled within the second cavity of the main shaft;
a second set of fan blades that are
mechanically coupled to the slide shaft, where
each blade of the second set of fan blades are mechanically and slidably coupled to one of the fan blades of the first set of fan blades, and

a spring to bias the slide shaft to extend outwardly from the second cavity of the main shaft.

9. The variable height fan of claim 8 , further comprising a contact point prominence that interfaces mechanically with the slide shaft to allow the slide shaft to rotate and slide within the second cavity.

10. The variable height fan of claim 8 , wherein the slide shaft further comprises a spline that mates with a groove formed within the second cavity formed in the main shaft.

11. The variable height fan of claim 8 , further comprising:
an air intake vent to receive air into the variable height fan; and
an outlet air blower aperture.

12. The variable height fan of claim 8 , wherein the bearing is press fit into a hole defined in the housing.

13. The variable height fan of claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a top fan chassis and a bottom fan chassis mechanically and slidably coupled to the top fan chassis to allow the bottom fan chassis to move with the second set of fan blades as a force is applied to the bottom fan chassis.

14. The variable height fan of claim 8 , wherein the distance between the second set of fan blades and the housing is between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm.

15. An information handling system, comprising:
a processor, a memory, and a power source housed in a D-cover of a base chassis;
a keyboard chassis configured to have a keyboard mounted thereon and a C-cover configured to house the keyboard chassis in the base chassis;
a fan chassis mechanically coupled to the keyboard chassis;
a central bearing coupled to the fan chassis, the central bearing supporting:
a printed circuit board and an electromagnet physically and electrically coupled to the printed circuit board to drive the rotation of a variable height fan;

the variable height fan comprising:
a main shaft including a cavity formed centrally within the main shaft;
a first set of fan blades mechanically coupled to the main shaft;
a slide shaft slidingly coupled within the cavity of the main shaft;
a second set of fan blades mechanically coupled to the slide shaft;
a biasing member to bias the slide shaft to extend outwardly from the cavity of the main shaft; and

the D-cover configured to house the fan chassis within the base chassis, the D-cover comprising an exhaust vent to allow air flowing through the variable height fan to exit the base chassis.

16. The information handling system of claim 15 , further comprising a contact point prominence formed in the fan chassis to interface with the D-cover and the slide shaft to selectively compress the height of the variable height fan when force is applied to the number of vents of the D-cover while allowing rotation of the slide shaft.

17. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the second set of fan blades are placed to fit between the first set of fan blades.

18. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the second set of fan blades are slidably coupled to the first set of fan blades to limit rotational separation or vertical separation of the first set of fan blades relative to the second set of fan blades.

19. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the slide shaft further comprises a spline that mates with a groove formed within the cavity formed in the main shaft.

20. The information handling system of claim 15 , wherein the distance between the second set of fan blades and the fan chassis is between 0.4 mm and 0.6 mm.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• He Qinghong
• Zill Jay M
• Nicholas Ken

Classifications

• G06F1/20 Primary

  Cooling means · CPC title

• H05K7/20172 Primary

  Fan mounting or fan specifications · CPC title