Fan chassis, fan unit, and communication device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9265175-B2
Application number	US-201214008039-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2012
Priority date	Mar 30, 2011
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

A fan chassis includes: a wall panel; and an upper panel that is connected to an upper end of the wall panel, and a lower panel that is connected to a lower end of the wall panel. A cross sectional shape of the upper panel and the lower panel is substantially U-shape. The wall panel includes a plurality of projections to be inserted into mounting holes of a fan. At least either one of the upper panel and the lower panel includes a through hole into which an upper end part or a lower end part of the fan is to be fitted. An inner dimension between the upper panel and the lower panel is shorter than an outer dimension of the fan in a vertical direction. The upper panel and the lower panel deform elastically in a direction in which the upper panel and the lower panel move apart from each other.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fan chassis comprising:
a wall panel; and
an upper panel that is connected to an upper end of the wall panel, and a lower panel that is connected to a lower end of the wall panel, a cross sectional shape of the upper panel, the lower panel, and the wall panel being substantially U-shape, wherein:
the wall panel includes a plurality of projections to be inserted into mounting holes of a fan;
at least either one of the upper panel and the lower panel includes a through hole into which an upper end part or a lower end part of the fan is to be fitted;
an inner dimension between the upper panel and the lower panel is shorter than an outer dimension of the fan in a vertical direction; and
the upper panel and the lower panel deform elastically in a direction in which the upper panel and the lower panel move apart from each other.

2. The fan chassis according to claim 1 , wherein either one of the upper panel and the lower panel includes a prong part that engages with the fan.

3. A fan unit comprising:
a fan chassis according to claim 1 ; and
a fan that is fitted on the fan chassis.

4. The fan unit according to claim 3 , further comprising:
a control circuit board that is provided parallel with the upper panel and the lower panel of the fan chassis, wherein the fan chassis further comprises:
a first insertion part that retains a first end of the control circuit board so as to restrict the control circuit board from moving in one direction; and
a circuit board retention part that elastically biases a second end of the control circuit board toward the one direction.

5. The fan unit according to claim 4 , wherein the fan chassis further comprises a second insertion part, the second insertion part having an upward opening, the second end of the control circuit board being inserted into the second insertion part.

6. The fan unit according to claim 4 , wherein:
the control circuit board includes a connector at the second end, the connector connecting a predetermined communication device and the control circuit board when the fan unit is inserted into a slot provided in a casing of the communication device; and
the circuit board retention part has an elastic force of retaining the second end of the control circuit board.

7. The fan unit according to claim 3 , wherein the fan chassis is formed from a single metal sheet.

8. A communication device comprising:
a casing including a plurality of slots;
a communication unit; and
a fan unit according to claim 3 ,
wherein the communication unit and the fan unit are inserted into the plurality of slots.

Assignees

• Yoshida Kazuki
• Miyamoto Sadaaki
• Nec Corp

Inventors

• Yoshida Kazuki
• Miyamoto Sadaaki

Classifications

• F04D29/646

  Mounting or removal of fans · CPC title

• H05K7/20581

  Cabinets including a drawer for fans · CPC title

• H05K7/20172 Primary

  Fan mounting or fan specifications · CPC title

• F04B39/14

  Provisions for readily assembling or disassembling · CPC title

• H05K7/20736

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title