Cooling fan kit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9801304-B2
Application number	US-201514639829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2015
Priority date	Mar 5, 2015
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

A cooling system for an automatic control component includes a frame. The frame includes a front side, a back side, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The cooling system also includes a stay coupled to the frame. Additionally, the cooling system includes a locking mechanism coupled to the front side of the frame. The locking mechanism is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position to secure the frame to a control module assembly. Moreover, the cooling system includes a fan positioned within the frame. The fan is configured to cool internal electronics of the control module assembly and the fan receives operative energy from the control module assembly. The cooling system also includes a printed circuit board secured within the stay and configured to receive power from the control module assembly and supply power to the fan.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cooling system for an automatic control component, comprising:
a frame comprising a front side, a back side, a first side wall, and a second side wall;
a stay coupled to the frame;
a locking mechanism coupled to the front side of the frame, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to move between a locked position and an unlocked position to secure the frame to a control module assembly;
a fan positioned within the frame, wherein the fan is configured to cool internal electronics of the control module assembly and the fan receives operative energy from the control module assembly; and
a printed circuit board secured within the stay and configured to receive power from the control module assembly and supply power to the fan.

2. The system of claim 1 , comprising a latching feature coupled to the frame, wherein the latching feature comprises a recess configured to receive a projection to block movement of the frame in at least two directions while the frame is secured to the control module assembly.

3. The system of claim 2 , comprising the control module assembly and a power module assembly configured to receive the control module assembly while the cooling system is installed within the control module assembly, wherein the projection is formed on the control module assembly and is configured to flex through the recess of the latching feature while the control module assembly is secured to the power module assembly.

4. The system of claim 1 , comprising a spring catch on the first side wall and a fixed catch on the second side wall, opposite the first side wall, wherein the spring catch is configured to drive the fan positioned within the frame toward the second side wall.

5. The system of claim 1 , comprising a release spring positioned on the back side, wherein the release spring is configured to drive the frame in a direction toward the front side of the frame while the release spring is compressed.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
an arm comprising a rotation feature configured to enable rotation of the arm about a rotation axis;
a first portion of the arm positioned proximate to the rotation feature, wherein the first portion of the arm is at a first longitudinal position along a longitudinal axis of the frame;
a second portion of the arm at a second longitudinal position along the longitudinal axis, the first longitudinal position being farther along the longitudinal axis relative to the frame than the second longitudinal position; and
a cavity extending through the second portion of the arm.

7. The system of claim 6 , comprising a pocket of the frame, wherein the rotation feature is positioned in the pocket and configured to move in a first direction and a second direction, the second direction opposite the first direction, to move the locking mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position.

8. The system of claim 6 , comprising a locking feature positioned on the arm, wherein the locking feature is configured to engage the control module assembly while the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

9. The system of claim 1 , comprising ribs extending from the back side of the frame, wherein the ribs are configured to facilitate alignment of the frame with the control module assembly.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stay comprises a first grip and a second grip configured to engage the printed circuit board such that the printed circuit board is substantially fixed to the frame.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stay is integral with the frame.

12. A system, comprising:
a control module assembly configured to control operation of an automated system;
an internal cooling module configured to engage the control module assembly, wherein the internal cooling module facilitates cooling of internal electronic components of the control module assembly;
a projection of the control module assembly, wherein the projection is configured to engage the internal cooling module and block removal of the internal cooling module from the control module assembly;
a fan of the internal cooling module, wherein the fan is configured to operationally engage the control module assembly such that the control module assembly provides operational energy to the fan; and
a power module assembly configured to receive the control module assembly, wherein the power module assembly is configured to drive the projection of the control module assembly into engagement with the internal cooling module.

13. The system of claim 12 , comprising a locking mechanism of the internal cooling module, wherein the locking mechanism rotatably and slidably engages at least one side of the control module assembly while in a locked position and the locking mechanism does not engage the at least one side of the control module assembly while in an unlocked position.

14. The system of claim 12 , comprising a latching feature of the internal cooling module, wherein the latching feature comprises a recess configured to receive the projection while the control module assembly is coupled to the power module assembly to block removal of the internal cooling module from the control module assembly.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the internal cooling module may be installed within the control module assembly without additional tools or fasteners.

16. A method comprising:
guiding an internal cooling module into engagement with a control module assembly with ribs of the internal cooling module;
rotating a locking mechanism toward an installed position, in which an arm of the locking mechanism is substantially parallel to a side of a control module housing; and
sliding the locking mechanism along a locking axis in a first locking direction and a second locking direction into a locked position such that the locking mechanism engages the side of the control module housing.

17. The method of claim 16 , extending the locking mechanism into a transport position, in which the arm is oriented substantially perpendicular to the side of the control module assembly while in the transport position.

18. The method of claim 16 , comprising overcoming a biasing force acting in a second direction, opposite a first direction, to operatively couple a fan of the internal cooling module to the control module assembly.

19. The method of claim 16 , comprising sliding the locking mechanism in a first unlocking direction and a second unlocking direction along the locking axis such that the locking mechanism transitions to an unlocked position from the locked position.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein moving the locking mechanism into a locked position comprises engaging the side of the control module assembly with a locking feature such that the locking feature substantially blocks movement of the integral cooling module in a second direction, opposite a first direction.

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Tio Donald Yuen Leong

Classifications

• F04D29/626

  Mounting or removal of fans · CPC title

• F04D29/4226

  Fan casings · CPC title

• F04D29/601

  specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F04D25/12

  the unit being adapted for mounting in apertures · CPC title

• F04D29/522

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title