In-Series Fan Frame Assembly

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/572,457, filed Apr. 1, 2024, which is herein incorporated by reference.

The present disclosure relates to an in-series fan frame assembly, especially relates to an in-series fan frame assembly for disposing an axial fan impeller.

Generally speaking, electronic devices and products are usually equipped with fans to directly or indirectly dissipate generated heat. High-speed fans are usually used to achieve better heat dissipation efficiency, but their vibration frequency is also higher. A fan generates vibration when rotating at high speed, and the vibration is transmitted to adjacent devices to make noise, damage adjacent devices, and reduce the lifespan of electronic devices and products.

An in-series fan connects two fans in series through the fan frames of the two fans, respectively, such that the in-series fan has higher static pressure and air volume. In the prior art, the structural design of the in-series fan assembly generally utilizes the fastening structures of two fan frames for connection by rotating. However, the fastening structures with rotating design have complex, and require manual assembly. In addition, the fastening structures with rotating design are also difficult to separate the two fans, which may easily cause damage to the fastening structures.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an in-series fan frame assembly includes a first frame and a second frame. The bottom portion of the first frame has at least one extending structure including a first clasp. The second frame is located below the first frame and connected to the first frame in series. The top portion of the second frame has at least one sidewall engaged with the extending structure of the first frame. The sidewall includes a groove and a second clasp axially aligned with the groove. When the first frame is assembled to the second frame, the first clasp of the extending structure is guided by the groove of the second frame and then coupled with the second clasp of the second frame.

In some embodiments, the second clasp and the groove have a same central axis.

In some embodiments, the first clasp is a protrusion, and the second clasp is a recess.

In some embodiments, a bottom end of the first clasp has a first chamfered surface configured to slide through the groove to the second clasp.

In some embodiments, the groove has a second chamfered surface configured to allow the first clasp to slide to the second clasp.

In some embodiments, the second chamfered surface is located adjacent to an end of the second clasp.

In some embodiments, the second clasp has two chamfered protruding ribs opposite to each other, and the first clasp is positioned between the two chamfered protruding ribs.

In some embodiments, there is a step difference between the groove and the second clasp.

In some embodiments, a distance between an upper edge of the first clasp and a lower edge of the first frame is the same as a distance between an upper edge of the groove and an upper edge of the second clasp.

In some embodiments, a diameter of the groove is greater than a diameter of the first clasp.

In some embodiments, the extending structure extends from a corner of the first frame to the second frame.

In some embodiments, the extending structure of the first frame has a first recess adjacent to the first clasp, the second frame has a second recess adjacent to the sidewall, and the second recess is axially aligned with the first recess.

In some embodiments, the bottom portion of the first frame has the four extending structures located on four corners of the first frame, respectively, and the top portion of the second frame has the four sidewalls located on four corners of the second frame, respectively.

In some embodiments, the in-series fan frame assembly further includes a first supporting ring and a second supporting ring. The first supporting ring is embedded in an inner sidewall of the first frame. The second supporting ring is embedded in an inner sidewall of the second frame, wherein the second supporting ring is separated from the first supporting ring.

In some embodiments, the first supporting ring and the second supporting ring are fixed to the first frame and the second frame by insert molding, respectively.

In some embodiments, a material of the first supporting ring is different from a material of the first frame, and a material of the second supporting ring is different from a material of the second frame.

In some embodiments, the material of the first supporting ring and the material of the second supporting ring are metal, and the material of the first frame and the material of the second frame are plastic.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an in-series fan frame assembly includes a first frame, a second frame, a first supporting ring, and a second supporting ring. The bottom portion of the first frame has at least one extending structure including a first clasp. The second frame is located below the first frame and connected to the first frame in series. The top portion of the second frame has at least one sidewall engaged with the extending structure of the first frame. The first supporting ring is embedded in an inner sidewall of the first frame. The second supporting ring is embedded in an inner sidewall of the second frame, and the second supporting ring is separated from the first supporting ring.

In some embodiments, a material of the first supporting ring is different from a material of the first frame, and a material of the second supporting ring is different from a material of the second frame.

In some embodiments, the bottom portion of the first frame has the four extending structures located on four corners of the first frame, respectively, and the top portion of the second frame has the four sidewalls located on four corners of the second frame, respectively.

In the aforementioned embodiments of the present disclosure, since the second clasp of the sidewall of the second frame is axially aligned with the groove, when the first frame is assembled to the second frame, the first clasp of the extending structure of the first frame can be easily guided by the groove of the second frame and then coupled with the second clasp of the second frame, thereby improving assembly efficiency. Moreover, the in-series fan frame assembly having the first supporting ring and the second supporting ring can effectively reduce noise and vibration.

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper”, “axial” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

is a perspective view of an in-series fan frame assemblyaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure, andis an exploded view of the in-series fan frame assemblyshown in. As shown inand, the in-series fan frame assemblyincludes a first frameand a second frame. The bottom portion of the first framehas an extending structure. The extending structureextends from the corner of the first frameto the second framealong an axial direction. In other words, the extending structureextends in a direction D. An end of the extending structureincludes a first clasp. The first claspextends in a direction A that is perpendicular to the direction D. When the in-series fan frame assemblyis formed, the second frameis located below the first frame. The top portion of the second frameadjacent to the first framehas a sidewall. The sidewallis a concave structure and can be engaged with the extending structureof the first frame. The sidewallincludes a grooveand a second clasp. The second claspis aligned with the groovein the direction D.

In, each of the first frameand the second frameare used to further assemble a motor and an axial fan impeller. In this state, the rotating direction of the shaft of the motor and the axial fan impeller is the same as the direction D.

When assembling the in-series fan frame assembly, the first framecan be moved to the second framein the direction D and pressed down, such that the first frameis connected to the second framein series. Based on the foregoing design, when the first frameis assembled to the second frame, the first claspof the extending structureof the first framemay be aligned with the sidewallof the second frame. Thereafter, the first claspis guided by the grooveof the sidewallto slide in the direction D, and then coupled with the second claspof the sidewallof the second frame.

In some embodiments, the top-view shapes of the first frameand the second frameare substantially rectangular. The bottom portion of the first framehas the four extending structures, and the top portion of the second framehas the four sidewalls. In this embodiment, the four extending structuresof the first frameare located on the four corners of the first frame(i.e., diagonal endpoint positions), respectively, the four sidewallsof the second frameare located on the four corners of the second frame, respectively, and the positions of the four extending structurescorrespond to the positions of the four sidewalls(e.g., aligned in the axial direction), respectively, thereby improving the stability after the first frameand the second frameare connected in series.

In the following description, the extending structureof the first frameand the sidewallof the second framewill be explained in detail.

is a partially enlarged view of the first frameshown infrom another view, andis a partially enlarged view of the second frameshown in. As shown in,, and, the first claspof the extending structureof the first framemay be a protrusion extending in the direction A, the first clasphas a convex surface, and the bottom end of the first clasphas a first chamfered surface. The second claspand the grooveof the sidewallof the second framehave the same central axis C. That is, the second claspand the grooveare aligned in a vertical direction. The second clasphas a concave surface, and may be a recess. Furthermore, the groovehas a second chamfered surface. The second chamfered surfaceis located on an end of the grooveadjacent to the second clasp, and the dimension thereof generally expands downwards in the direction D. Through the above configuration, when the first frameis assembled to the second frame, the first chamfered surfaceof the first claspmay be guided by the grooveto abut against the second chamfered surface. Since the dimension of the second chamfered surfacegenerally expands downwards in the direction D, such that the first chamfered surfaceis guided by the second chamfered surfaceto allow the first claspto slide through the grooveand the second chamfered surface. After the first claspcompletely passes through a step differencedownwards, the first claspis positioned to and coupled with the second clasp. At this moment, the convex surfaceof the first claspabuts against the concave surface of the second clasp.

In some embodiments, a distance Hbetween the upper edge of the first claspand the lower edge of the first frameis substantially the same as a distance Hbetween the upper edge of the grooveand the upper edge of the second clasp, and the diameter of the grooveis greater than the diameter of the first clasp, and thus the first claspcan be smoothly guided by the grooveand truly positioned by the second clasp. After the first claspshown inis coupled with the second claspshown in, the structure shown incan be obtained.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the second clasphas two chamfered protruding ribsopposite to each other, and the first claspis positioned between the two chamfered protruding ribs. The chamfered protruding ribis a convex surface and extends along the axial direction, and is parallel to and adjacent to the first clasp. After the first frameis assembled to the second frame, the chamfered protruding ribcan improve stability in a horizontal direction (i.e., a radial direction). In addition, when the first frameis detached from the second frame, it is convenient for the first frameto horizontally rotate and slide the first claspalong the surface of the chamfered protruding ribbecause the chamfered protruding ribhas a chamfer, such that the first frameis smoothly separated from the second clasp.

In some embodiments, the extending structureof the first frameshown inhas a first recessadjacent to the first clasp, the second frameshown inhas a second recessadjacent to the sidewall, and the second recessis axially aligned with the first recess. Referring to, when the first frameis assembled to the second frameto form the in-series fan frame assemblyshown in, the first recessand the second recesscan define a through hole (e.g., a screw hole) for accommodating a fixing element (e.g., a screw) of the frame to facilitate locking.

It is to be noted that the connection relationships, the materials, and the advantages of the elements described above will not be repeated in the following description. In the following description, other components which may be included by the in-series fan frame assembly will be explained.

is a cross-sectional view of the in-series fan frame assemblytaken along line-shown in. The in-series fan frame assemblymay further include a first supporting ringand a second supporting ring. The first supporting ringis embedded in the inner sidewall of the first frame, the second supporting ringis embedded in the inner sidewall of the second frame, and the second supporting ringis separated from the first supporting ring. The first supporting ringand the second supporting ringmay be fixed to the first frameand the second frame, respectively, by insert molding. The material of the first supporting ringis different from the material of the first frame, and the material of the second supporting ringis different from the material of the second frame. For example, the material of the first supporting ringand the material of the second supporting ringare metal, and the material of the first frameand the material of the second frameare plastic. Through the configuration of the first supporting ringand the second supporting ring, noise and vibration of the running in-series fan frame assemblycan be effectively reduced.

In summary, since the second clasp and the groove of the sidewall of the second frame of the in-series fan frame assembly are axially aligned with each other, when the first frame is assembled to the second frame, the first clasp of the extending structure of the first frame can be easily guided by the groove of the second frame and then coupled with the second clasp of the second frame, thereby improving assembly efficiency. Moreover, the in-series fan frame assembly having the first supporting ring and the second supporting ring can effectively reduce noise and vibration.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those skilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.