FAN SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND METAL PLATE FOR FABRICATING THE SAME

Abstract

A fan support structure is integrally formed by bending a metal plate. The fan support structure includes a first plate area and a second plate area extended from a first edge of the first plate area and perpendicular to the first plate area. At least one through hole is disposed at the first plate area. The first edge of the first plate area and a second edge of the first plate area opposite to the first edge of the first plate are extended to form at least one slot structure. Directions in which the first edge and the second edge of the first plate extend and are formed are opposite to a direction in which the second plate area extends and is formed. Openings of the slot structure are opposite to each other. The slot structure is used to hold a filter screen.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 099224209, filed on Dec. 14, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a fan support structure and a metal plate for fabricating the same, and more particularly to a combined filter screen holding structure and a fan support structure capable of being configured with both a fan and a filter screen.

2. Related Art

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of placing a fan support structure into a network device in the prior art, FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a fan support structure configured with a filter screen in the prior art, FIG. 2B is a schematic front side view of a fan support structure in the prior art, and FIG. 2C is a schematic exploded view of a fan support structure in the prior art.

A fan support structure 2 in the prior art includes a fan fixing frame 21 and a filter screen holding structure 22. The fan fixing frame 21 is a shell-like frame for accommodating one or more fans 3. The fan 3 is fixed inside the fan fixing frame 21 in a manner such as by screwing or clamping. The filter screen holding structure 22 is configured at an opening of the fan fixing frame 21. The filter screen holding structure 22 is fixed on the fan fixing frame 21 by using a structure of the fan fixing frame 21 in combination with a screw joining technique. In order to maintain a smooth air flow, a plurality of through holes 211 is opened at a plate of the fan fixing frame 21 at an air outlet corresponding to the fan 3. A plurality of through holes 221 is also opened at an air inlet of the filter screen holding structure 22 corresponding to the fan 3. A rib 222 is disposed at the through holes 221 of the filter screen holding structure 22. In addition, a slot 223 is disposed at an upper part, a lower part, and two side edges of the filter screen holding structure 22. An opening of the slots 223 faces a center of the filter screen holding structure 22. A filter screen 23 is clamped on the filter screen holding structure 22 through the slots 223.

A front plate of network device 1 includes a frame placing hole, and a user may push the fan support structure 2 to place the fan support structure 2 into the network device 1. On the contrary, the user may insert a finger into a hook ring 24 of the fan support structure 2 to pull the fan support structure 2 out.

However, firstly, the fan support structure needs to be formed by two components, and the fan fixing frame needs to reserve a space to accommodate the filter screen holding structure, so that the space occupied by the fan support structure cannot be decreased, and the required members and materials cannot be decreased either, and thus the manufacturing cost of the frame cannot be reduced. Secondly, the fan support structure is formed by two components, so that a manufacturer needs to manufacture the fan fixing frame and the filter screen holding structure respectively, so that a manufacturing process cannot be shortened, and manufacturing hours cannot be reduced. Since the manufacturing cost and design hours cannot be reduced, the overall design cost is always high. Thirdly, since the fan support structure occupies certain space, and an accommodation space for configuring the fan support structure needs to be reserved in a device case, and thus the occupied space of an overall architecture of the device case is corresponding increased. Therefore, the fan support structure is applicable to large-volume network device (such as 2u-high network device), and cannot meet the delicate and miniaturized design target and demands for electronic devices, and thus the market competitiveness of the electronic device is impacted. Fourthly, since the fan support structure needs an additionally designed connecting structure or other connecting components to combine the two components, if the connecting structure is badly designed, hardware stability of the fan support structure is deteriorated.

Therefore, how to decrease the design cost of and the occupied space of a fan support structure with existing functions becomes a problem contemplated by manufactures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment of present invention is directed to a fan support structure and a metal plate for fabricating the same. The fan support is capable of holding a filter screen and mounting a fan simultaneously.

The embodiment of present invention provides a fan support structure, which is integrally formed by bending a metal plate. The fan support structure comprises a first plate area and a second plate area extended from a first edge of the first plate area and perpendicular to the first plate area. At least one through hole is disposed at the first plate area. The first edge of the first plate area and a second edge of the first plate area opposite to the first edge of the first plate are extended to form at least one slot structure, and directions in which the first edge and the second edge of the first plate extend and are formed are opposite to a direction in which the second plate area extends and is formed. Openings of the slot structure are opposite to each other. The slot structure is used to hold a filter screen.

The embodiment of present invention provides a metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure. The metal plate comprises a first plate area and a second plate area. The second plate area is disposed at a first edge of the first plate area. The first plate area is disposed with at least one through hole. A plurality of bent plates are disposed at the first edge of the first plate area and a corresponding second edge of the first plate area

The embodiment of present invention has the following advantages. Firstly, the filter screen holding structure is designed to be combined on the fan support structure, and a holding structure of a filter screen does not need to be designed additionally, so that the fan support structure is integrally formed by bending a metal plate, and thus the use of members is saved, and the manufacturing cost of member design and material use is reduced at the same time. Secondly, the fan support structure is already combined with the structure for fixing the filter screen, and thus the design and use of a filter screen frame is omitted, and the manufacturing process is shortened, the manufacturing hours are reduced, and the manufacturing cost and the design hours are effectively reduced, and the overall design cost is reduced dramatically. Thirdly, in the embodiment of present invention, the opposite slots are formed in the first plate area by bending, so that the filter screen may be fit into the slots and fixed on the frame. Since the filter screen holding structure is combined to the fan support structure, no space needs to be reserved for accommodating the filter screen holding structure, and thus the space occupied by the fan support structure is effectively decreased, and demands of required members and materials are reduced, and the manufacturing cost of the frame is reduced. Fourthly, the space occupied by the fan support structure is decreased, the accommodation space needs to be reserved in an device case is decreased accordingly, so that the space occupied by the whole device case is also decreased accordingly, or may be used for other purposes, thus the delicate and miniaturized design target and demands for electronic devices are met. On the other hand, under the condition of the same accommodation space, more functional components, circuits, and apparatuses can be configured, thus enhancing market competitiveness of the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of placing a fan support structure into a network device in the prior art;

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a fan support structure configured with a filter screen in the prior art;

FIG. 2B is a schematic front side view of a fan support structure in the prior art;

FIG. 2C is a schematic exploded view of a fan support structure in the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of bending of a first and a third plate areas of a metal plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a schematic view of formation of a filter screen holding structure of a metal plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4C is a schematic view of formation of another filter screen holding structure of a metal plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic plane view of bending of a first block area according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a schematic partial view of bending of a first block area according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a schematic view of bending of a first connecting area according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a front side view of an architecture of a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a rear side view of an architecture of a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of placement of a fan according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of placing a fan support structure into a device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is another schematic structural view of the metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9B is a front side view of another architecture of a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. For ease of understanding, an axis X-Y is used for illustration, a +X direction is a right-hand direction, a −X direction is a left-hand direction, +Y is an upward direction, and −Y is a downward direction.

A metal plate 4 includes a plurality of areas, and has a substantially rectangular first plate area 41 at the middle thereof. More than one through hole 411 is disposed in the first plate area 41. A rib 412 runs over each of the through holes 411. An example is used herein for illustrating, in which three through holes 411 of the same diameter are arranged in an X-axis direction. However, the number of the through holes 411 is determined by the number of pre-configured fans, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The rib 412 may run over the through hole 411 in a Y-axis direction, or the rib 412 may run over the through hole 411 in the X-axis direction. Furthermore, the number of the rib 412 is not limited to one, and is set according to requirements of designers.

A first edge 71 of the first plate area 41 extends to form a second plate area 42, which has a same length as the first plate area 41 and is rectangular. Openings 421 are disposed at the second plate area 42. The number and position of the openings 421 correspond to those of the through holes 411. A second edge 72 of the first plate area 41 extends to form a first bent plate area 43. A second bent plate area 44 is disposed at a portion of the first edge 71 of the first plate area 41 adjacent to the opening 421 of the second plate area 42.

A third plate area 45 is disposed at a corresponding edge 75 of the first edge 71 of the first plate area 41 at the second plate area 42. That is to say, the corresponding edge 75 is a common adjacent edge of the third plate area 45 and the second plate area 42. In this example, the length of the third plate area 45 is the same as that of the second plate area 42, and the height of the third plate area 45 is smaller than that of the first plate area 41, and thus the third plate area 45 is thin and long, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The height of the third plate area 45 may also be equal to that of the first plate area 41. The third plate area 45 may be used to dispose more than one fan fixing member 50 (the disposition is described later). The number of the fan fixing member 50 is determined according to the number of the configured fans. A connecting member 451 is disposed at two sides of the third plate area 45 respectively.

A third edge 73 and a fourth edge 74 of the first plate area 41 extend to form a first block area 46 and a second block area 47 respectively. The first block area 46 is at the left of the first plate area 41, and the second block area 47 is at the right of the first plate area 41. In this example, the length of the two block areas (46, 47) is approximate to the width (in the Y-axis direction) of the first plate area 41, and the width of the two block areas (46, 47) is approximate to the width (in the Y-axis direction) of the second plate area 42. An outer side edge 76 of the first block area 46, an opposite edge corresponding to the third edge 73 of the first plate area 41, extends to form a first connecting area 461. Accordingly, an outer side edge 76′ of the second block area 47, an opposite edge corresponding to the fourth edge 74 of the first plate area 41, extends to form a second connecting area 471.

Shapes of the first connecting area 461 and the second connecting area 471 may be the same or different according to the design demands. A connecting member 452 is disposed at the first connecting area 461 and the second connecting area 471 respectively, and the shape of the connecting member 452 needs to correspond to that of the connecting member 451 on the third plate area 45.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of bending of the first and the third plate areas of the metal plate according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4B is a schematic view of formation of a filter screen holding structure of the metal plate according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4C is a schematic view of formation of another filter screen holding structure of the metal plate according to the embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 3 together for better understanding. The description is herein performed in a cross-sectional manner in combination with a Y-Z axis.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of bending of the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45 along a section line P. First, the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45 are bent towards the same direction in a direction perpendicular to the second plate area 42, to make the metal plate 4 concave. The height of the third plate area 45 is smaller than that of the first plate area 41, so that the metal plate 4 is substantially L-shaped. In terms of FIG. 4A, both of the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45 are bent towards a +Z direction.

The first bent plate area 43 and the second bent plate area 44 are bent in a direction different from that towards the second plate area 42. In terms of FIG. 4B, the second plate area 42 is in a +Y direction of the first plate area 41, so all of the bent plate areas are bent towards a −Y direction. However, after being bent, each of the first bent plate areas 43 bends downwards to form a first slot structure 51; and after being bent, each of the second bent plate areas 44 bends upwards to form a second slot structure 52. In this case, both slot structures (51, 52) extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the second plate area 42 extends and is formed. In addition, slot openings of the first slot structure 51 and the second slot structure 52 are opposite to each other. All of the first slot structure 51, the second slot structure 52, and the first plate area 41 are combined to be a filter screen holding structure.

A difference between FIG. 4C and FIG. 4B lies in the being method of the bent plate areas. In FIG. 4B, the first bent plate area 43 and the second bent plate area 44 are bent twice to form the right-angle slot structures. In FIG. 4C, a first bent plate area 43′ and a second bent plate area 44′ are bent in an arc bending manner to form a claw-shaped first slot structure 51′ and second slot structure 5T with opposite slot openings.

FIG. 5A is a schematic plane view of bending of the first block area according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5B is a schematic partial view of the bending of the first block area according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5C is a schematic view of the bending of the first connecting area according to the embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 3 together for better understanding.

The first block area 46 is formed by extending the third edge 73 of the first plate area 41, and bending towards the third plate area 45, so that the first block area 46 is vertically disposed at an adjacent edge at the same end of the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45. The first connecting area 461 is further bent towards the third plate area 45 and is attached to an inner surface or an outer surface of the third plate area 45, and in this example, to the outer surface. The connecting member 452 on the first connecting area 461 joins the connecting member 451 of the third plate area 45, so that a designer can fix the first connecting area 461 to the third plate area 45.

Accordingly, the second block area 47 is formed by extending the fourth edge 74 of the first plate area 41, and bending towards the third plate area 45, so that the second block area 47 is vertically disposed at the adjacent edge at the same end of the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45. The second connecting area 471 is further bent towards the third plate area 45 and is attached to the outer surface of the third plate area 45. The connecting member 452 on the second connecting area 471 joins the connecting member 452 of the third plate area 45, so that a designer can fix the second connecting area 471 to the third plate area 45. However, in terms of appearance of the frame, a portion of the third plate area for configuring the connecting member 451 is capable of being bent inward, such that a surface of the third plate area 45 is smooth and consistent to those of the first connecting area 461 and the second connecting area 471.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5B together, the first block area 46 is opened with a through hole 462, and a square hole is taken for example herein, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a hole of other shapes is also suitable. An edge of the through hole 462 protrudes outwards to form a convex arc-shaped dragging portion 463. When the dragging portion 463 is disposed at the first block area 46, a connector fixing hole 472 for placing in an electrical connector of the fan is disposed at the second block area 47. On the contrary, the dragging portion 462 may also be disposed at the second block area 47, and then the connector fixing hole 472 for placing in the electrical connector of the fan is disposed at the fist block area 46.

FIG. 6A is a front side view of an architecture of a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a rear side view of the architecture of the fan support structure according to the embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 3 together for better understanding.

A fan support structure 4′ is integrally formed by the metal plate 4. The fan support structure 4′ includes a first plate area 41, a third plate area 45 lower than the first plate area 41, and a second plate area 42. The first plate area 41 is parallel to the third plate area 45. The second plate area 42 is perpendicular to the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45, and is disposed at the same end of the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45.

More than one through hole 411 is disposed at the first plate area 41. A rib 412 runs over each of the through holes 411. An example is illustrated herein, in which three through holes 411 of the same diameter are arranged in an X-axis direction. However, the number of the through holes 411 is determined by the number of configured fans, and the present invention is not limited thereto. A first edge 71 and a second edge 72 of the first plate area 41 extend in a direction different from a direction towards the third plate area 45 to form a plurality of first slot structures 51 and second slot structures 52. Openings of the slot structures (51, 52) are opposite to each other. The first slot structures 51, the second slot structures 52, and the first plate area 41 are combined to be a filter screen holding structure.

The first block area 46 and the second block area 47 are vertically disposed at two side edges of the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45. A first connecting area 461 and a second connecting area 471 are disposed at outer side edges (76, 76′) of the first block area 46 and the second block area 47 respectively. The connecting areas (461, 471) are bent and attached to the third plate area 45, and are connected to a connecting member 451 of the third plate area 45 through a connecting member 452 on the connecting areas (461, 471), so that the connecting areas (461, 471) are connected to an outer surface or an inner surface of the third plate area 45.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of placement of the fan according to the embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6B together for better understanding. The first plate area 41, the second plate area 42, and the third plate area 45 form a concave structure. An open accommodation space in the concave structure may be placed with one or more fans 3′, and the number of the fans is determined according to the number and shape of the fans that designers intends to placed and the capacity of the open accommodation space, and the present invention is not limited thereto. The first plate area 41, the second plate area 42, and the third plate area 45 are attached to three surfaces of the fan 3′ to abut against the fan 3′ without blocking an air inlet and an air outlet of the fan 3′, so as to position the fan 3′ within the fan support structure 4′.

The electrical connector of the fan 3′ is disposed in the connector fixing hole 472 of the second block area 47. A wiring of the fan 3′ is disposed in the accommodation space, or is regulated by the first slot structure 51 and the second slot structure 52.

However, in order to fix the fan 3′, a plurality of fan fixing members 50 may be disposed at a portion of the third plate area 45 close to the second plate area 42. The fan fixing members 50 may be any one of screwing components, riveting components, and clamping components, only if the fan 3′ can be fixed stably and positioned. A filter screen 6 is placed into slots of the first slot structure 51 and the second slot structure 52, to be fixed to the filter screen holding structure (a combination of the first slot structure 51, the second slot structure 52, and the first plate area 41).

The air inlet of each of the fans 3′ is aligned at the through holes 411 of the first plate area 41. In order to keep the fan operating smoothly, arc cutting may be performed on the third plate area 45, the first bent plate area 43, and the second bent plate area 44, such that each of the air inlets and the air outlets of the fans 3′ are not obstructed by any obstacle when the metal plate 4 forms the fan support structure 4′, thus improving smoothness of an air flow, and improving the heat dissipation effect of the fans 3′. The number of the fans configured in the fan support structure is determined according to the requirements of the designers. Architecture configured with a single fan or multiple fans may be designed, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of placing a fan support structure into a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 7 together for better understanding. A front panel of a network device 1′ includes a frame placing hole. A user may, starting from the second block area 47, push the first block area 46 to place the fan support structure 4′ for configuring the fan 3′ into the network device U. On the contrary, the user may insert a finger into the through hole 462 of the first block area 46 to hook the dragging portion 463 and pull the fan support structure 4′ out. In addition, as the space occupied by the fan support structure 4′ is decreased, the accommodation space required to be reserved of the case of the network device 1′ is decreased accordingly, and the space occupied by the whole device case is also decreased accordingly. As shown in FIG. 8, the fan support structure 4′ is designed to correspond to the small network device 1′ (for example, 1u-high network device) with small inside space.

FIG. 9A is another schematic structural view of the metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9B is a front side view of another architecture of a fan support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. The difference of FIG. 3 and FIG. 6A lies in that, the rib 412 may run over the through hole 411 horizontally in the X direction.

In view of the above, implementation or embodiments of the technical solutions presented by the present invention to solve problems are described herein, which are not intended to limit the scope of implementation of the present invention. Equivalent modifications and improvements in accordance with the claims of the present invention or made according to the claims of the present invention are covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fan support structure formed by a metal plate, comprising a first plate area and a second plate area extended from a first edge of the first plate area and perpendicular to the first plate area, wherein at least one through hole is disposed at the first plate area, the first edge of the first plate area and a second edge of the first plate area opposite to the first edge of the first plate are extended to form at least one slot structure, directions in which the first edge and the second edge of the first plate extend and are formed are opposite to a direction in which the second plate area extends and is formed, and openings of the slot structure are opposite to each other, the slot structure is used to hold a filter screen.

2. The fan support structure according to claim 1, further comprising a third plate area, wherein the first plate area is parallel to the third plate area, the third plate area and the second plate area comprise a common adjacent edge, and the common adjacent edge is a corresponding edge corresponding to the first edge the first plate area.

3. The fan support structure according to claim 1, wherein the slot structure is formed by bending a first bent plate area formed by extending the second edge of the first plate area and a second bent plate area formed by extending the first edge of the first plate area.

4. The fan support structure according to claim 2, wherein a first block area and a second block area are respectively extended and formed by a third edge and a forth edge of the first plate area, the first block area and the second block area are bent towards the third plate area and connected to the third plate area.

5. The fan support structure according to claim 4, wherein a connecting area is disposed at an outer side edge of the first block area and an outer side edge of the second block area respectively, each of the connecting area comprises a connecting member, the third plate area comprises two connecting members, the connecting areas are bent to be attached to the third plate area, and the connecting members on the connecting areas are joined to the connecting members of the third plate area.

6. The fan support structure according to claim 4, wherein the first block area is opened with a through hole, and an edge of the through hole protrudes outwards to form a dragging portion.

7. The fan support structure according to claim 6, wherein the dragging portion is arc-shaped.

8. The fan support structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of through holes are disposed at the first plate area, and the through holes have the same diameter and disposed adjacent to each other in the first plate area.

9. The fan support structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one rib running over the at least one through hole is disposed at the first plate area.

10. The fan support structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one fan fixing member is disposed at a portion of the third plate area corresponding to the at least one through hole of the first plate area.

11. A metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure, comprising a first plate area, wherein a second plate area is disposed at a first edge of the first plate area, the first plate area is disposed with at least one through hole, and a plurality of bent plates are disposed at the first edge of the first plate area and a corresponding second edge of the first plate area.

12. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 11, further comprising a third plate area, wherein the third plate area is disposed at a corresponding edge of the second plate area corresponding to the first edge of the first plate area.

13. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 11, further comprising a first block area and a second block area, independently disposed at a third edge and a fourth edge opposite to the third edge, of the first plate area.

14. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 13, wherein a connecting area is disposed at an outer side edge of the first block area and an outer side edge of the second block area respectively.

15. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 14, wherein the connecting areas have the same shape.

16. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 13, wherein the first block area is opened with a through hole, and an edge of the through hole protrudes outwards to form a dragging portion.

17. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 15, wherein the through hole of the first block area is a square hole.

18. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 15, wherein the second block area is opened with a fixing hole.

19. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of through holes are disposed at the first plate area, and the through holes have the same diameter and disposed adjacent to each other in the first plate area.

20. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 11, wherein at least one rib running over the at least one through hole is disposed at the first plate area.