AN ARRANGEMENT IN SUPPORTING A FAN HOUSING BY MEANS OF AN ELASTIC RING

Abstract: The inlet end of a fan housing rests on an elastic ring which is stretched on a number of hooks disposed around an inlet opening formed in a wall structure, wherein those parts of the ring which extend between the hooks together form a support for the end of the fan housing. A further elastic ring is stretched around the housing and rests against radial shoulders or lugs disposed at the periphery of the exhaust end of the housing. Those parts of the second ring which extend between the shoulders or lugs are secured on the hooks so that the lugs are held or supported between the stretched parts of the rings. The housing lies free from the wall, the hooks and the edges of the opening, so as to obtain a vibration-damping suspension.

Description: An Arrangement in Supporting a Fan Housing by Means of an Elastic Ring. The present invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a fan housing which houses a fan impeller or fan wheel, wherein the exhaust end of the housing opens adjacent an opening in a wall of the space or room to be air-cooled. The invention primarily relates to fan housings having a size which is normal with computer cooling fans and whose weight, including the electric motor incorporated in the fan, is about 70 grams for instance. Externally, the fan housing has a four-sided configuration, measur¬ ing 60 x 60 mm. The fan housings, however, may be larger in the case of larger computers with larger cooling re¬ quirements. A housing of this kind is normally secured to a wall in the vicinity of a fan-housing opening with the aid of four screws which are screwed into screw-threaded holes provided in the wall. The four screws represent a cer¬ tain material expenditure and a certain amount of time is also consumed in threading the screw holes and also in tightening the screws in said holes. The most serious drawback with this known arrangement, however, is that vibrations from the fan impeller and the electric motor propagate to the wall, via the screws, and therewith create disturbing vibration noise. An object of the present invention is therefore to reduce these drawbacks to the greatest possible extent. This object is achieved with an arrangement having the characteristic features set forth in Claim 1. SUBSTITUTESHEET When the fan housing is fitted in position, the housing is completely free from contact with the wall, the hooks and the opening defining edges. The elastic ring is stretched and hooked onto the hooks at the edges of the opening and those parts of the ring located between the hooks abut the outer surface of the housing or supports connected therewith with sufficient force and friction to hold the housing in a desired position solely with the aid of the elastic ring, which therewith also func- tions as an effective vibration damping device which is effective in reducing the vibration sound. Because it is no longer necessary to use screws or to provide screw-threaded holes when practicing the inven- tion, the inventive arrangement is also cost-saving. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a known fan housing positioned above an opening provided in the housing wall, prior to fitting the housing. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on a broken plane along the line 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the housing with the housing shown in position above the wall opening. Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Figure 3. The drawings illustrate a known fan 10 having a cylin¬ drical fan housing with two end flanges 12, 14 which form lugs at the corners, which are connected through cylinders 16 for fastener screws (not shown) . The impel¬ ler 18 of the blower or fan 10 is driven by a motor incorporated in the fan assembly. The flanges impart a square shape to the fan components. The corner parts 12A, 14A of the flanges 12, 14 form lugs or shoulders which extend radially in relation to the cylinders 16. A wall 20, for instance a computer housing wall, is provided with a square opening which is sufficiently large to accommodate the fan housing with a given clear¬ ance. A tongue or like element in the form of a hook 24 or some other like element is provided at each side edge of the opening. As will be seen from Figure 2, the housing, together with the flanges, fits in the opening and between the hooks 24 with a predetermined clearance 26. Shown in Figure 1 is a first elastic ring 28 which has a cylindrical cross-section, similar to the case of an O- ring, although it may also have a rectangular cross- section. The ring 28 is shown stretched around the housing. In the illustrated embodiment, the ring bears against the cylinders 29 on the known housing. Also shown in Figure 1 is a second elastic ring 30 which is stretched and hooked around the hooks 24. The rings can be fitted quickly and easily. The second ring 30 is first hooked around the hooks 24, wherein those parts 32 of the ring that extend between the hooks will form an elastic support for the exhaust end of the housing when the housing is inserted down between the hooks. The first ring 28 is then stretched out at four points and hooked on the hooks 24 so as to lie on the second ring 30 at the hooks, as shown in Figure 2, where the first ring is moved into abutment with the lugs or shoulders 14A so as to hold the housing pressed against the aforesaid parts 30 of the second ring. The housing is therewith supported securely by the two rings 28, 30 in a position which is coaxial with the opening 22 and in a manner which will prevent axial movement of the housing in relation to the rings. Because the rings are chosen to produce a sufficiently strong holding force, the housing will remain in the position desired, even should the housing be subjected to axially directed forces, for instance as a result of bangs and knocks. In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, only one single elastic ring 32 is required, this ring being stretched around hooks 34 which are somewhat lower than the hooks of the Figure 1 embodiment. Provided at each corner or lug 14A is a further lug 36, which is spaced from the lug 14A so as to form a groove 38 in which the stretched parts 30A of the ring are held axially in position and therewith hold the housing in position against axial movement in both directions. Although the invention has been described with reference to two preferred embodiments thereof, it will be under¬ stood that other embodiments are conceivable within the scope of the invention. A highly simplified embodiment may consist of a cylindrical housing which is secured elastically between the two parts of an elastic ring stretched onto two diametrically opposed hooks. Although this embodiment functions satisfactorily, it is not normally sufficiently secure against shifting of the housing when, for instance, the housing is subjected to axial impact. One important advantage afforded by the invention is that it can be applied immediately to generally existing fan housings without requiring changes to be made. The only modification required is the provision of the hooks adjacent the wall opening. Relatively inexpensive O- rings are conveniently used as the aforesaid elastic rings. If the fan housing is cylindrical, a fan can be provided at the exhaust end of the fan, or a pair of flanges to form a groove for coaction with the elastic rings.

Claims: Claims 1. An arrangement for supporting a fan housing includ- ing a fan impeller, wherein the exhaust end of the housing opens in the vicinity of a wall opening leading to a space which is to be air-cooled, particularly a computer fan housing, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that an elastic ring is disposed around the end part of the housing at said exhaust end; in that the ring is stretched at at least two evenly distributed points around the housing periphery and hooked onto a cor¬ responding number of hook-forming devices at the wall opening, wherein those parts of the ring which extend between the hooks lie against parts of the housing periphery and support the housing in a free position relative to the wall, the hooks and the defining edge of said opening. 2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the housing is provided with radial support shoulders or lugs at the housing exhaust end, said lugs or shoulders being in abutment with those parts of the ring which stretch between the hooks, so that the housing will remain in the grip of the ring when subjected to forces acting in an axial direction from the wall opening. 3. An arrangement according to Claim 2, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that a second elastic ring is stretched on the hooks, wherein the exhaust end of the fan housing supports against those parts of the second ring which extend between the hooks. 4. An arrangement according to Claim 2, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the radial support shoulders or the lugs are comprised of a pair of radial projections, lugs or flanges having an axial spacing which corre¬ sponds generally to the thickness of the ring; and in that ring parts which extend between the hooks are inserted between the pairs of projection to prevent axial movement of the fan housing in relation to the ring in both directions.

Inventors: ANDERSSON KARL-GUSTAV, ANDERSSON, KARL-GUSTAV
Applicants: ICL DATA AB
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F04D29
IPC codes: F04D29