Abstract:
A radiator includes a heat sink ( 10 ), a fan holder ( 50 ) and a fan ( 30 ). The heat sink includes a heat-absorbing member ( 12, 18 ) that defines a cavity ( 20 ) in an end thereof. The fan holder includes a central hub ( 52 ) secured into the cavity of the heat sink. The fan is positioned to the heat sink via the fan holder.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to radiators for removing heat from electronic components, and more particularly to a radiator including a heat sink and a fan mounted on the heat sink for enforcing air convection.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     During operating of an electronic component such as a computer central processing unit (CPU), a large amount of heat is often produced. The heat must be quickly removed from the CPU to prevent it from becoming unstable or being damaged.  
         [0005]     Typically, a heat sink is attached to an outer surface of the CPU to facilitate removal of heat therefrom. A fan is mounted on top of the heat sink to enhance heat dissipation efficiency.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,185 disclosed a radiator in which the fan is mounted to the heat sink via four screws. Correspondingly, four screw holes are defined in a base of the heat sink. The screw holes should be evenly distributed on the base and each has a coordinated position according to locations of the others in order to stably fix the fan to the heat sink. As a result, manufacture cost of the radiator is increased. Furthermore, once any one of the screws for mounting the fan to the heat sink is damaged, the fan is at the risk of falling due to unexpected shaking or vibration. This adversely affects the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiator. Additionally, it takes a long term to install four screws into the screw holes, especially in mass production.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a radiator which has a stable configuration.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a radiator which has a decrease in manufacture cost and an increase in production of the radiator.  
         [0009]     In order to achieve the objects set out above, a radiator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a heat sink, a fan holder and a fan. The heat sink comprises a heat-absorbing member that defines a cavity at one side thereof. The fan holder comprises a central hub secured into the cavity of the heat sink. The fan is positioned to the heat sink via the fan holder.  
         [0010]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of a radiator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an assembled view of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a radiator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided to remove heat from an electronic component (not shown), such as a central processing unit (CPU). The radiator comprises a heat sink  10 , a fan  30  and a fan holder  50  for attaching the fan  30  to the heat sink  10 .  
         [0014]     The heat sink  10  comprises a cylindrical column  12  and a plurality of radial fins  16  radially extending from the circumference of the column  12 . An axial channel  14  is defined in the column  12 . The channel  14  interferentially receives a heat-conductive pillar  18  therein and therefore remains a cavity  20  right above the pillar  18 . A hole  22 , especially preferably to be a screw hole, is defined in a substantially central portion of an end of the pillar  18  in communication with the cavity  20 . An opposite end of the pillar  18  is attachable to an electronic component (not shown), such as a chip, a central processing unit (CPU) or the like.  
         [0015]     The fan  30  comprises a rectangular frame  32  and a plurality of rotor blades  34  radially arranged in the frame  32  in a manner that each rotor blade  34  stretches clockwise. Four locating holes  36  are defined at four corners of the rectangular frame  32 , respectively.  
         [0016]     The holder  50  has a rectangular shape in the preferred embodiment but is not limited to that shape. A hub  52  is formed in a substantial middle of the holder  50  and extends partially toward the heat sink  10  corresponding to the cavity  20 . A bore  54  is defined in a middle of the hub  52 , corresponding to the hole  22 . A plurality of stator blades  56  is radially formed at an outer periphery of the hub  52 . Each of the stator blades  56  has a shape similar to that of every rotor blade  34  and is configured in a manner that each stator blade  56  stretches counterclockwise. Pairs of spaced catches  58  are symmetrically formed at a main side of the holder  50  for jointly embracing the fan  30  therebetween. A pair of shoulders  62  is symmetrically formed at two opposite sides of the holder  50  for supporting a corresponding pair of clips (not shown). A pair of pins  60  is further formed at two diagonal corners of the holder  50  corresponding to the locating holes  36  of the fan  30 . Pairs of spaced latches  64  are symmetrically formed at the other two opposite sides of the holder  50  for engaging with the heat sink  10 .  
         [0017]     In assembly of the radiator, the holder  50  is placed to the heat sink  10  having the hub  52  received into the cavity  20 . A screw  40 , or its equivalents such as a rivet or a pin or the like, is inserted through the bore  54  of the holder  50  and further engaged in the hole  22  of the heat sink  10  so that the holder  50  is secured to the heat sink  10 . The latches  64  abut against corresponding fins  16  for facilitating the positioning of the holder  50  to the heat sink  10 . The fan  30  is pressed onto the holder  50  so that the catches  58  jointly embrace the fan  30  therebetween. The pins  60  are received into the corresponding locating holes  36  for keeping the fan  30  in place. In use, the stator blades  56  lead airflow from the fan  30  into the heat sink  10  in order to diminish the airflow speed along any radial direction and prevent the airflow from earlier escape out of the radiator.  
         [0018]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made, for example, the pins  60  inserting into the locating holes  36  of the fan  30  can further form a hook at their distal ends to clasp in the holes  36  for positioning the fan  30  to the holder  50 , or, a pin can be formed from the heat-conductive pillar  18  and engaged in the bore  54  of the holder  50  so that the holder  50  is mounted to the heat sink  10 .