Patent Publication Number: US-2007121290-A1

Title: Detachable fan assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a fan assembly for cooling and more particularly, to a detachable fan assembly, which is conveniently detachable to facilitate the performance of a maintenance work.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Following fast development of computer technology, a variety of advanced computers have been created for different purposes and have appeared on the market. A computer has a power supply unit adapted to provide the system with the necessary working voltage. During operation of the computer, the power supply unit produces heat, which may affect the performance of other component parts inside the computer. In order to dissipate heat from the power supply unit, a fan may be used.  FIG. 6  shows a fan B mounted inside the casing of a power supply unit A. In case, the fan B failed or is unable to function well due to the effect of a thick layer of dust, the user cannot immediately replace the fan B. In this case, the user must remove the power supply unit A from the computer, and then detach the casing of the power supply unit A, and then replace or repair the fan B. This arrangement complicates the maintenance of the fan B.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a fan assembly, which is detachable to facilitate the performance of a maintenance work. To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the detachable fan assembly comprises detachable fan assembly comprises a casing and a fan set detachably mounted inside the casing. The fan set comprises a fan, a mounting frame adapted to hold the fan inside the casing, and a grille detachably fastened to an opening at one side of the casing to hold down the mounting frame in the casing. The mounting frame has a plurality of hooked portions respectively fastened to respective angled lugs at the casing. The grille has a locating flange and a plurality of protruding retaining portions for fastening to the casing, and a finger strip adapted for the pulling of the hand to separate the grille from the casing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a detachable fan assembly according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the detachable fan assembly according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional side view of the present invention showing the relationship between the parts before installation.  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional assembly view of the detachable fan assembly according to the present invention (I).  
       FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional assembly view of the detachable fan assembly according to the present invention (II).  
       FIG. 6  is an elevational view of a conventional fan assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a detachable fan assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown comprised of a casing  1  and a fan set  2 .  
      The casing  1  has an opening  10  at one side, and a plurality of angled lugs  11  suspending at two opposite lateral sides of the opening  10  and projecting toward the inside of the casing  1 . The angled lugs  11  each have a retaining hole  111 .  
      The fan set  2  comprises a fan  21 , a mounting frame  22 , and a grille  23 . The fan  21  has a plurality of mounting holes  211 . The mounting frame  22  has a plurality of mounting holes  221  respectively fastened to the mounting holes  211  of the fan  21  with fastening members  24 , and a plurality of hooked portions  222  symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides. The grille  23  has a locating flange  231  disposed at one lateral side, and a plurality of protruding retaining portions  232  and a finger strip  233  disposed at the other lateral side.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , during installation of the fan set  2  in the casing  1 , the fan  21  and the mounting frame  22  are fastened together with the fastening members  24  and then inserted into the opening  10  of the casing  1  to force the hooked portions  222  of the mounting frame  22  into engagement with the retaining holes  111  of the angled lugs  11  of the casing  1 , and then the locating flange  231  of the grille  23  is inserted into one lateral side of the opening  10  of the casing  1  and the protruding retaining portions  232  of the grille  23  are forced into engagement with a part of the casing  1  at the other lateral side of the opening  10 , thereby finishing the installation of the fan set  2  in the casing  1 .  
      After a long use of the detachable fan assembly, the fan set  2  may be covered with a layer of dust. In this case, the fan set  2  must be removed from the casing  1  and well cleaned. By means of pulling the finger strip  233  outwards, the grille  23  is easily disconnected from the casing  1 . After removal of the grille  23  from the casing  1 , the hooked portions  222  of the mounting frame  22  are respectively disengaged from the retaining holes  111  of the angled lugs  11  of the casing  1 , and then the fan  21  with the mounting frame  22  are removed from the casing  1 .  
      Further, the aforesaid fastening members  24  can be screws, rivets, or any elements capable of securing the mounting holes  221  of the mounting frame  22  to the mounting holes  211  of the fan  21 .  
      Further, in the aforesaid embodiment, the fan  21  and the mounting frame  22  are two independent members detachably fastened together. Alternatively, the mounting frame  22  can be formed integral with a part of the fan  21 , i.e., the fan  21  can be made having hooked portions for engaging the retaining holes  111  of the angled lugs  11  of the casing  1 .  
      As indicated above, the invention provides a detachable fan assembly, which has the following characteristics.  
      1. The detachable fan assembly can easily be assembled by: fastening the fan  21  and the mounting frame  22  with the fastening members  24 , and then forcing the hooked portions  222  of the mounting frame  22  into engagement with the retaining holes  111  of the angled lugs  11  of the casing  1 , and then forcing the locating flange  231  and protruding retaining portions  232  into engagement with a part of the casing  1  at two opposite lateral sides of the opening  10 .  
      2. The detachable fan assembly can easily be detached for a maintenance work by pulling the finger strip  233  to disengage the grille  23  from the casing  1  for enabling the fan  21  with the mounting frame  22  to be separated from the angled lugs  11  of the casing  1 .  
      Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.