Patent Publication Number: US-2023141410-A1

Title: Mounting structure for preventing incorrect mounting and installation of cooling fan, electronic device, and server

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to fan installing, and to a mounting structure for installing fan, an electronic device, and a server. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In an electronic device, a fan among many fans, may be installed incorrectly, and the fan cannot execute functions properly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG.  1    is an isometric view of a mounting structure for one or more fans according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an isometric view of the mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an isometric view of the mounting structure when a block is mounted on a first nut of the mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is an isometric view of the mounting structure with the block mounted on the first nut according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is an isometric view of a chassis of the mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is an isometric view of the mounting structure when the block is mounted on a second nut according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is an isometric view of a fan module and accessory according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is an isometric view of the mounting structure when the mounting structure is opened up for replacing a fan module. 
         FIG.  9    is an isometric view of the chassis when the chassis is opened for replacing a fan module. 
         FIG.  10    is an exposed view of the fan module and an accessory according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  11    is a side view of the fan module installed in a correct direction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  12    is a side view of the fan module when incorrectly presented for installation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one”. 
     The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
     Without a given definition otherwise, all terms used have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. The terms used herein in the description of the present disclosure are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , an electronic device  200  of an embodiment includes a mounting structure  100  and a bracket  210 . The mounting structure  100  includes a chassis  10  and a fan module  20 . The bracket  210  includes a bottom wall  211  and two side walls  212 . Two side walls  212  are connected to the bottom wall  211 . The chassis  10  includes a bottom plate  131 , as shown in  FIG.  5   . The bottom plate  131  is connected to the bottom wall  211 . 
     The chassis  10  allows installation of the fan modules  20 . The fan module  20  is used to cool heat dissipating elements received in the bracket  210 . The bottom wall  211  is used to support the heat dissipating elements. The heat dissipating elements may be, for example, processor, storage, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the mounting device  100  further includes a block  30  and an accessory  40 . The block  30  is mounted on the bottom plate  131 . The accessory  40  is mounted on the fan module  20 . 
     The chassis  10  defines a plurality of installing positions  11  along a direction X. One fan module  20  is placed in each installing position  11 . Each fan module  20  includes a fan  21 . For example, the fan module  20  includes two fans  21 , and the two fans  21  are arranged along a direction Y. Air flows along the direction Y in the fan  21 . The direction Y is substantially perpendicular to the direction X. As shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , three installing positions  11  are defined along the direction X. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , the chassis  10  includes a plurality of fixing components  12  located on the bottom plate  131 . One fixing component  12  is located between each two adjacent installing positions  11 . Each fixing component  12  includes a first nut  121  and a second nut  122 . The first nut  121  and the second nut  122  are arranged along the direction Y. In each fixing component  12 , one block  30  is mounted on the first nut  121  or on the second nut  122 , as shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  6   . As shown in  FIG.  5   , the chassis  10  has two fixing components  12  because there are three installing positions  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , two accessories  40  are mounted on both side of the fan module  20  along the direction X. 
     The direction of spin of the blades of the fan  21  is effectively not reversible, thus the fan  21  can blow air in only one direction. A first status of the fan module  20  is defined when the fan module  20  blows air into the bracket  210 , and a second status of the fan module  20  is defined when the fan module  20  blows air out of the bracket  210 . 
     For example, the first status may be the correct direction of fan module  20 , and the second status would be the incorrect direction of fan module  20 . The block  30  is fixed on the first nut  121 , as shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  11   , the fan module  20  can only be placed in the installing position  11  in the first status, because in the first status the block  30  is distant from the accessories  40 . The fan module  20  cannot be placed in the second status, because the block  30  interferes with the accessories  40  to stop the fan module  20  being installed in the second status, as shown in  FIG.  12   , effectively fool-proofing the installation of the fan  21 . 
     In another example, the second status may be the correct direction of fan module  20 , and then the first status is the incorrect direction of fan module  20 . The block  30  is fixed on the second nut  122 , as shown in  FIG.  6   , and thus the fan module  20  can only be placed in the installing position  11  in the second status, because in the second status the block  30  is distant from the accessories  40 . In this example, the fan module  20  cannot be placed in the first status, because the block  30  interferes with the accessories  40  to stop installation of the fan module  20  in the first status, giving the same fool-proofing. 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , in some embodiments, each fan  21  includes a shell, the shell defines two gaps  211  on both side along the direction X on the bottom. The gap  211  is configured for containing the block  30 , as shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  5   . 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  5   , a chamfer is defined at the topmost part of each side of the block  30  along the direction X. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  7   , the accessory  40  is mounted on the shell and located in the gap  211 . 
     Each fan module  20  has an inlet and an outlet. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  6   , each fan module  20  includes a sticker  22  with an arrow pointing to the outlet, and the accessory  40  is mounted beside the outlet. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  5   , the chassis  10  further includes a base  13  and a handle  14 . The base  13  includes a first wall  132 , a second wall  133 , and a third wall  134 . The first wall  132 , the second wall  133 , and the third wall  134  are connected in sequence and are connected to the bottom plate  131 . The bottom plate  131  is used to support the fan module  20 . The second wall  133  has a plurality of vents  133   a , the vents  133   a  are arranged along the direction X. Each vent  133   a  corresponds to an installing position  11  to open the outlet or the inlet. The handle  14  is connected between the first wall  132  and the third wall  134 . The handle  14  is rotatable along the direction X relative to the base  13 . Each fan module  20  is mounted between the handle  14  and the second wall  133 . The handle  14  is used for latching or unlatching the fan module  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  8    and  FIG.  9   , the handle  14  includes a positioning piece  141  and two extending pieces  142 , the positioning piece  141  extends along the direction X. The two extending pieces  142  are located on each end of the positioning piece  141 . The two extending pieces  142  are connected to the first wall  132  and the third wall  134 , respectively. The positioning piece  141  includes a plurality of first pins  141   a , as shown in  FIG.  4   . The first pins  141   a  are arranged along the direction X. The fan module  20  has two holes  20   a  on both sides along the direction Y, as shown in  FIG.  8   . The first pin  141   a  is inserted into the hole  20   a  to fix the fan module  20  in place. 
     As shown in  FIG.  8   , each extending piece  142  includes a second pin  142   a . The first wall  132  and the third wall  134  both define a horizontal groove  135  and an arc-shaped groove  136 , as shown in  FIG.  5   . The horizontal groove  135  and the arc-shaped groove  136  are connected. The second pin  142   a  is inserted into the horizontal groove  135  and the arc-shaped groove  136 . Each extending piece  142  defines a slot  142   b . The first wall  132  and the third wall  134  both comprise a third pin  137 , and the third pin  137  is inserted into the slot  142   b.    
     When the handle  14  is depressed, the second pin  142   a  moves along the arc-shaped groove  136  into the horizontal groove  135 , meanwhile, the third pin  137  moves along the slot  142   b , until the first pin  141   a  is pushed into the hole  20   a , thereby the fan module  20  is latched with the positioning piece  141 . 
     When the handle  14  is pulled and lifted out, the first pin  141   a  is pulled out of the hole  20   a , the third pin  137  moves along the slot  142   b , until the second pin  142   a  moves from the horizontal groove  135  to the end of the arc-shaped groove  136 , the fan module  20  is thereby unlatched from the positioning piece  141  and removable from the mounting structure  100 . 
     The handle  14  has a fourth pin  143 , as shown in  FIG.  3    and  FIG.  4   , the fourth pin  143  is used to fix the handle  14  to the base  13  after the handle  14  latches the fan module  20 . 
     In some embodiments, each accessory  40  includes a main body  41  and a cylinder  42  connected to the main body  41 . The shell of the fan  21  has a hole  21   a  in the gap  211 . The cylinder  42  is inserted into the hole  21   a  to mount the main body  41  to the shell. 
     A server (not shown in figures) of an embodiment includes a plurality of electronic devices  200 . 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.