Fan assembly for a computer system as well as holding device for a fan assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US9990014B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fan assembly for a computer system as well as holding device for a fan assembly",
  "abstract": "A fan assembly for a computer system that includes a fan, which has a flange having at least three fastening openings; and a holding device with at least two spring-loaded first fastening elements and a second fastening element. The fastening elements are arranged relative to one another such that in a relaxed state of the first fastening elements, the fan can be placed on the holding device in a first manner such that only the first fastening elements engage into respective two fastening openings, and in a second manner against a spring force of the first fastening elements.",
  "claims": [
    "1. Fan assembly for a computer system, comprising a fan, which has a flange having at least three fastening openings; and a holding device, which has, corresponding to the fastening openings, at least two spring-loaded first fastening elements and a second fastening element; wherein the fastening elements are arranged relative to one another such that in a relaxed state of the first fastening elements, in a first placing movement the fan can be placed on the holding device such that only the first fastening elements engage into respective two fastening openings; and after a second placing movement of the fan against a spring force of the first fastening elements, the second fastening element is aligned with the further fastening opening so that the fan can be fixed to the holding device.",
    "2. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein, after a third placing movement, the fan is held on the holding device in a mechanically safe manner via all fastening elements.",
    "3. Assembly according to claim 2, wherein the fan latches with the holding device after the third placing movement.",
    "4. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening elements have a pin-type design.",
    "5. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening elements are designed as mandrels.",
    "6. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fastening elements each have a latch element.",
    "7. Assembly according to claim 6, wherein the latch elements of the first fastening elements and the latch element of the second fastening element point in opposite directions with respect to a common center of the fastening elements.",
    "8. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the two first fastening elements are designed to be longer compared to the second fastening element.",
    "9. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flange of the fan has four fastening openings and the holding device has two first and two second fastening elements corresponding thereto.",
    "10. Holding device for a fan assembly according to claim 1, comprising at least two spring-loaded first fastening elements and a second fastening element, which are corresponding to fastening openings of a fan; wherein the fastening openings are arranged relative to one another such that in a relaxed state of the first fastening elements, the fan can be placed on the holding device in a first placing movement such that only the first fastening elements engage into respective two fastening openings; and after a second placing movement of the fan against a spring force of the first fastening elements, the second fastening element is aligned with the further fastening opening so that the fan can be fixed to the holding device."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention relates to a fan assembly for a computer system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a holding device for such a fan assembly. Modern computer systems are getting more and more performant, having to meet the requirements of a permanent availability at the same time. In most cases, one or multiple fans are used for cooling heat-generating components in such a computer system, the fans suctioning hot air from the respective components and blowing it out through openings in the casing. Moreover, fans that blow cool air from the surroundings of the computer system into the interior thereof in order to cool the components of the computer system are known. Typically, the fans comprise one or multiple flanges, by means of which the fans can be mechanically secured in a computer system. Especially in the field of servers, it is desirable to be able to mount and dismount the fans without having to turn-off the entire computer system. This option is known as hot-plug function. One object underlying the invention is to provide a concept for a fan assembly, which enables a fast and cost-efficient mounting or dismounting of a fan in a computer system.\n\nA fan assembly for a computer system is described, the assembly comprising a fan, which has a flange having at least three fastening openings. Furthermore, the assembly comprises a holding device, which has at least two resilient first fastening elements and one second fastening element corresponding to the fastening openings.",
  "cpc": [
    "G06F 1/20",
    "F04D 25/0613",
    "F04D 29/601",
    "F16B 1/02",
    "G06F 1/203",
    "H05K 7/20172"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F04D 29/60",
    "G06F 1/20",
    "H05K 7/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "FUJITSU LTD"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "SCHELSHORN LORENZ",
    "KÖHLER FRIEDRICH"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2017-06-05",
  "publication_date": "2018-06-05",
  "grant_date": "2018-06-05",
  "priority_date": "2016-06-07",
  "application_number": "US-201715614377-A",
  "family_id": "59349912",
  "citations": [
    "CN201854173U",
    "DE20120225U1",
    "TW200847902A",
    "US2008107479A1",
    "US2009141449A1",
    "US2010002389A1",
    "US2011073731A1",
    "US2012087790A1",
    "US2012195738A1",
    "US2015230013A1",
    "US2015282384A1",
    "US7583498B2",
    "US7990707B2",
    "US8218319B2"
  ]
}