# US 10,480,536 B2 · Fan unit fixing structure and electronic equipment

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- Number: US 10,480,536 B2
- Document ID: US10480536B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/567,701
- Filed: 2015-08-04
- Published: 2018-05-03
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-04
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Inventors: Takafumi Morihara; Fuqiang Han
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480536B2

## CPC

- F04D 29/668: {damping or preventing mechanical vibrations}
- F04D 25/0613: {the electric motor being of the inside-out type, i.e. the rotor is arranged radially outside a central stator}
- F04D 29/403: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- F04D 29/601: {specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- F04D 29/602: {Mounting in cavities}
- H05K 7/20172: {Fan mounting or fan specifications}
- F04D 17/16: for displacing without appreciable compression
- F04D 19/002: {Axial flow fans}
- F04D 25/02: Units comprising pumps and their driving means
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

Notched portions and positioning projecting portions are elastically engaged with each other to hold a fan unit at a fixing position in a housing, in a state in which the fan unit is placed at the fixing position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fan unit fixing structure comprising:
a fan unit having a fan device for rotating a fan, and an elastic holder for holding the fan device;
piece portions provided at positions at which the fan unit placed at a fixing position in a housing is sandwiched between the piece portions from both sides thereof;
first elastic engagement portions provided in an outer peripheral portion of the holder, the first elastic engagement portions corresponding to the piece portions;
second elastic engagement portions provided in the piece portions, and elastically engaged with the first elastic engagement portions in a state in which the fan unit is placed at the fixing position, to hold the fan unit at the fixing position;
a drawn portion provided so as to project toward an inside of the housing, serving as a base of the fan unit placed at the fixing position, and having a seat surface in which a hole is formed;
a second projecting portion provided so as to project from the outer peripheral portion of the holder, and fitted into the hole in a state in which the fan unit is placed at the fixing position;
a contact portion provided so as to project from the outer peripheral portion on a periphery of the holder which is opposite to the second projecting portion; and
a hitting portion provided so as to project from a top plate, and being in contact with the contact portion while applying pressure to the contact portion, in a state in which the top plate is mounted to the housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fan unit fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic engagement portions are first projecting portions projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the holder, and the second elastic engagement portions are notched portions provided in the piece portions and having an open part whose width is narrower than a width of the first projecting portions, and
wherein the first projecting portions are elastically fitted into the notched portions in a state in which the first projecting portions have passed the open part.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fan unit fixing structure according to claim 1, further comprising raised portions provided in the outer peripheral portion of the holder, and being in contact with the piece portions while applying pressure to the piece portions, in a state in which the fan unit is placed at the fixing position.

### Claim 4

A fan unit fixing structure comprising:
a fan unit having a fan device for rotating a fan, and an elastic holder for holding the fan device;
piece portions provided at positions at which the fan unit placed at a fixing position in a housing is sandwiched between the piece portions from both sides thereof;
first elastic engagement portions provided in an outer peripheral portion of the holder, the first elastic engagement portions corresponding to the piece portions; and
second elastic engagement portions provided in the piece portions, and elastically engaged with the first elastic engagement portions in a state in which the fan unit is placed at the fixing position, to hold the fan unit at the fixing position,
wherein vent holes via which air is made to flow into and out of the housing by rotations of the fan are openings which are formed when parts of the housing are cut and bent as the piece portions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fan unit fixing structure according to claim 4, wherein the first elastic engagement portions are first projecting portions projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the holder and the second elastic engagement portions are notched portions provided in the piece portions and having an open part whose width is narrower than a width of the first projecting portions, and
wherein the first projecting portions are elastically fitted into the notched portions in a state in which the first projecting portions have passed the open part.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The fan unit fixing structure according to claim 4, further comprising raised portions provided in the outer peripheral portion of the holder, and being in contact with the piece portions while applying pressure to the piece portions, in a state in which the fan unit is placed at the fixing position.

### Claim 7

Electronic equipment comprising:
a fan unit having a fan device for rotating a fan, and an elastic holder for holding the fan device;
a housing to which the fan unit is fixed;
piece portions provided at positions at which the fan unit placed at a fixing position in the housing is sandwiched between the piece portions from both sides thereof;
first elastic engagement portions provided in an outer peripheral portion of the holder, the first elastic engagement portions corresponding to the piece portions;
second elastic engagement portions provided in the piece portions, and elastically engaged with the first elastic engagement portions in a state in which the fan unit is placed at the fixing position, to hold the fan unit at the fixing position;
a drawn portion provided so as to project toward an inside of the housing, serving as a base of the fan unit placed at the fixing position, and having a seat surface in which a hole is formed;
a second projecting portion provided so as to project from the outer peripheral portion of the holder, and fitted into the hole in a state in which the fan unit is placed at the fixing position;
a contact portion provided so as to project from the outer peripheral portion on a periphery of the holder which is opposite to the second projecting portion; and
a hitting portion provided so as to project from a top plate, and being in contact with the contact portion while applying pressure to the contact portion, in a state in which the top plate is mounted to the housing.