# US 2014/0190261 A1 · Fan vibration testing apparatus

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- Number: US 2014/0190261 A1
- Document ID: US20140190261A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/735,675
- Filed: 2013-01-07
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-07
- Assignees: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Applicants: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
- Inventors: Brandon Scott Satterfield
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190261A1

## CPC

- G01H 13/00: Measuring resonant frequency
- G01H 1/003: {of rotating machines (G01H1/10 takes precedence)}
- G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES

## Abstract

According to an example, a fan vibration testing apparatus includes a beam. The fan vibration testing apparatus further includes a fan mounting head disposed at a first location on the beam and including a cut-out, and a rod including first and second opposite rod ends. The rod may be attached at the first rod end to the fan mounting head, and the second rod end may be exposed to retain a fan within the cut-out.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fan vibration testing apparatus comprising:
a beam;
a fan mounting head disposed at a first location on the beam and including a cut-out; and
a rod including first and second opposite rod ends, the rod being attached at the first rod end to the fan mounting head, and the second rod end being exposed to retain a fan within the cut-out.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beam comprises a predetermined length and width that are selected such that a natural frequency of the beam is different than a natural frequency of the fan mounting head and the fan.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first location is an end of the beam.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cut-out is generally U-shaped.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cut-out includes at least one wall including an angled ledge.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second rod end protrudes from the cut-out.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a clamp mounted to the fan mounting head to prevent movement of the rod.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fan mounting head includes first and second opposite fan mounting head ends, the first rod end is fixedly mounted to the first fan mounting head end, and the clamp is mounted to the second fan mounting head end.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the clamp is rotatably mounted to the second fan mounting head end to prevent movement of the rod.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the clamp includes a tooth to engage the rod to prevent movement of the rod.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the clamp includes a plurality of teeth dimensioned to engage the rod to prevent movement of the rod when the rod is disposed in fan frames of different sizes.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer to measure vibrations of the fan.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The fan vibration testing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the accelerometer is disposed adjacent to the fan mounting head.

### Claim 14

A method for fan vibration testing comprising:
retaining a fan on a fan vibration testing apparatus comprising:
a beam;
a fan mounting head disposed at a first location on the beam and including a cut-out, wherein the fan mounting head includes first and second opposite fan mounting head ends;
a rod including first and second opposite rod ends, the rod being attached at the first rod end to the fan mounting head, and the second rod end being exposed to retain a fan within the cut-out; and
a clamp mounted to the second fan mounting head end;
clamping the fan to the fan vibration testing apparatus using the clamp;
operating the fan clamped to the fan vibration testing apparatus; and
using an accelerometer to measure vibrations of the fan.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising:
clamping the fan by using a tooth on the clamp to engage the rod to prevent movement of the rod.