US 5,208,730 A · Computer cooling fan vibration isolation apparatus

Abstract

To isolate a computer housing structure from vibration created by an internal cooling fan, the fan is provided with a pair of specially designed resilient vibration isolation members. In one embodiment, the vibration isolation members each comprise a spaced pair of pocketed end portions having generally triangular cross-sections and joined by a thin strip of resilient material. These end portions are fitted onto the corners of the fan's rectangular outer frame which is then pushed forwardly into a rectangular mounting frame, the pocketed isolation member end portions serving to space the inserted fan frame apart from the mounting frame. The rear side of the mounting frame is then secured to an inner side surface of the computer housing structure. In another embodiment, a pair of elongated resilient vibration isolation members are removable mounted on opposite outer side edge portions of a rectangular mounting frame into which the rectangular fan frame is removably inserted. The mounting frame has a pair of resilient barb structures, projecting downwardly from its bottom side, which are snapped into suitably configured openings in a printed circuit power supply board disposed within a portion of the computer housing structure. Contiguous wall portions of the computer housing structure portion press inwardly against the installed vibration isolation members which function to firmly hold the cooling fan in place and substantially reduce the amount of fan vibration transmitted to the computer housing structure.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of resiliently mounting a cooling fan within an interior housing portion of a computer, said interior housing portion having a rectangular cross-section defined by first and second opposite side walls and third and fourth opposite side walls, and said cooling fan having a generally rectangular fan frame portion, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a generally rectangular mounting frame having first and second opposite outer peripheral sides and third and fourth opposite peripheral outer sides;
removably securing said fan frame to said mounting frame in a generally side-to-side aligned relationship therewith;
respectively securing first and second elongated resilient vibration isolation members outwardly on and parallel to said third and fourth peripheral outer sides of said mounting frame;
positioning said mounting frame in said interior housing portion;
laterally compressing said first vibration isolation member between said third side wall of said interior housing portion and said third outer peripheral side of said mounting frame;
and
laterally compressing said second vibration isolation member between said fourth side wall of said interior housing portion and said fourth outer peripheral side of said mounting frame.

4 more elements

In a computer having an interior housing portion with a generally rectangular cross-section defined by first and second opposite side walls and third and fourth opposite side walls, a resiliently mounted cooling fan assembly disposed within said interior housing portion and comprising:

a rectangular mounting frame having first and second opposite outer peripheral sides respectively parallel to said first and second opposite side walls of said interior housing portion, and third and fourth opposite outer peripheral sides respectively parallel to said third and fourth opposite side walls of said interior housing portion;
a cooling fan including a rectangular fan frame having a motor-driven fan impeller operatively mounted therein;
means for releasably securing said fan frame to said mounting frame in a side-by-side, generally aligned relationship therewith;
and
vibration isolation means for reducing the amount of cooling fan vibration transmitted to said interior housing portion of the computer, said vibration isolation means including:
first and second elongated vibration isolation members formed from an elastomeric material, said first and second vibration isolation members, respectively, being outwardly secured to said third and fourth peripheral outer sides of said mounting frame in parallel relationships therewith, said first vibration isolation member being laterally compressed between said third side wall of said interior housing portion and said third peripheral outer side of said mounting frame, and said second vibration isolation member being laterally compressed between said fourth side wall of said interior housing portion and said fourth peripheral outer side of said mounting frame.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Computer cooling fan vibration isolation apparatus

Life of this patent

Computer cooling fan vibration isolation apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8