# US 8,770,925 B2 · Fan module and air duct thereof

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- Number: US 8,770,925 B2
- Document ID: US8770925B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/117,144
- Filed: 2011-05-27
- Published: 2012-11-01
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2011-04-28
- Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD.; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Lei Liu
- Inventors: Lei Liu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770925B2

## CPC

- H05K 7/20181: {Filters; Louvers}
- F04D 25/0613: {the electric motor being of the inside-out type, i.e. the rotor is arranged radially outside a central stator}
- F04D 25/14: and having shutters, e.g. automatically closed when not in use
- F04D 29/601: {specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)

## Abstract

A fan module includes a fan, and an air duct. The air duct includes a mounting bracket mounted to the fan, and a number of guiding plates pivotably mounted in the mounting bracket. Each guiding plate comprises a latching piece mounted to the guiding plate, The mounting bracket defines a number of groups of positioning holes, with each group of positioning holes corresponding to the latching piece of each guiding plate. The latching piece is selectively positioned by one of the corresponding group of positioning holes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fan module comprising:
a fan; and
an air duct comprising a mounting bracket mounted to the fan, and a plurality of guiding plates rotatably mounted to the mounting bracket;
wherein each guiding plate comprises a latching piece mounted to the guiding plate, and the mounting bracket defines a plurality of groups of positioning holes, with each group of positioning holes corresponding to the latching piece of each guiding plate, and the latching piece is selectively positioned by one of the corresponding group of positioning holes;
wherein the mounting bracket comprises two first lateral plates parallel to each other, and two second lateral plates substantially perpendicularly connected between corresponding ends of the first lateral plates, the second lateral plates each define a plurality of pivot holes adjacent to the fan, two pivot pins extend from two opposite ends of a top side of each guiding plate to be respectively and rotatably mounted in corresponding two of the pivot holes of the second lateral plates;
wherein the positioning holes are defined in one of the second lateral plates, the latching piece is mounted to an end of each guiding plate, adjacent to the corresponding one of the groups of positioning holes, a positioning pin extends from the latching piece to be selectively positioned in one of the positioning holes of the corresponding group; and
wherein each latching piece is elastic, an operation portion is formed at an extremity of the latching piece, a positioning portion is formed at a center of the latching piece, the positioning pin extends from the positioning portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fan module of claim 1, wherein the fan comprises a shell and a plurality of blades mounted in the shell, four corners of a side of the shell adjacent to the air duct each define a mounting hole, four mounting pieces are formed on four corners of the mounting bracket, adjacent to the fan, each mounting piece defines a through hole, a plurality of fastening members extends through the through holes of the mounting pieces and the mounting holes of the fan to mount the mounting bracket to the fan.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fan module of claim 2, wherein each fastening member is made of elastic material, and comprises a shaft, a fastening portion extending from one end of the shaft, and a tapered flange extending from a circumference of the shaft, the shafts with the flanges of the fastening members extend through the through holes of the mounting pieces and the mounting holes of the fan, the fastening portions resist against the mounting pieces, and the flanges resist against the side of the shell.

### Claim 4

An air duct comprising:
a mounting bracket mounted to a fan; and
a plurality of guiding plates rotatably mounted to the mounting bracket;
wherein each guiding plate comprises a latching piece mounted to the guiding plate, and the mounting bracket defines a plurality of groups of positioning holes, with each group of positioning holes corresponding to the latching piece of each guiding plate, and the latching piece is selectively positioned by one of the corresponding group of positioning holes;
wherein the mounting bracket comprises two first lateral plates parallel to each other, and two second lateral plates connected between corresponding ends of the first lateral plates, the second lateral plates each define a plurality of pivot holes adjacent to the fan, two pivot pins extend from two opposite ends of each guiding plate to be respectively and rotatably mounted in corresponding two of the pivot holes of the second lateral plates;
wherein the positioning holes are defined in one of the second lateral plates, the latching piece is mounted to an end of each guiding plate, adjacent to the corresponding one of the groups of positioning holes, a positioning pin extends from the latching piece to be selectively positioned in one of the positioning holes of the corresponding group; and
wherein each latching piece is elastic, an operation portion is formed at an extremity of the latching piece, a positioning portion is formed at a center of the latching piece, the positioning pin extends from the positioning portion.

### Claim 5

An air duct comprising:
a mounting bracket comprising two opposite lateral plates, one of the lateral plates defining a plurality of groups of positioning holes;
a plurality of guiding plates rotatably mounted between the lateral plates of the mounting bracket with top sides like a shutter; and
a plurality of latching pieces each mounted to a bottom side of a corresponding guiding plate, a positioning pin extending from each latching piece to be selectively engaged in one of a corresponding group of positioning holes;
wherein each latching piece is elastic, and comprises a first end mounted to the corresponding guiding plate, and a cantilevered second end, the positioning pin extends from a center of the latching piece towards the corresponding lateral plate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The air duct of claim 5, wherein a substantially U-shaped positioning portion extends from the center of the latching piece towards the lateral plate, the positioning pin extends from the positioning portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The air duct of claim 5, wherein the lateral plates longitudinally define a plurality of pivot holes therein, each guiding plate comprises two pivot pins extending from opposite ends of the top side of the guiding plate, to respectively and rotatably engage in two corresponding pivot holes of the lateral plates.