초록 ▼

A fan module for use with fan trays or decks within a computer chassis for forced-air cooling with counter-rotating flow to provide higher static pressure. The fan module may have a conventional side-by-side form factor with a first and second fans supported within first and second housings. The fir

A fan module for use with fan trays or decks within a computer chassis for forced-air cooling with counter-rotating flow to provide higher static pressure. The fan module may have a conventional side-by-side form factor with a first and second fans supported within first and second housings. The first and second housings are spaced apart and arranged side-by-side. The first fan has a clockwise-rotating blade, and the second fan has a counterclockwise-rotating blade. In the fan module, the first and second fans may be axial fans with the blades rotating about first and second axes that are offset and parallel. In some embodiments, the fan module may have airflow through the first fan in a first direction along the first axis and airflow through the second fan in a second direction along the second axis, with the first and second directions generally matching.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A fan module for positioning in a fan tray of an electronic device, the fan tray having at least two rows for receiving sets of the fan modules, comprising: a first fan supported within a first housing within the fan module; and a second fan supported within a second housing, wherein t

We claim: 1. A fan module for positioning in a fan tray of an electronic device, the fan tray having at least two rows for receiving sets of the fan modules, comprising: a first fan supported within a first housing within the fan module; and a second fan supported within a second housing, wherein the first and second housings are interconnected within the fan module and arranged in a side-by-side, spaced-apart arrangement, wherein the first fan has a clockwise-rotating blade and the second fan has a counterclockwise-rotating blade with the direction of blade rotation of the first fan and the second fan being determined from a same side of the fan module, and wherein airflow through the fan module is unidirectional; wherein the fan tray comprises edge connectors arranged in a pattern defining a set of locations for the fan module to mount to the fan tray, whereby counter-rotating flow occurs between an adjacent pair of the fan modules positioned on the fan tray; and a connector assembly with a body positioned between the first and second housings to interconnect the housings, the body having connector receptacles for receiving one of the edge connectors positioned on opposite ends of the body and proximate to one of the clockwise-rotating and the counterclockwise-rotating fans. 2. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the first and second fans comprise axial fans with the blades rotating about first and second axes, the first and second axes being offset. 3. The fan module of claim 2, wherein the first and second axes are parallel. 4. The fan module of claim 2, wherein airflow through the first fan is in a first direction along the first axis and airflow through the second fan is in a second direction along the second axis generally matching the first direction, whereby the fan module has the unidirectional airflow. 5. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the body of the connector assembly includes a pair of edge connector receptacles each adapted for receiving one of the edge connectors and wherein the edge connector receptacles are positioned on opposites ends of the body and on one side of the body. 6. The fan module of claim 1, further comprising an airflow guide extending outward from an outlet of the first fan, the airflow guide comprising a sidewall defining an inner airflow chamber and a compressible sealing member distal to the first housing and extending about the airflow chamber. 7. A computer apparatus adapted for forced-air cooling, comprising: a chassis including a mounting surface for receiving two parallel rows of cooling fans; in a first of the rows, a first fan module with a first housing supporting a clockwise-rotating fan and a second housing supporting a counterclockwise-rotating fan with the direction of rotation of the fans being determined from a same side of the first fan module; and in a second of the rows, a second fan module with a first housing supporting a counterclockwise-rotating fan and a second housing supporting a clockwise-rotating fan with the direction of rotation of the fans being determined from a same side of the second fan module, wherein the first and second fan modules are positioned with the two first housings adjacent to each other and the two second housings adjacent to each other; wherein the first fan module and the second fan module are separately installable in receiving engagement with the mounting surface and the mounting surface comprises a plurality of edge connectors extending upward from the mounting surface and the first and second fan modules each comprise a connector body between the first and second housings with a pair of connector receptacles for receiving one of the edge connectors; wherein the connector receptacles in the connector body are positioned on opposite ends of the connector body and proximate to one of the clockwise-rotating and the counterclockwise-rotating fans and wherein adjacent pairs of the edge connectors in the rows on the mounting surface are offset, whereby a counter-rotating pattern is defined for the cooling fans in the rows. 8. The computer apparatus of claim 7, wherein the clockwise-rotating fan in the first fan module rotates about a first axis and the counterclockwise-rotating fan in the second fan module rotates about a second axis, the first and second axes substantially coinciding. 9. The computer apparatus of claim 8, wherein the clockwise-rotating fan in the first fan module and the counterclockwise-rotating fan in the second fan module direct airflow in one direction. 10. The computer apparatus of claim 7, wherein the clockwise-rotating fan and the counterclockwise-rotating fan in the first fan module rotate about first and second axes, the first and second axes being offset and substantially parallel. 11. The computer apparatus of claim 7, further comprising airflow guides extending between adjacent the fans in the first and second modules, the airflow guides each comprising a foam sealing member forming a seal between the airflow guide and the second module proximate to an inlet to the fans in the second module. 12. A fan module for providing air cooling in a fan chamber of a computer chassis, comprising: a pair of fan support structures spaced apart and in a side-by-side arrangement; a clockwise-rotating, axial fan in a first of the fan support structures; a counterclockwise-rotating, axial fan in a second of the fan support structures, with the direction of rotation of the fans being determined from a same side of the fan module; a connector assembly with a body sandwiched between, and attached to, sidewalls of the fan support structures; and a pair of airflow guides affixed to sidewalls of the fan support structures adjacent outlets of the fans with a chamber directing outlet air from the fans, each of the airflow guides comprising a compressible seal member for mating with another of the fan modules, wherein the fan chamber comprises a mounting surface with edge connectors defining a pair of fan banks with adjacent pairs of the edge connectors being offset and wherein the body of the connector assembly comprises a pair of connector receptacles exposed on opposite ends of the body and adapted for receiving one of the edge connectors, the connector receptacles being offset from a center of the body on a like side of the body. 13. The fan module of claim 12, wherein blades of the clockwise-rotating fan and the counterclockwise-rotating fan rotate about a pair of parallel axes. 14. The fan module of claim 13, wherein the fans have matching airflow directions.