US20120214401A1

US20120214401A1 - Airflow guide cover

Info

Publication number: US20120214401A1
Application number: US13/095,912
Authority: US
Inventors: Zhen-Xing Ye
Original assignee: Hongfujin Precision Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hongfujin Precision Industry Shenzhen Co Ltd; Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-02-17
Filing date: 2011-04-28
Publication date: 2012-08-23
Also published as: CN102647883A; TW201236556A; TWI429392B

Abstract

An airflow guide cover includes a main body, a first ventilation panel, and a second ventilation panel. The main body includes an airflow guiding channel and two opposite sidewalls. The airflow guiding channel includes an air outlet. The first and second ventilation panels are respectively rotatably connected to the sidewalls adjacent to the air outlet. A number of first vents is defined in the first ventilation panel, and a number of second vents is defined in the second ventilation panel. The areas of the first vents and the second vents are different. The first ventilation panel and the second ventilation panel are selectively rotated to cover the air outlet, to adjust airflow exhausting out of the airflow guide cover.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an airflow guide cover.
2. Description of Related Art
An electronic device, such as a computer, generally includes an airflow guide cover over a heat generating component, and a fan arranged at an end of the airflow guide cover, to dissipate heat produced by the heat generating component. However, because different heat generating components have different heights and volumes, airflow past the different heat generating components changes greatly and is difficult to meet the heat dissipation need of the other components in the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawing, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a partial, assembled, isometric view of an embodiment of an airflow guide cover.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the airflow guide cover of FIG. 1, the airflow guide including a first ventilation panel.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged assembled, isometric view of the first ventilation panel of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 1, but shows the airflow guide cover in a different state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of an airflow guide cover 10 includes a main body 20, a first ventilation panel 30, and a second ventilation panel 40. The first and second ventilation panels 30 and 40 are configured to be swung into place to restrict or control the amount of airflow through the airflow guide cover 10 as needed.
The main body 20 includes a top wall 21, and two sidewalls 23 perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the top wall 21. An airflow guiding channel 25 is bound by the top wall 21 and the sidewalls 23. The airflow guiding channel 25 includes an air inlet (not shown) and an air outlet 251 opposite to the air inlet. A slot 231 is defined in an upper portion of an end of each sidewall 23 adjoining the air outlet 251. Two spaced pivot portions 233 protrude outward from an outer surface of each sidewall 23, respectively above and below the corresponding slot 231. A pivot hole 234 is defined in each pivot portion 233. Two hooks 235 extending towards each other are formed on the outer surface of each sidewall 23 away from the corresponding slot 231.
The first air ventilation panel 30 includes a rectangular plate 31, a pivot member 33, and a latch 35. A plurality of first vents 312 is defined in the plate 31. Two pivot pins 314 respectively extend from top and bottom of a first end of the plate 31. A recess 315 is defined in the plate 31 adjacent to a second end of the plate 31 opposite to the first end. Two pivot holes 316 are respectively defined in top and bottom walls of the recess 315 adjacent to the second end. The pivot member 33 includes a shaft 332, and two pivot portions 334 extending outwards from a lateral side of the pivot shaft 332. A pivot hole 335 is defined in each pivot portion 334. Two pivot pins 352 respectively extend from top and bottom of a side of the latch 35.
The second ventilation panel 40 includes a rectangular plate 41, a pivot member 43, and a latch 45. A plurality of second vents 412 is defined in the plate 41. The area of the second vents 412 of the second ventilation panel 40 is greater than the area of the first vents 312 of the first ventilation panel 30. Two pivot pins 414 respectively extend from top and bottom of a first end of the plate 41. A recess (not shown) is defined in the plate 41 adjacent to a second end opposite to the first end of the plate 41. Two pivot holes 416 are respectively defined in top and bottom walls of the recess adjacent to the second end of the plate 41. The pivot member 43 includes a shaft 432, and two pivot portions 434 extending outwards from a lateral side of the pivot shaft 432. A pivot hole 435 is defined in each pivot portion 434. Two pivot pins 452 respectively extend from top and bottom of a side of the latch 35.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the pivot pins 314 of the plate 31 are respectively inserted into the pivot holes 335, to rotatably connect the plate 31 to the pivot member 33. The pivot pins 352 are respectively inserted into the pivot holes 316, to rotatably connect the latch 35 to the plate 31. Thereby, the first ventilation panel 30 is assembled. Opposite ends of the shaft 332 are respectively inserted into the pivot holes 234 of the pivot portions 233 of one of the sidewalls 23 of the main body 20, to rotatably connect the first ventilation panel 30 to the sidewall 23. The pivot pins 414 are respectively inserted into the pivot holes 435, to rotatably connect the plate 41 to the pivot member 43. The pivot pins 452 are respectively inserted into the pivot holes 416, to rotatably connect the latch 45 to the plate 41. Thereby, the second ventilation panel 40 is assembled. Opposite ends of the shaft 432 are respectively inserted into the pivot holes 234 of the pivot portions 233 of the other sidewall 23 of the main body 20, to rotatably connect the second ventilation panel 40 to the other sidewall 23. Thereby, the airflow guide cover 10 is assembled.
In use, the airflow guide cover 10 is installed in an electronic device (not shown). At least one electronic component is received in the airflow guide cover 10, and a fan (not shown) is arranged to align with the air inlet of the airflow guide cover 10. The fan blows air into the airflow guide cover 10, to allow the air to pass through the electronic component and then exhaust out of the airflow guide cover 10 through the air outlet 251.
When there is a need for unrestricted airflow through the airflow guide cover 10, the latches 35 and 45 are respectively received in the recesses of the corresponding plates 31 and 41. The first and second ventilation panels 30 and 40 are rotated to the corresponding sidewalls 23 of the main body 20. Then the hooks 235 of the sidewalls 23 are operated, to allow the first and second ventilation panels 30 and 40 to be latched to the corresponding sidewall 23.
According to the heat dissipation need of the electronic device, when there is a need to restrict the airflow to a certain degree through the airflow guide cover 10, the first ventilation panel 30 is disengaged from the corresponding hooks 235 and rotated to cover a portion of the air outlet 251. The latch 35 is rotated substantially 90 degrees relative to the plate 31 to engage in the slot 231 of the sidewall 23 connected to the second ventilation panel 40. Thereby, the first ventilation panel 30 is fixed in place over the air outlet 251.
According to the heat dissipation need of the electronic device, when there is a need to restrict the airflow to a greater degree through the airflow guide cover 10, the first ventilation panel 30 is restored to its position engaged with the corresponding sidewall 23 and the second ventilation panel 40 is disengaged from the corresponding hooks 235 and rotated to cover the upper portion of the air outlet 251. The latch 45 is rotated substantially 90 degrees relative to the plate 41 to engage in the slot 231 of the sidewall 23 connected to the first ventilation panel 30. Thereby, the second ventilation panel 40 is fixed in place over the air outlet 251. Therefore, there are three configurations for controlling the airflow through the cover 10.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. An airflow guide cover, comprising:

a main body comprising a top wall, two sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the top wall, and an airflow guiding channel bound by the top wall and the sidewalls, the airflow guiding channel comprising an air outlet;

a first ventilation panel rotatably connected to one of the sidewalls adjacent to the air outlet, a plurality of first vents defined in the first ventilation panel; and

a second ventilation panel rotatably connected to the other one of the sidewalls adjacent to the air outlet, a plurality of second vents defined in the second ventilation panel, wherein the areas of the first vents and the second vents are different, the first ventilation panel and the second ventilation panel are operable to be selectively rotated to cover the air outlet.

2. The airflow guide cover of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second ventilation panels comprises a plate and a pivot member, the first and second vents are defined in the corresponding plates of the first and second ventilation panels, first ends of the plates are respectively rotatably connected to the pivot members, and the pivot members are respectively rotatably connected to the sidewalls of the main body.

3. The airflow guide cover of claim 2, wherein two spaced pivot portions protrude outward from an outer surface of each of the sidewalls adjacent to the air outlet, a pivot hole is defined in each of the pivot portions, each pivot member comprises a shaft, opposite ends of the shaft are rotatably engaged in the pivot holes of a corresponding sidewall.

4. The airflow guide cover of claim 3, wherein each pivot member further comprises two pivot portions extending outwards from a lateral side of the corresponding shaft, a pivot hole is defined in each of the pivot portions of the pivot member, two pivot pins respectively extend from top and bottom of the first end of each plate, to engage in the pivot holes of a corresponding pivot member.

5. The airflow guide cover of claim 4, wherein a slot is defined in an end of each sidewall adjoining the air outlet, a latch is formed on a second end of the plate of each of the first and second ventilation panels, when the first ventilation panel covers the air outlet, the latch of the first ventilation panel engages in the slot of the sidewall connected to the second ventilation panel; when the second ventilation panel covers the air outlet, the latch of the second ventilation panel engages in the slot of the sidewall connected to the first ventilation panel.

6. The airflow guide cover of claim 5, wherein the latches are rotatably connected to the second ends of the plates of the first and second ventilation panels, respectively.

7. The airflow guide cover of claim 6, wherein a recess is defined in each plate adjacent to the second end of the plate, to receive the corresponding latch connected to the plate.

8. The airflow guide cover of claim 6, wherein two hooks extending towards each other are formed on the outer surface of each sidewall, when the first and second ventilation panels are respectively rotated towards the sidewalls, the hooks of the sidewalls are capable of engaging with the corresponding first and second ventilation panels.