USPatent applicationPatented

Computer system with airflow guiding duct

Granted 20 Dec 2011 · 2 office actions

Life of the application

11 dated events
⤢ drag to zoom20102012201420162018202020222024202620282030ProsecutionOwnershipTerm & fees
ProsecutionOwnershipTerm & feeshover for detail · click to open

Abstract

A computer system includes a chassis and an airflow guiding duct. The chassis includes a chassis bottom wall, a chassis front wall and a chassis rear wall. The chassis front wall defines a first ventilation hole, and the chassis rear wall defines a second ventilation hole. A motherboard is secured to the chassis bottom wall between the chassis front wall and the chassis rear wall. A memory card is secured to the motherboard. The airflow guiding duct is secured in the chassis and includes an entrance portion. The entrance portion covers a portion of the memory card, so as to guide airflow. Airflow flows in the chassis via the first ventilation hole, over the memory card, and then out of the chassis via the second ventilation hole.

Description

4 parts
›BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a computer system with an airflow guiding duct.

2. Description of Related Art

A heat sink is secured to a motherboard of a computer system to dissipate heat generated from a CPU. The memory cards also generate heat. The heat generated from the memory cards is usually cooled by the heat dissipating component of the CPU. However, if a higher heat is generated from the memory card, the heat dissipation component for the CPU often cannot effectively cool the memory cards.

›BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references 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 embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric, partial view of a computer system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is another isometric view of an airflow guiding duct of the computer system of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the computer system of FIG. 1 .

›DETAILED DESCRIPTION · 1 of 2

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. 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 FIG. 1 , a computer system in accordance with an embodiment includes a chassis 10 , a motherboard 40 , a power supply bracket 20 , a drive bracket 60 , and an airflow guiding duct 30 .

The chassis 10 includes a chassis bottom wall 11 , a chassis front wall 13 , a chassis rear wall 15 (only part shown in FIG. 1 ), a chassis left wall 17 , and a chassis right wall 18 . The chassis front wall 13 is parallel to the chassis rear wall 15 and perpendicular to the chassis bottom wall 11 . The chassis left wall 17 is parallel to the chassis right wall 18 , and perpendicular to the chassis bottom wall 11 and the chassis front wall 13 . The screw hole 112 is defined in the chassis bottom wall 11 . A plurality of first ventilation holes 131 is defined in the chassis front wall 13 . In one embodiment, the first ventilation holes 131 are arranged in a rectangle area. A plurality of second ventilation holes 151 is defined in the chassis rear wall 15 . In one embodiment, the second ventilation holes 151 are arranged in a circular area. A flange 171 is bent inward from a top edge of the chassis left wall 17 . A flange hole 1711 is defined in the flange 171 adjacent the chassis rear wall 15 .

The power supply bracket 20 is secured in the chassis 10 at a first corner between the chassis rear wall 15 and the chassis left wall 17 . Airflow passes through the power supply bracket 20 and out the second ventilation holes 151 .

The motherboard 40 is mounted on the chassis bottom wall 11 between the power supply bracket 15 and the chassis right wall 18 . The screw hole 112 is positioned between the power supply bracket 20 and the motherboard 40 . A heat sink 41 is mounted on the motherboard 40 for dissipating heat generated from a CPU. A plurality of memory cards 43 is secured to the motherboard 40 adjacent the heat sink 41 .

The drive bracket 60 is secured in the chassis 10 at a second corner between the chassis front wall 13 and the chassis left wall 17 . The first ventilation holes 131 are defined in the chassis front wall 13 between the drive bracket 60 and the chassis right wall 18 . The drive bracket 60 includes a drive bracket right wall 61 , a drive bracket left wall 63 parallel to the drive bracket right wall 61 , a drive bracket bottom wall 65 perpendicular to the drive bracket right wall 61 , and a drive bracket top wall 67 parallel to the drive bracket bottom wall 65 . A securing component 70 is fixed on an outer surface of the drive bracket top wall 67 , configured for securing disk drives (not shown) in the drive bracket 60 . The securing component 70 is substantially perpendicular to the chassis bottom wall 11 , and defines a securing hole 71 adjacent a rear edge thereof. A locking component 50 is secured on the drive bracket 60 and the securing member 70 , and it is substantially parallel to the chassis front wall 13 . The locking component 50 defines a locking hole 51 adjacent a top edge thereof.

Referring also to FIG. 2 , the airflow guiding duct 30 includes a duct top wall 35 , a duct sidewall 33 , and an entrance portion 31 connected to the duct sidewall 33 . The duct sidewall 33 includes a first vertical wall 331 , a second vertical wall 333 , and a third vertical wall 335 . A through opening 359 is defined in the duct top wall 35 . A first hook 353 is located on a front edge of the duct top wall 35 , for engaging in the securing hole 71 of the securing component 70 . A retaining portion 37 is located on the right edge of the duct top wall 35 , and is connected to the third vertical wall 335 . A resiliently deformable latch 370 with a retaining tab 371 is located on the retaining portion 37 , and the retaining tab 371 is configured for engaging in the locking hole 51 of the locking component 50 . A second hook 357 is located on a left edge of the duct top wall 35 , for engaging in the flange hole 1711 of the flange 17 , and a positioning tab 355 is located the left edge of the duct top wall 35 , for engaging with the flange 17 . A fixing pin 3310 extends down from the bottom end of the first vertical wall 331 , for engaging in the screw hole 112 of the chassis bottom wall 11 . The second vertical wall 333 connects the first vertical wall 331 and the third vertical wall 335 . The entrance portion 31 includes an entrance vertical wall 311 and an entrance horizontal wall 313 .

Referring also to FIG. 3 , in assembly, the airflow guiding duct 30 is placed in the chassis 10 . The duct top wall 35 is located on a top wall of the power supply 20 . The first hook 353 is engaged in the securing hole 71 of the securing component 70 . The retaining tab 371 is engaged in the locking hole 51 of the locking component 50 . The second hook 357 is engaged in the flange hole 1711 of the flange 17 . The positioning tab 355 is engaged with and positioned below the flange 17 . The first vertical wall 331 abuts a sidewall of the power supply bracket 20 , and the third vertical wall 335 abuts the locking component 50 . The fixing pin 3310 is engaged in the screw hole 112 of the chassis bottom wall 11 of the chassis 10 . The entrance portion 31 covers top portions of the memory cards 43 , and extends over a portion of the heat sink 41 . The entrance horizontal wall 313 is positioned above the memory cards 43 , and the entrance vertical wall 311 is positioned at one side of the memory cards 43 and is substantially parallel to the chassis front wall 13 . The entrance horizontal wall 313 is positioned between the entrance vertical wall 311 and the chassis front wall 13 .

In use, airflow flows in the chassis 10 via the first ventilation holes 131 of the chassis front wall 13 and towards the memory cards 43 . Part of the airflow is guided by the entrance portion 31 to flow over the memory cards 43 , and flows in a space defined among the airflow guiding duct 30 , the disk drive bracket 60 and the power supply bracket 20 . Air then passes through the power supply bracket 20 and flows out of the chassis 10 via the second ventilation holes 151 . With the airflow guiding duct 30 , heat generated from the memory cards 43 can be effectively removed.

›DETAILED DESCRIPTION · 2 of 2

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims as granted

18 claims

Log in to read the claims of this application.

Log in to unlock

Classifications

12 codes
IPC · International Patent Classification
Section A — Human necessities
  • A47B81/00
Section G — Physics
  • G06F1/20
Section H — Electricity
  • H05K5/00
  • H05K7/20
USPC · US Patent Classification
361/679.49361/695361/692361/679.51312/223.2454/184361/719361/752

Claim changes

Soon
Coming soonHow the claims changed between publication and grant

See which claims were amended, added or cancelled during examination, with every added and removed word marked.

AmendedAddedCancelledUnchanged

The published claims of this application are not paired with the granted ones in what we hold.

File wrapper

⤢ drag to zoomJan 2010Apr 2010Jul 2010Oct 2010Jan 2011Apr 2011Jul 2011Oct 2011Jan 2012USPTOApplicantNon-final rejectionFinal rejection
USPTOApplicanthover for detail · click to open
Pendency
1.9 y
689 days filing → grant
Office actions
2
non-final + final
Responses
2
no RCE
Examiner
Bradley H Thomas
art unit 2835 · TC 2800
Citations: 41 back · 16 forward

See the full prosecution history — every USPTO and applicant action on this file, in order.

Log in to unlock

Documents

Log in to open the documents of this file: the application as filed, every office action and response, the notice of allowance.

Log in to unlock

Chain of title

⤢ drag to zoom20102012201420162018202020222024202620282030Owner 2
Titlehover for detail · click to open

See the full assignment history — every owner this patent has passed through, with recordation dates and reel/frame numbers.

Log in to unlock