Centrifugal fan and housing thereof

Abstract

A centrifugal fan includes a casing and a fan cover located on the casing. The casing includes a sidewall defining at least one latching groove. A step is formed in the at least one latching groove. The fan cover includes at least one latching leg corresponding to the at least one latching groove. The at least one latching leg includes a locking portion. The locking portion includes a plurality of wedge-shaped hooks extending latarally and outwardly from the locking portion. The hook has a tapered outer surface for guiding the at least one latching leg to slide into the at least one latching groove and a locking shoulder formed at a topmost portion of the hook. The locking shoulder of the at least one latching leg abuts against the step of the at least one latching groove.

1 . A centrifugal fan comprising:
 a casing comprising a base plate and a sidewall extending upwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the base plate, the sidewall defining at least one latching groove, the at least one latching groove having an upper narrow portion and a lower wide portion, the narrow portion being located above the wide portion, the narrow portion having a smaller width than the wide portion, a step being formed at a joint between the narrow portion and the wide portion;   a fan cover located on the casing and comprising a top plate and at least one latching leg corresponding to the at least one latching groove, the at least one latching leg extending downwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the top plate and comprising:   a head portion connected with the top plate;   a neck portion extending downwardly from the head portion, the neck portion having a smaller width than the narrow portion of the at least one latching groove and received in the narrow portion of the at least one latching groove; and   a locking portion formed at a bottom of the neck portion, the locking portion comprising a plurality of wedge-shaped hooks extending laterally outwardly from the locking portion, each of the hooks having a tapered outer surface for guiding the at least one latching leg into the at least one latching groove, a locking shoulder being formed at a top of each of the hooks, a slot being longitudinally defined through the locking portion and the neck portion, the locking shoulder of the at least one latching leg abutting against the step of the at least one latching groove; and   an impeller rotatably mounted in a receiving space cooperatively defined by the fan cover and the casing.   
   
   
       2 . The centrifugal fan as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall forms at least one clamping portion corresponding to the at least one latching groove, and the at least one clamping portion is configured for preventing the at least one latching leg from moving outwardly and radially in the at least one latching groove. 
   
   
       3 . The centrifugal fan as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one clamping portion comprises two opposite L-shaped clamping arms spaced from each other, the two clamping arms being respectively located at two opposite sides of the narrow portion of the at least one latching groove and surrounding the narrow portion of the at least one latching groove. 
   
   
       4 . The centrifugal fan as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall defines a cutout in a top thereof corresponding to and communicating with the at least one latching groove, the cutout having a width larger than that of the narrow portion, with a step being formed at a joint between the cutout and the narrow portion. 
   
   
       5 . The centrifugal fan as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the head portion of the at least one latching leg is received in the cutout, a bottom of the head portion resting on the step formed at the joint between the cutout and the narrow portion. 
   
   
       6 . A housing of a centrifugal fan comprising:
 a casing comprising a base plate and a sidewall extending upwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the base plate, an outer surface of the sidewall defining at least one latching groove, a step being formed in the at least one latching groove;   a fan cover located on the casing and comprising at least one latching leg corresponding to the at least one latching groove, an elastically deformable locking portion being formed at a bottom of the at least one latching leg, the at least one latching leg being received in the at least one latching groove and the locking portion abutting against the step of the at least one latching groove.   
   
   
       7 . The housing as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the locking portion comprises two opposite wedge-shaped hooks, the hook has a tapered outer surface and a locking shoulder formed at a topmost portion thereof, a slot is longitudinally defined between the two hooks and provides an elastically deformable space for the locking portion, and the locking shoulder abuts against the step of the at least one latching groove. 
   
   
       8 . The housing as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the sidewall forms at least one clamping portion corresponding to the at least one latching groove, and the at least one clamping portion is configured for preventing the at least one latching leg from moving outwardly and radially away in the at least one latching groove. 
   
   
       9 . The housing as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one clamping portion comprises two opposite L-shaped clamping arms spaced from each other, the two clamping arms being respectively located at two opposite sides of the narrow portion of the at least one latching groove and surrounding the narrow portion of the at least one latching groove. 
   
   
       10 . The housing as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the sidewall defines a cutout in a top thereof corresponding to and communicating with the at least one latching groove, the cutout having a larger width than the narrow portion, with a step being formed at a joint between the cutout and the narrow portion. 
   
   
       11 . The housing as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the head portion of the at least one latching leg is received in the cutout, a bottom of the head portion resting on the step of the cutout.