Fan

Abstract

Examples are disclosed herein that relate to fans for cooling systems. One example provides a device including an impingement surface, and a fan positioned to direct a flow of air onto the impingement surface. The fan comprises an impeller and motor assembly, and a housing comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a side extending at least partially between the inlet end and the outlet end. The fan further comprises a strut located to position the impeller and motor assembly relative to the housing, and an opening formed in the side of the housing, the opening comprising an upstream edge located farther from the impingement surface than a downstream edge of the housing along an axial direction of the fan.

1 . A device comprising:
 an impingement surface; and   a fan positioned to direct a flow of air onto the impingement surface, the fan comprising
 an impeller and motor assembly, 
 a housing comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a side extending at least partially between the inlet end and the outlet end, 
 a strut located to position the impeller and motor assembly relative to the housing, and 
 an opening formed in the side of the housing, the opening comprising an upstream edge located farther from the impingement surface than a downstream edge of the housing along an axial direction of the fan. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upstream edge of the opening is located farther from the impingement surface than a downstream edge of the impeller. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a polygonal transverse cross-section and a plurality of sides. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the opening in the side is a first opening in a first side, and wherein the housing comprises one or more other openings formed in one or more sides other than the first side. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the housing comprises openings formed in a first subset of sides and not formed in a second subset of sides. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an elliptical cross-section transverse to the axial direction. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fan comprises an axial fan. 
     
     
         8 . A fan, comprising:
 an impeller and motor assembly;   a housing comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a side extending at least partially between the inlet end and the outlet end;   a strut located to position the impeller and motor assembly relative to the housing; and   an opening formed in the side of the housing, the opening comprising an upstream edge located farther from the outlet end of the fan along an axial direction of the fan than a downstream edge of the housing.   
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 8 , wherein the upstream edge of the opening is farther from the outlet end than a downstream edge of the impeller. 
     
     
         10 . The fan of  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a polygonal transverse cross-section and a plurality of sides. 
     
     
         11 . The fan of  claim 10 , wherein the opening in the side is a first opening in a first side, and wherein the housing comprises one or more other openings formed in one or more sides other than the first side. 
     
     
         12 . The fan of  claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises openings formed in a first subset of sides and not formed in a second subset of sides. 
     
     
         13 . The fan of  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises an elliptical transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         14 . The fan of  claim 8 , wherein the fan comprises an axial fan. 
     
     
         15 . A computing device, comprising:
 an impingement surface; and   a fan positioned to direct a flow of air onto the impingement surface, the fan comprising
 an impeller and motor assembly including an impeller having a trailing edge, 
 a housing comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a side extending at least partially between the inlet end and the outlet end, 
 a strut located to position the impeller and motor assembly relative to the housing, and 
 an opening formed in the side of the housing, the opening comprising an upstream edge located farther from an impingement surface than a downstream edge of the impeller along an axial direction of fan. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises a polygonal transverse cross-section and a plurality of sides. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the opening in the side is a first opening in a first side, and wherein the housing comprises one or more other openings formed in one or more sides other than the first side. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises openings formed in a first subset of sides and not formed in a second subset of sides. 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein the housing comprises an elliptical transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein the fan comprises an axial fan.