Hot-pluggable cooling fan system with an interference safety device

Abstract

A cooling fan system has a fan assembly that is removably housed in a chassis. The fan assembly receives electrical power, and the fan blades rotate when housed inside the chassis. As the fan assembly is removed from an opening in the chassis, the power to the fan assembly is disconnected, but the fan blades may continue to rotate. A mechanical stopper, such as a row of bristles that extends into the opening in the chassis, interferes with the rotation of the fan blades as the fan assembly is removed from the chassis. The mechanical stopper stops rotation of the fan blades, thereby preventing harm to the user removing the fan assembly. After the fan assembly is completely removed from the chassis, a spring-loaded door closes the opening in the chassis further protecting the user from contacting adjacent spinning fan blades or hazardous energy sources within the chassis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hot-pluggable cooling fan system comprising: 
 a fan assembly having a plurality of fan blades; and    a chassis to removably house the fan assembly, comprising: 
 an opening through which the fan assembly can be inserted; and  
 a mechanical stopper to interfere with the motion of the fan blades as the fan assembly is removed from the chassis.  
   
     
     
         2 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical stopper includes bristles that extend into the opening.  
     
     
         3 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical stopper includes a flexible plastic finger that extends into the opening.  
     
     
         4 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical stopper contacts the fan blades from only one side of the plane of rotation of the fan blades.  
     
     
         5 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical stopper contacts the fan blades from both sides of the plane of rotation of the fan blades.  
     
     
         6 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan system of  claim 1 , further comprising a door to cover the opening.  
     
     
         7 . The door of  claim 6 , wherein the door is a spring-loaded door to cover the opening after the fan assembly is removed from the chassis.  
     
     
         8 . A hot-pluggable fan assembly for user insertion into and removal from a chassis, the fan assembly being electrically powered when inside the chassis and comprising a fan blade that is exposed to a user when outside the chassis, wherein, as the fan assembly is removed from the chassis, a mechanical stopper associated with the chassis stops any continued rotation of the fan blade.  
     
     
         9 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical stopper includes bristles that extend into the opening and contact the fan blade only as the fan assembly is removed from the chassis.  
     
     
         10 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical stopper includes a flexible plastic finger that extends into the opening and contacts the fan blade only as the fan assembly is removed from the chassis.  
     
     
         11 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical stopper contacts the fan blades from only one side of the plane of rotation of the fan blades.  
     
     
         12 . The hot-pluggable cooling fan assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical stopper contacts the fan blades from both sides of the plane of rotation of the fan blades.  
     
     
         13 . A method for removing a fan assembly from a hot-pluggable cooling fan system that includes a fan assembly having a plurality of blades, and a chassis to removably house the fan assembly, the method comprising guiding the fan assembly out of the chassis through an opening in the chassis, thus causing a mechanical stopper associated with the chassis to interfere with the motion of the fan blades as the fan assembly is guided through the opening.  
     
     
         14 . The method as defined by  claim 13 , wherein the mechanical stopper includes bristles that extend into the opening.  
     
     
         15 . The method as defined by  claim 13 , wherein the mechanical stopper includes a flexible plastic finger that extends into the opening.  
     
     
         16 . The method as defined by  claim 13 , further comprising a door to cover the opening.  
     
     
         17 . The method as defined by  claim 17 , wherein the door is a spring-loaded door to cover the opening after the fan assembly is removed from the chassis.