Air mover with thermally coupled guide vanes

Abstract

An air mover comprising a housing and a plurality of blades rotatably disposed within the housing. A plurality of guide vanes are fixed within the housing. The guide vanes are thermally coupled to an electronic component such that heat generated by the electronic component is transferred through the guide vanes into an airflow generated by rotating the blades.

1 . An air mover comprising: 
 a housing;    a plurality of blades rotatably disposed within said housing; and    a plurality of guide vanes fixed within said housing, wherein said guide vanes are thermally coupled to an electronic component such that heat generated by the electronic component is transferred through said guide vanes into an airflow generated by rotating said plurality of blades.    
   
   
       2 . The air mover of  claim 1  further comprising a heat transfer element that thermally couples said guide vanes to the electronic component.  
   
   
       3 . The air mover of  claim 2  wherein said heat transfer element comprises a heat pipe.  
   
   
       4 . The air mover of  claim 2  wherein said heat transfer element comprises a fluid loop.  
   
   
       5 . The air mover of  claim 2  wherein said heat transfer element is integrated into said housing proximate to said plurality of guide vanes.  
   
   
       6 . The air mover of  claim 1  wherein said housing is directly coupled to the electronic component.  
   
   
       7 . The air mover of  claim 1  further comprising a heat sink coupled to said housing.  
   
   
       8 . The air mover of  claim 7  wherein said heat sink comprises a plurality of fins protruding radially from a center portion.  
   
   
       9 . The air mover of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of blades are removable from said plurality of guide vanes.  
   
   
       10 . A computer assembly comprising: 
 a electronic component that generates heat;    an air mover comprising a stator housing and a rotor housing, wherein the stator housing is thermally coupled to said electronic component;    a plurality of rotating blades disposed within the rotor housing;    a motor coupled to said plurality of rotating blades, wherein said motor is disposed within the rotor housing;    a plurality of stationary guide vanes disposed within the stator housing such that an airflow generated by said rotating blades passes across said guide vanes.    
   
   
       11 . The computer assembly of  claim 10  wherein the rotor housing of said air mover is detachable from the stator housing of said air mover.  
   
   
       12 . The computer assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a heat transfer element that thermally couples the stator housing of said air mover to said electronic component.  
   
   
       13 . The computer assembly of  claim 10  wherein the stator housing of said air mover is directly coupled to said electronic component.  
   
   
       14 . The computer assembly of  claim 10  wherein the stator housing of said air mover further comprises integral heat transfer elements.  
   
   
       15 . The computer assembly of  claim 14  wherein said heat transfer elements comprise a fluid loop.  
   
   
       16 . The computer assembly of  claim 14  wherein said heat transfer elements comprise a heat pipe.  
   
   
       17 . A heat transfer method comprising: 
 thermally coupling a plurality of stationary guide vanes to a heat generating component;    rotating a plurality of blades so as to generate an airflow; and    passing the airflow across the plurality of stationary guide vanes so as to straighten the airflow and transfer heat from the stationary guide vanes into the airflow.    
   
   
       18 . The heat transfer method of  claim 17  wherein the stationary guide vanes are thermally coupled to the heat generating component by a heat pipe.  
   
   
       19 . The heat transfer method of  claim 17  further comprising passing the airflow over a heat sink comprising a plurality of fins protruding radially from a center portion that is thermally coupled to a heat source.  
   
   
       20 . The heat transfer method of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of stationary guide vanes are disposed within a housing that is directly coupled to the heat generating component.