Fan apparatus and electrical equipment including such apparatus

Abstract

A fan includes a plurality of blades 9 carried by a hub housing 10 mounted on a rotatable motor shaft 6. The shaft 6 includes a heat pipe 11 to transfer heat from the motor bearings 7 and 8 to a heat dissipative plate 15. The fan is particularly useful for cooling electrical and electronic equipment housed within a cabinet, such as, for example, in a telecommunications arrangement.

1 . Fan apparatus comprising at least one blade carried by a shaft which is rotatably mounted in a motor bearing arrangement, the shaft comprising a heat pipe having an evaporator section and a condenser section, and the condenser section being more distant from the motor bearing arrangement than the evaporator section. 
   
   
       2 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  and including a heat-dissipative member which is in thermal contact with the condenser section of the heat pipe. 
   
   
       3 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein the heat-dissipative member is said at least one blade. 
   
   
       4 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein the heat-dissipative member is a substantially planar thermally conductive plate. 
   
   
       5 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein the heat-dissipative member is configured to direct airflow so as to reduce the airflow noise level compared to the noise level if the member were absent. 
   
   
       6 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein the heat pipe is extensive on both sides of the motor bearing arrangement and includes two condenser sections, each being more distant from the motor bearing arrangement than an associated evaporator section. 
   
   
       7 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  and wherein the heat pipe comprises a single evaporator section located between the two condenser sections. 
   
   
       8 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  and including a heat dissipative member in thermal contact with each of the condenser sections. 
   
   
       9 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein the heat pipe is adapted to be operable in any orientation. 
   
   
       10 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  and including a heat sink, the condenser section being thermally connected to the heat sink, and the heat sink being actively cooled. 
   
   
       11 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein a motor winding is encapsulated. 
   
   
       12 . Fan apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  and including a fan tray and a plurality of fans mounted in said fan tray, at least one fan of said plurality comprising at least one blade carried by a shaft which is rotatably mounted in a motor bearing arrangement, the shaft comprising a heat pipe having an evaporator section and a condenser section, and the condenser section being more distant from the motor bearing arrangement than the evaporator section. 
   
   
       13 . Electrical apparatus comprising electrical equipment, a cabinet which houses said equipment, and at least one fan, said fan including at least one blade carried by a shaft which is rotatably mounted in a motor bearing arrangement, the shaft comprising:
 a heat pipe having an evaporator section and a condenser section, and the condenser section being more distant from the motor bearing arrangement than the evaporator section.   
   
   
       14 . Electrical apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  and wherein the condenser section of the heat pipe is in thermal contact with said housing. 
   
   
       15 . Electrical apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  and including means for actively cooling the housing. 
   
   
       16 . Electrical apparatus as claimed in  claim 13  and wherein said at least one fan is included in a pull-through system.