Method and apparatus to attenuate vibrations from an air mover assembly

Abstract

A reduced-vibration air mover assembly comprises a first blade housing to support a first motor housing and a first motor through a first set of struts, the first motor rotatably coupled to a first blade, and a second blade housing to support a second motor housing and a second motor through a second set of struts, the second motor rotatably coupled to a second blade, and a layer of damping material having a first surface adhered to at least one of the first motor housing, the first set of struts and the first blade housing, and a second surface adhered to at least one of the second motor housing, the second set of struts and the second blade housing. A method of reducing vibration transfer to a computer chassis comprises adhesively securing a layer of damping material intermediate a first air mover and a second air mover.

1 . An air mover assembly, comprising:
 a first air mover having a first motor in a first motor housing to rotate a first blade in a first direction within a first blade housing that supports the first motor through a first plurality of struts;   a second air mover having a second motor in a second motor housing to rotate a second blade in a second direction opposite the first within a second blade housing that supports the second motor through a plurality of second struts, wherein the first air mover and the second air mover are secured in axial alignment; and   vibration damping material disposed between the first air mover and the second air mover, the vibration damping material having a first surface secured to at least one of the first motor housing, the first blade housing and the first set of struts, and a second surface secured to at least one of the second motor housing, the second blade housing and the second set of struts.   
     
     
         2 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration damping material has a first surface secured to the first motor housing, the first blade housing and the first set of struts and a second surface secured to the second motor housing, the second blade housing and the second set of struts. 
     
     
         3 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration damping material is a unitary member. 
     
     
         4 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration damping material includes a plurality of discrete members. 
     
     
         5 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first set of struts comprises a groove to receive a plurality of wires to conduct an electrical current to the first motor. 
     
     
         6 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of struts is aligned with the second set of struts. 
     
     
         7 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration damping material comprises polystyrene. 
     
     
         8 . The air mover assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the layer of polystyrene has a thickness within the range from 0.006 to 0.014 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the layer of damping material is adhesively secured to a face of the first air mover using an acrylic-based damping adhesive and the second surface of the layer of damping material is adhesively secured to a face of the second, counter-rotating air mover using the acrylic-based damping adhesive. 
     
     
         10 . The air mover assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the thickness of the acrylic-based damping adhesive is within the range from 0.001 to 0.004 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of struts are adhesively secured to a first surface of the vibration damping material and the second set of struts are adhesively secured to the second surface of the vibration damping material. 
     
     
         12 . The air mover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the vibration damping material is a unitary member. 
     
     
         13 . The air mover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the vibration damping material includes a plurality of discrete members. 
     
     
         14 . The air mover assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second air movers are secured in a computer chassis without a vibration isolation system coupling the first and second air movers to the computer chassis. 
     
     
         15 . The air mover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the vibration damping material is homogeneous. 
     
     
         16 . The air mover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the vibration damping material is heterogeneous. 
     
     
         17 . The air mover assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the vibration damping material includes a plurality of layers.