Hot-swap fan terminal mount structure and fan using same

Abstract

A hot-swap fan terminal mount structure for use with a fan includes at least one support seat, which has a fixing section, a supporting section and a receiving section. The fixing section is connected with the supporting section, and the receiving section is formed on the supporting section for receiving at least one terminal therein. With these arrangements, the hot-swap fan terminal mount structure can have reduced manufacturing cost and the terminal received in the receiving section is self-aligning. And, a fan using the hot-swap fan terminal mount structure is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hot-swap fan terminal mount structure for use with a fan, comprising at least one support seat having a fixing section, a supporting section and a receiving section; the fixing section being connected with the supporting section, and the receiving section being formed on the supporting section for receiving at least one terminal therein. 
     
     
         2 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support seat is integrally formed. 
     
     
         3 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the support seat is n-shaped or U-shaped. 
     
     
         4 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the fixing section is formed on two longitudinally opposite ends of the support seat, and the supporting section is formed on two transversely opposite sides of the support seat. 
     
     
         5 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the fixing section is perpendicularly connected with the supporting section. 
     
     
         6 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein there are two support seats, and the two support seats are L-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the supporting section of each of the two support seats is connected to the fixing section of the other support seat to thereby connect the two L-shaped support seats to each other face to face. 
     
     
         8 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the supporting sections and the fixing sections of the two support seats are connected to one another by a manner selected from the group consisting of welding, riveting, gluing, inserting, and locking. 
     
     
         9 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the fixing section is formed on a longitudinal end of each L-shaped support seat, and the supporting section is formed on a lateral side of each L-shaped support seat. 
     
     
         10 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one clearance is existed between the receiving section and the terminal received therein, allowing the terminal to freely slide in the receiving section. 
     
     
         11 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting section has one side in contact with the fan and is provided on another side located across the receiving section with a downward extended supporting leg, and the supporting leg having a lower end in contact with the fan. 
     
     
         12 . The hot-swap fan terminal mount structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fixing section is provided with at least one fixing hole. 
     
     
         13 . A fan, comprising:
 a fan frame including a wall portion defining a first space therein, and two axially opposite ends of the wall portion being radially outward extended to form a front plate portion and a rear plate portion corresponding to the front plate portion, so that at least one second space is defined between the front plate portion and the rear plate portion;   a fan wheel being mounted in the first space, and including a wheel hub and a plurality of blades; and   a hot-swap fan terminal mount structure having at least one support seat mounted on the fan frame and located in the second space; the support seat including a fixing section, a supporting section and a receiving section; the fixing section being connected with the supporting section; the supporting section having one side in contact with the wall portion, and the receiving section being formed on the supporting section for receiving at least one terminal therein.   
     
     
         14 . The fan as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the supporting section is provided on another side located across the receiving section with a downward extended supporting leg, and the supporting leg having a lower end in contact with the wall portion of the fan. 
     
     
         15 . The fan as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the fixing section of the support seat is provided with at least one fixing hole. 
     
     
         16 . The fan as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the fan frame is provided on any one corner thereof with at least one through hole corresponding to the at least one fixing hole on the fixing section of the support seat. 
     
     
         17 . The fan as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising a fastening element extended through the through hole and the fixing hole to mount the support seat to the fan frame.