Gentlemen, remove your impellers

Posted by Rob Beschizza, November 19, 2008 9:42 AM | permalink

Did you ever buy a case fan only to think, "Damn! If only I could remove the impeller?" Gelid Solutions has a fan for you: the Wing UV Blue Removable Impeller Edition.

Product Page [Gelid]

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Discussion

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#1 posted by pork musket , November 19, 2008 9:57 AM

Why?

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#2 posted by Rob Beschizza

, November 19, 2008 10:02 AM

I have no idea.

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#3 posted by echolocate chocolate , November 19, 2008 10:09 AM

At last!

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#4 posted by bardfinn , November 19, 2008 10:31 AM

Yowza!

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#5 posted by entropy , November 19, 2008 10:35 AM

Can you modify it? Seems possible as long as you keep balancing and fit in mind. So now you can paint, chrome, or glue du-dads to your fan blades. I'm sure there are some even more creative ideas that i'm missing. Good gadget.

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#6 posted by jim , November 19, 2008 10:53 AM

I would like to see variable pitch blades that reduce noise from cavitation.

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#7 posted by Scuba SM , November 19, 2008 11:02 AM

Actually, I could see that being useful for cleaning dust off the blades.

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#8 posted by echolocate chocolate , November 19, 2008 11:17 AM

This is actually for "silent computing" modders. The fan runs a lot quieter without the blades.

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#9 posted by technogeek , November 19, 2008 11:37 AM

Or maybe blades are available in a range of colors.

(Geek chic...)

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#10 posted by MrfixitRick , November 19, 2008 12:13 PM

It's for the optional Squirrel Cage Hamster Training Wheel...build up those quads and ham(ster)strings on your pet as they learn to run at approx. 180 mph.

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#11 posted by Anonymous , November 19, 2008 12:34 PM

Um those arent impellers, those are soft rubber grommets for mounting the fans.

You use them in place of screws so that metal to metal contact is removed and thus sound is not passed to other metal objects to resonate.

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#12 posted by Garr , November 19, 2008 1:05 PM

What's an "impeller"?

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#13 posted by Rob Beschizza

, November 19, 2008 1:14 PM

I impel you to look it up.

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#14 posted by Garr , November 19, 2008 1:26 PM

You realise you might as well just have answered :)

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#15 posted by Garr , November 19, 2008 1:26 PM

I just looked up the german meaning, and I still don't know exactly which part that is...

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#16 posted by controlbroke , November 19, 2008 1:42 PM

THE POWER OF RICE IMPELLS YOU
THE POWER OF RICE IMPELLS YOU

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#17 posted by Anonymous , November 19, 2008 1:58 PM

I assume the four black bits are some kind of removable axle upon which the fan spins, but I don't think there are any 'impellers' involved, unless this fan has some kind of...no just checked the site and it doesn't have any liquids involved. Rule of thumb, impellers are for moving liquids radially to the axis of rotation, propellers move fluids (gases or liquids) axially and fans move gases only(usually air).

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#18 posted by dculberson , November 19, 2008 2:03 PM

Garr; hint: look it up in English.

You might know it as a fan blade.

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#19 posted by dculberson , November 19, 2008 2:04 PM

Oh, and Anon11, from the manufacturer's page: "The fan impeller can be removed..."

No, the black things aren't the impeller, but the impeller is removable.

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#20 posted by PaulR , November 19, 2008 3:30 PM

To be fair, pretty much all boxer-type fans have removable fans. If you try hard enough.

I take mine apart every once in a while, to grease the bearing until I can get a replacement.

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#21 posted by toaste , November 19, 2008 3:39 PM

Interesting bearing design.

You can already remove the impeller on most fans, it's just a bit of work to remove the split-ring washer attached to the back of the shaft.

What's really interesting about these is the use of a self-lubricating plastic bearing -- without oil dust and contaminants won't stick in the bearing and slowly wear down the surface.

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#22 posted by Coreburn , November 19, 2008 3:40 PM

I can't resist...
http://letmegooglethatforyou.com/?q=impeller

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#23 posted by Rob Beschizza

, November 19, 2008 7:40 PM

Update from the makers, who wish to stress exactly what the deal is :)

"Since the bearing is an unique bearing, the impeller can be clicked out for cleaning purposes, and the fan and the motor are even dust and water proof."

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#24 posted by chef

, November 19, 2008 11:19 PM

The fans are a bit pricey at 12.50USD for an 80mm, but they seem pretty nice - I'd pick one up.

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#25 posted by Garr , November 20, 2008 1:52 AM

dculberson:

Thats exactly the point. If the impeller were the Blade, you might as well refer to it as the fan, in which case I'll requote Rob:

...the impeller can be clicked out for cleaning purposes, and the fan and the motor are even dust and water proof

As you see, even the makers distinguish between impeller and fan.

But wow, I've elicited quite some attention for something that started out as a half-joke.

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#26 posted by dculberson , November 20, 2008 7:09 AM

The impeller is the blade, the blade is not the complete fan, it's only a part of the fan. So calling the blade the fan is like calling a car's wheels the car.

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#27 posted by AirPillo , November 25, 2008 3:34 PM

Well, there's a company that sells fans with enlobal bearings designed to readily (if not easily, it takes some yanking) pop out of their housing to be cleaned.

Maybe this is the same idea?