Vertical exhaust duct for electronic equipment enclosure

• US 10,440,847 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2018
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chatsworth Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chatsworth Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, II, Richard Evans, Vanlith, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Mukundbhai G
• Application Number:
  US15/977,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20180263127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0213 Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20 Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20736 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades

Abstract

An electronic equipment enclosure comprises a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels. The panels include at least side, top and back panels defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom and a rear thereof. The top panel includes an opening there through that is rectangular in shape. The equipment enclosure further comprises an exhaust air duct extending upward from the top panel of the enclosure. The exhaust air duct is rectangular in cross-section and is disposed in surrounding relation to, and in fluid communication with, the top panel opening. The exhaust air duct is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the enclosure from cool air entering the enclosure, thereby improving thermal management of the enclosure.

Claims

1. An electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:

(a) a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and cross members, the frame structure having a front-to-back length and a side-to-side width;

(b) a top panel mounted on the frame structure, the top panel including;

(i) a plurality of outer edges, each outer edge of the plurality of outer edges partially defining a perimeter of the top panel, the perimeter having a front-to-back length and a side-to-side width, wherein each outer edge is generally perpendicular to two other outer edges,

(ii) a plurality of inner edges that define a rectangular opening in the top panel, the rectangular opening having a front-to-back length and a side-to-side width, wherein each inner edge of the plurality of inner edges is generally parallel to two outer edges, and

(iii) wherein the side-to-side width of the rectangular opening is at least 85% of the side-to-side width of the top panel perimeter;

(c) side panels and a back panel mounted on the frame structure and, together with the top panel, at least partially enclosing the frame structure and defining a single compartment in which an electronic component is mounted; and

(d) an exhaust air duct, extending upward from the top panel, wherein;

(i) at least a lower section of the exhaust air duct is rectangular in cross-section that is defined by four panels having smooth interior surfaces and intersecting each other at right angles, the cross-section having a front-to-back length and a side-to-side width,

(ii) the front-to-back length of the exhaust air duct cross-section is substantially the same as the front-to-back length of the top panel rectangular opening,

(iii) the side-to-side width of the exhaust air duct cross-section is substantially the same as the side-to-side width of the top panel rectangular opening, and

(iv) the lower section of the exhaust air duct is disposed in surrounding relation to, and in fluid communication with, the top panel opening such that the panels of the lower section of the exhaust air duct are directly aligned with the inner edges of the top panel and an interior of the exhaust air duct is in direct and unobstructed fluid communication with the interior of the single compartment;

(e) wherein hot air from the electronic component travels vertically, within the single compartment, to the rectangular top panel opening without passing through the back panel of the compartment; and

(f) wherein the exhaust air duct is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the compartment from cool air entering the compartment, thereby improving thermal management of the enclosure.

2. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the rectangular top panel opening is disposed toward the rear of the compartment.

3. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 2, wherein the rectangular top panel opening is disposed entirely in a rear half of the top panel.

4. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 3, wherein the front-to-back length of the rectangular opening is at least 45% of the front-to-back length of the top panel perimeter.

5. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 2, wherein a distance from a rear of the rectangular opening and a rear of the top panel is from 0% to 3% of the front-to-back length of the top panel.

6. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 2, wherein one or more access openings are disposed in a front half of the top panel.

7. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6, wherein the access opening include cable openings.

8. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 7, wherein the cable openings are rectangular brush openings.

9. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the back panel is generally air-impervious to prevent heated air from escaping therethrough.

10. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the side-to-side width of the exhaust air duct is selected to correspond to the width of the enclosure such that the width is as wide as possible and still be mountable to the top of the enclosure.

11. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the panels of the exhaust air duct are constructed of a smooth, stiff material.

12. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the lower section of the exhaust air duct has a bottom opening that is substantially the same size and shape as a size and shape of the rectangular opening of the top panel.

13. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein a respective narrow portion of the top panel extends along each side of the rectangular opening.

14. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 13, wherein the exhaust air duct is attached to the respective narrow portions of the top panel via mounting flanges attached directly thereto.

15. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein an air plenum is defined by an interior of the back panel, interiors of the side panels, and a rear of equipment mounted in the enclosure, wherein the air plenum extends vertically within the enclosure, wherein the air plenum has a side-to-side width, and wherein the side-to-side width of the rectangular opening is substantially as wide as the side-to-side width of the air plenum.

16. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 15, wherein the air plenum has a front-to-back length, and wherein the front-to-back length of the rectangular opening is substantially as long as the front-to-back length of the air plenum.

17. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 15, wherein the side-to-side width of the exhaust air duct is substantially as wide as the side-to-side width of the air plenum.

18. An electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:

(a) a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and cross members, the frame structure having a front-to-back length and a side-to-side width;

(b) a top panel mounted on the frame structure, the top panel including;

(i) a plurality of outer edges, each outer edge of the plurality of outer edges partially defining a perimeter of the top panel, the perimeter having a front-to-back length and a side-to-side width, wherein each outer edge is generally perpendicular to two other outer edges,

(ii) a plurality of inner edges that define a rectangular opening in the top panel, the rectangular opening having a front-to-back length and a side-to-side width, wherein each inner edge of the plurality of inner edges is generally parallel to two outer edges, and

(iii) wherein the side-to-side width of the rectangular opening is at least 85% of the side-to-side width of the top panel perimeter; and

(c) side panels and a back panel mounted on the frame structure and, together with the top panel, at least partially enclosing the frame structure and defining a single compartment in which an electronic component is mounted;

(d) wherein an air plenum is defined by an interior of the back panel, interiors of the side panels, and a rear of equipment mounted in the enclosure, wherein the air plenum extends vertically within the enclosure, wherein the air plenum has a side-to-side width, and wherein the side-to-side width of the rectangular opening in the top panel is substantially as wide as the side-to-side width of the air plenum;

(e) wherein hot air from the electronic component travels vertically, within the single compartment, to the rectangular top panel opening without passing through the back panel of the compartment; and

(f) wherein the rectangular opening in the top panel is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the compartment from cool air entering the compartment, thereby improving thermal management of the enclosure.

19. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 18, wherein a respective narrow portion of the top panel extends along each side of the rectangular opening.

20. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 19, wherein an exhaust air duct is attached to the respective narrow portions of the top panel via mounting flanges attached directly thereto.