AIR BACKFLOW PREVENTION IN AN ENCLOSURE

• US 20080310103A1
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Franz, John P., Della Fiora, Troy A., Allen, Joseph R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,800,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/690
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20181 Filters; Louvers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20727 within server blades for removing heat from heat source

Abstract

An air backflow prevention member includes a frame assembly including a plurality of vanes and a plurality of stops. The plurality of vanes are rotatable between an open position, wherein the plurality of vanes are oriented oblique to a direction of airflow and in contact with the plurality of stops, and a closed position, wherein the plurality of vanes are oriented perpendicular to the direction of airflow.

Claims

1. An air backflow prevention member, comprising:

a frame assembly comprising a mounting element and a locking element, the mounting element including a front edge forming an air inlet and the locking element including a rear edge forming an air outlet;

a plurality of vanes secured to the mounting element with the locking element and rotatable about an axis between a closed position wherein the plurality of vanes are parallel to the front edge and an open position wherein the plurality of vanes are oblique to the front edge; and

a plurality of stops positioned on the locking element for each of the plurality of vanes to limit rotation of each of the plurality of vanes to be less than perpendicular to the front edge.

2. The air backflow prevention member of claim 1 wherein the mounting element includes a plurality of slots adapted to receive the plurality of vanes.

3. The air backflow prevention member of claim 2 wherein the locking element includes a plurality of projections cooperating with the plurality of slots to secure the plurality of vanes to the mounting element.

4. The air backflow prevention member of claim 1 wherein the locking element forms a circular plenum at the rear edge.

5. The air backflow prevention member of claim 1 wherein a thickness of the frame assembly from the front edge to the rear edge is greater than a thickness of each of the plurality of vanes.

6. The air backflow prevention member of claim 5 wherein the thickness of the frame assembly is less than 1 inch.

7. The air backflow prevention member of claim 1 wherein the locking element comprises a first locking portion positioned at a top of the frame assembly and a second locking portion positioned at a bottom of the frame assembly.

8. An enclosure for regulating temperature of electronic modules positioned within the enclosure, comprising:

a chassis having at least one airflow inlet and at least one airflow outlet;

an air mover positioned within the chassis and creating airflow from said at least one airflow inlet to said at least one airflow outlet; and

an air backflow prevention member positioned within the chassis, fluidly coupled to the air mover and positioned to receive airflow from the at least one airflow inlet, the backflow prevention member including a frame assembly having a plurality of vanes and a plurality of stops for the plurality of vanes, the plurality of vanes rotatable between an open position, wherein the plurality of vanes are oriented oblique to a direction of airflow and in contact with the plurality of stops, and a closed position, wherein the plurality of vanes are oriented perpendicular to the direction of airflow.

9. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein the air backflow prevention member is positioned between the airflow inlet and the air mover.

10. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein the frame assembly includes a mounting element and a locking element adapted to secure the plurality of vanes to the mounting element.

11. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein the plurality of vanes are in the open position when the air mover is in operation and in the closed position when the air mover is not in operation.

12. The enclosure of claim 8 wherein a thickness of the frame assembly is greater than a thickness of the plurality of vanes.

13. The enclosure of claim 12 wherein the thickness of the frame assembly is less than 1 inch.

14. A method for regulating temperature within an enclosure, comprising:

providing a chassis having an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet;

positioning an electronic module within the chassis proximate the airflow inlet;

positioning an air mover in the chassis proximate the airflow outlet; and

positioning an air backflow prevention member within the chassis between the electronic module and the air mover, the backflow prevention member fluidly coupled to the air mover and positioned to receive airflow from the airflow inlet, the backflow prevention member including a frame assembly having a plurality of vanes and a plurality of stops for the plurality of vanes, the plurality of vanes rotatable between an open position, wherein the plurality of vanes are oriented oblique to a direction of airflow and in contact with the plurality of stops, and a closed position, wherein the plurality of vanes are oriented perpendicular to the direction of airflow.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the frame assembly includes a mounting element and a locking element including the plurality of stops, the locking element adapted to secure the plurality of vanes to the mounting element.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the mounting element includes a plurality of slots adapted to receive the plurality of vanes.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the locking element includes a plurality of projections cooperating with the plurality of slots to secure the plurality of vanes to the mounting element.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the locking element forms a circular plenum.

19. The method of claim 14 and further comprising:

operating the air mover such that the plurality of vanes move to the open position; and

moving the plurality of vanes to the closed position when not operating the air mover.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein a thickness of the frame assembly is greater than a thickness of the plurality of vanes.