AIR DIRECTING DEVICE

• US 20090227197A1
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chatsworth Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chatsworth Products Incorporated
• Inventors: PROULX, Joseph Charles, LEWIS, Richard Evans II
• Granted Patent: US 10,133,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 454/284
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20736 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades

Abstract

An air directing device for thermal management in side breathing equipment includes at least three vertical panels disposed in generally parallel relationship and horizontally spaced a fixed distance from one another. Each panel defines a fin arranged orthogonally relative to an airflow path for deflection of cooling air into side breathing equipment. At least one of the panels is an inner panel that is wider than two outer panels. The air directing device further includes at least one connection member connecting the outer panels to one another.

Claims

1. An air directing device for thermal management in side breathing equipment comprising:

a) at least three vertical panels disposed in generally parallel relationship and horizontally spaced a fixed distance from one another, each panel defining a fin arranged orthogonally relative to an airflow path for deflection of cooling air into side breathing equipment, wherein at least one of the panels is an inner panel that is wider than two outer panels; and

b) at least one connection member connecting the outer panels to one another.

2. The air directing device of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection member is two connection plates, each positioned at opposing ends of the panels.

3. The air directing device of claim 2, wherein each connection plate has a T shape.

4. The air directing device of claim 3, wherein a length of a cross portion of each T shaped connection plate is measured as a first distance between the outer panels, and a length of a trunk portion of each T shaped connection plate is the width of the inner panel.

5. The air directing device of claim 1, wherein the at least three vertical panels are three vertical panels.

6. The air directing device of claim 1, wherein the at least three vertical panels are four vertical panels.

7. The air directing device of claim 6, wherein the panels include two front panels and two rear panels.

8. The air directing device of claim 7, wherein the two front panels mirror the two back panels.

9. The air directing device of claim 1, wherein the at least three vertical panels include two inner panels.

10. The air directing device of claim 9, wherein the two inner panels are the same width and the two outer panels are the same width.

11. An electronic equipment enclosure comprising:

a) an air directing device disposed in a side space of the enclosure having at least two vertical panels of differing widths disposed a fixed horizontal distance from one another;

b) wherein a first panel of the at least two vertical panels directs a first portion of airflow through a side space in the enclosure toward side breathing equipment mounted in the enclosure but permits a second portion of airflow through the side space to pass by, and wherein a second panel of the at least two vertical panels directs at least a portion of the second portion of airflow toward the side breathing equipment.

12. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the at least two vertical panels are disposed in parallel relationship to the front and rear of the enclosure.

13. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the air directing device includes three vertical panels.

14. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the air directing device includes four vertical panels.

15. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the air directing device is mounted to internal structural members of the enclosure.

16. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the air directing device is mounted to a side panel of the enclosure.

17. The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the air directing device is aligned with an air intake grille of the side breathing equipment mounted in the enclosure.

18. A method of directing airflow within an enclosure having electronic equipment mounted therein, comprising:

a) mounting an air directing device having at least two vertical panels of different widths in a side space formed between the electronic equipment and a side panel of the enclosure;

b) routing airflow into at least a front or a rear of the enclosure and then into the side space;

c) directing a first portion of the airflow, using a first panel of the at least two vertical panels, toward the equipment but permitting a second portion of the airflow to pass by; and

d) directing at least a portion of the second portion of the airflow, using the second panel of the at least two vertical panels, toward the equipment.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic equipment is side breathing electronic equipment having at least one air intake grille facing the side space, and wherein the directing steps include directing the respective portions of the airflow toward the at least one air intake grille.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the air directing device has at least three vertical panels of at least two different widths in the side space, the at least three vertical panels defining at least one inner panel and at least two outer panels, with the inner panel being wider than an outer panel.