Heat exchanger accessory for electronic circuit cabinets

• US 4,386,651 A
• Filed: 10/23/1981
• Issued: 06/07/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AUTZ + Herrmann Metallwaren-Und Maschinenfabrik
• Original Assignee: AUTZ + Herrmann Metallwaren-Und Maschinenfabrik
• Inventors: Reinhard, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS JR, ALBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/314,219
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 165/166, 165/104.33, 165/104.34, 361/384, 361/383, 361/385, 336/55, 336/57, 174/16 R
• US Class Current: 165/104.33
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/206 Air circulating in closed loop within cabinets wherein heat is removed through air-to-air heat-exchanger

Abstract

Identical plates of essentially box-like form in which one sidewall of the box is notched out, and a transverse sidewall opposite the notch removed, the plates being stacked edgewise to form a duct assembly with alternatingly appearing openings at the top and bottom and on the front and rear side where the cutouts are positioned. The respective top and bottom openings are connected, respectively, to an ambient air manifold and a blower, and to the interior of the electronic cabinet, with the side cutouts facing, respectively ambient air and the interior of the cabinet to establish two separate air flow circuits and provide for dust-free and contamination free ventilation of the interior of the electronic cabinet while establishing efficient heat exchange by forced air flow of ambient air parallel to the ducts carrying dust-free, but heated air from the cabinet. The plates are preferably assembled together to form a set or assembly unit which can be removed from their position between the top and bottom air manifolds for removal for cleaning as a separate unit.

Claims

1. Dust-sealed heat exchanger to cool dust-free air cooling air, for association with, or assembly to an electronic circuit cabinet (0, 50) having first (4, 5) and second (7, 8) blower means for circulating air;

first means (10a) defining a cooling air flow circuit in communication with ambient air and second means (10b) defining a dust-free air flow circuit in air flow communication with the interior of the cabinet, said air flow circuits being separated in dust-free sealed relation with respect to each other;

comprising the combination of

a package of essentially rectangular identically stacked plates (20), each having oppositely located edge portions projecting in a first direction and at right angles from the major plane of the plate to form side flanges (22,

     23) and having a further side portion projecting from the major plane of the plate at a right angle to form an end flange (27);

one (23) only of the side flanges being shorter than the other to form a cut-out or notch (26) adjacent the end flange (28);

said plates being assembled in said package with adjacent plates being reversely oriented so that the cut-out or notch (26) of adjacent plates will be at respectively opposite end portions of the package of the plates;

stiffening ribs (24,

     28) formed at the marginal end portions of said flanges and extending in a plane parallel to the major plane of an adjacent plate, the stiffening ribs being bonded to a next adjacent plate at the side opposite said first direction thereof to provide dust-tight sealing engagement therewith;

said package being applied to the cabinet with the plates extending at right angle to a wall thereof;

a first manifold box (3) positioned at an end portion of said package of plates and retaining said first blower means (4,

     5);

a cooling air flow communication opening (2) communicating with ambient air formed in said first manifold;

a second manifold box (6) positioned at the other end of the package of plates and retaining said second blower means (7,

     8);

a dust-free air flow communication opening (9) communicating with the interior of the cabinet,

said package being oriented such that the plates which are open at the end portion and in air flow communication with the first manifold have their cut-outs or notches (26) facing ambient air, and adjacent plates, which are open at the end portions and in air flow communication with the second manifold have their cut-outs or notches facing the interior of the cabinet, the plates with their respectively differently positioned cut-outs or notches (26) separating said air flow circuits while providing for heat exchange through the thickness thereof;

and a cover plate (30) closing off the flanges of the final plate of the package.

2. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 wherein the stiffening ribs (24, 28) and the plates are adhesively joined.

3. Heat exchanger according to claim 1 further including attachment means (36, 48) securing said plates in aligned, attached assembly.

4. Heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising an elongated housing structure (50);

the first manifold box (3) being positioned adjacent one end portion of the housing structure,

the second manifold box (6) being positioned at the other end portion of said housing structure;

and wherein said package of plates (20) forms a unitary assembly (35, 35'"'"') positioned between said manifold boxes (3,

     6);

and releasable locking means (37, 38;

37a, 38a), releasably retaining said assembly (35, 35'"'"') within the housing structure to permit release of the assembly from the housing structure without disturbance of said first and second manifolds (3,

     6).

5. Heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the releasable locking means comprises holding elements (37, 38) secured to at least one of the manifolds, engageable with the assembly (35, 35'"'"') formed by the package of plates (20) and selectively movable between engaged and not engaged position to permit locking and unlocking of said assembly within the housing structure.

6. Heat exchanger according to claim 5, wherein said locking means comprises clamping strips (37, 38;

37a, 38a) overlapping an edge or rim portion of the assembly (35, 35'"'"').

7. Heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said holding strips is removable from the assembly.

8. Heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said holding strips is pivotably secured to the respective box (3, 6).

9. Heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said holding strips (37a, 38a) is formed with a support abutment (52) for said assembly.

10. Heat exchanger according to claim 4, further including attachment means (36, 48) securing said plates in aligned relation, attached to each other, to thereby form said unitary assembly.

11. Heat exchanger according to claim 4, wherein the stiffening ribs (24, 28) and the plates are adhesively joined.

12. Heat exchanger according to claim 11, further including attachment means (36, 48) securing said plates in aligned relation, attached to each other, to thereby form said unitary assembly.