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Plenum bypass serial fan cooling subsystem for computer systems

  • US 5,572,403 A
  • Filed: 01/18/1995
  • Issued: 11/05/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A cooling subsystem in a chassis of a computer system, said computer system having at least one specified heat producing component device to be cooled, said cooling subsystem comprising:

  • first and second cooling fans having first and second motors associated therewith for driving said first and second cooling fans, respectively; and

    a common plenum only between said cooling fans substantially shrouding and providing a pathway for air communication between said first and second cooling fans, said first and second fans cooperating to provide an optimum rate of air flow from without said chassis to within said chassis to provide air exchange within said chassis, said air flow within said chassis being in a predetermined direction to provide directed cooling of said specified device within said chassis, said first cooling fan located between said specified device and said second cooling fan and said common plenum substantially free of said specified device, said common plenum allowing said first and second fans to continue to cooperate to provide a minimum air flow to provide a minimum air exchange within said chassis, said air flow remaining in said predetermined direction to continue said directed cooling of said specified device when a selected one of said first and second motors fails, said plenum comprising a bypass aperture therein between said fans for allowing said air to alternatively enter and exit said plenum, said bypass aperture increasing a rate of air flow across said subsystem when a selected one of said first and second motors fails.

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