Plenum bypass serial fan cooling subsystem for computer systems
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A cooling subsystem and method for a chassis of a computer system. The cooling subsystem comprises: (1) first and second cooling fans having first and second motors associated therewith for driving the first and second cooling fans, respectively and (2) a common plenum substantially shrouding and providing a pathway for air communication between the first and second cooling fans, the first and second fans cooperating to provide an optimum rate of air flow from without the chassis to within the chassis to provide air exchange within the chassis, the air flow within the chassis being in a predetermined direction to provide directed cooling of a specified device within the chassis, the common plenum allowing the first and second fans to continue to cooperate to provide a minimum air flow to provide a minimum air exchange within the chassis, the air flow remaining in the predetermined direction to continue the directed cooling of the specified device when a selected one of the first and second motors fails. The plenum comprises a bypass aperture therein for allowing the air to alternatively enter and exit the plenum, the bypass aperture increasing a rate of air flow across the subsystem when a selected one of the first and second motors fails.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing cooling in a chassis of a computer system, said computer system having at least one specified heat producing component device to be cooled, said method comprising the steps of:
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driving first and second cooling fans with associated first and second motors, respectively; and providing a pathway for air communication between said first and second cooling fans with a common plenum only between said cooling fans substantially shrouding said first and second fans, said first and second cooling 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 specific 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification