System for dissipating heat from a power supply
First Claim
1. Apparatus for dissipating heat from a power supply mounted in a chassis, the power supply enclosed in a housing that includes at least one opening and a main fan for drawing air through the opening for cooling the power supply, the apparatus comprising:
- a plenum structure configured to fit over said housing in the chassis;
at least one auxiliary fan mounted in said plenum structure adjacent to and in a stacked position with the main fan for moving air through said at least one opening so that air passes over said power supply resulting from operation of the main fan and the auxiliary fan; and
means for signaling malfunction of said auxiliary fan to a user.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for dissipating heat from a power supply enclosed within a housing having an air inlet and outlet. The system includes fans disposed in a plenum structure adapted to fit over the housing to thereby establish air communication between the fans and the housing inlet so that operation of the fans causes air to flow through the inlet, the power supply, and out through the outlet, thereby dissipating heat from the power supply. Each fan is operable independent of any other of the fans. The relationship between the fans may be serial, parallel, or a combination of serial and parallel. The fans are monitored to detect failure of any of the fans and, upon such detection, an alert is activated.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus for dissipating heat from a power supply mounted in a chassis, the power supply enclosed in a housing that includes at least one opening and a main fan for drawing air through the opening for cooling the power supply, the apparatus comprising:
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a plenum structure configured to fit over said housing in the chassis; at least one auxiliary fan mounted in said plenum structure adjacent to and in a stacked position with the main fan for moving air through said at least one opening so that air passes over said power supply resulting from operation of the main fan and the auxiliary fan; and means for signaling malfunction of said auxiliary fan to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for dissipating heat from a power supply mounted in a chassis, the power supply being enclosed in a housing that includes at least one opening and a main fan for drawing air through the opening for cooling the power supply, the apparatus comprising:
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a plenum structure configured to retro-fit over said housing mounted in a chassis, and defining a cavity for receiving said housing first and second auxiliary fans mounted in said plenum structure adjacent to and in a stacked position with the main fan for location over said at least one opening, said auxiliary fans being configured for moving air through said at least one opening so that air passes over said power supply resulting from operation of the main fan and the auxiliary fans; such that upon malfunction of one of said auxiliary fans, the other auxiliary fan and the main fan enable a sufficient amount of air to pass over said power supply to adequately dissipate heat therefrom; and means for signaling malfunction of one of said auxiliary fans to a user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus for dissipating heat from a power supply mounted in a chassis of a personal computer, said computer having a display, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing enclosing said power supply, said housing including at least one opening and a main fan for drawing air through the opening for cooling the power supply; a plenum structure configured to fit over said housing in the chassis, said plenum structure defining a cavity for receiving said housing, and including first and second auxiliary fans for location adjacent to and in a stacked position with said main fan, said auxiliary fans being configured for moving air through said housing and said at least one opening so that air passes over said power supply resulting from operation of the main fan and the auxiliary fans; such that upon malfunction of one of said auxiliary fans, the other auxiliary fan and the main fan enable a sufficient amount of air to pass over said power supply to adequately dissipate heat therefrom; circuitry for detecting malfunction of one of said auxiliary fans; and means operatively connected to said circuitry for generating a user alert in the form of a notice on said display upon said malfunction detection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for dissipating heat from a power supply, said power supply enclosed within a housing mounted in a chassis, said housing including at least one opening and a main fan, the method comprising the steps of:
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fitting a plenum structure over said at least one opening of said housing in the chassis such that a cavity defined by said plenum receives said housing, and auxiliary fans mounted in said plenum structure are positioned adjacent to and in a stacked relationship with the main fan for moving air through said at least one opening so that air passes over said power supply resulting from operation of the main fan and the auxiliary fans, such that upon malfunction of one of said auxiliary fans, the other auxiliary fan and the main fan enable a sufficient amount of air to pass over said power supply to adequately dissipate heat therefrom; and signaling said malfunction of at least one of said auxiliary fans to a user. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification