High efficiency blower system with integral backflow preventor

• US 5,890,959 A
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Digital Equipment Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Ducharme, Robert, Pettit, Julie T., McNany, Eugene, Ferris, Michael K., Bruning, Theodore Ernst III
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boles, Derek
• Application Number:
  US09/052,751
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 454/184, 454/346, 454/347, 454/353, 454/359, 157/849
• US Class Current: 454/184
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2019 Fan safe systems, e.g. mechanical devices for non stop cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7885 Multiple slit

Abstract

In a multiblower system for cooling electronic components, each blower has a backflow preventor. The backflow preventor has two pieces of flexible material and a screen attached to the intake side of the blower assembly. Each of the pieces of flexible material is scored through to form a petaled opening through which air may pass. The scores on one of the pieces of flexible material are out of alignment with the scores on the other piece when assembled together in the blower assembly. When the blower is running, the petals in the pieces of flexible material open to allow air to pass through the blower assembly. When the blower is stopped, the petals are closed against the screen due to the pressure differential between the inside of the enclosure and the outside of the enclosure caused by the effect of the draw of the other blowers in the system. The non-aligned scores on the two pieces of flexible material causes a seal to be formed through which air may not pass back into the enclosure through the stopped blower. In addition, the flexible material acts as a damper between the blower assembly and the electronics enclosure. Further, the petaled opening of the backflow preventor directs air more toward the center of the blower creating a laminar airflow, reducing the turbulence of the air as it is removed from the enclosure.

Claims

1. A blower system, comprising:

a housing having a first opening and a second opening;

a first layer of flexible material positioned over the first opening, the first layer of flexible material having a first plurality of scores crossing at a first point, the first plurality of crossed scores forming a first plurality of petals;

a second layer of flexible material positioned over the first layer of flexible material, the second layer of flexible material having a second plurality of scores crossing at a second point, the second plurality of crossed scores forming a second plurality of petals, said first layer and said second layer positioned over the first opening so that the first point and the second point are in vertical alignment and the first plurality of scores and the second plurality of scores are out of alignment with respect to each other; and

,

a grate fastened over the second layer of flexible material, wherein movement of air through the first opening into the housing causes the petals to open allowing the air to pass through the second opening, and movement of air through the second opening urges the petals against the grate creating a seal preventing air from passing through the first opening.

2. The blower system of claim 1 wherein the flexible material is a fiber-reinforced rubber.

3. The blower system of claim 1 further comprising:

an enclosure to which the housing is attached wherein the grate is a side of the enclosure.

4. The blower system of claim 1 wherein each piece of flexible material has three cross-cuts.