Compact ventilation unit with exhaust ports for electronic apparatus

• US 6,042,474 A
• Filed: 06/04/1997
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Robert T., Reintjes, Tina M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boles, Derek
• Application Number:
  US08/869,267
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 454/184, 454/187, 415/182.1, 361/695
• US Class Current: 454/184
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/166 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2019 Fan safe systems, e.g. mechanical devices for non stop cooling

Abstract

A ventilation unit for operative arrangement within an electronic apparatus. This unit has: an exterior side having a first exhaust port separated from, and located in stacked relationship with, a second exhaust port; and a first and second powered air mover, each having an intake side oriented at an angle greater than zero degrees from the exterior side. The first powered air mover intake side is in communication with the first exhaust port. One powered air mover can be located closer to the exterior side than the other. Gas, such as air, removed from the electronic apparatus can be drawn in through an intake side of the second powered air mover, then directed through a duct cover before it flows between a covered side of the first powered air mover and a support member side of the unit. The angle of orientation is preferably between twenty and one-hundred degrees. Additional powered air movers can be accommodated, each with a respective exhaust port. Also, a ventilation unit with an exterior side having first and second exhaust ports; the exterior side being adjacent a support member side to which a second powered air mover has been secured. A first powered air mover is included in communication with the first exhaust port. The first powered air mover can have a first covered side opposite an intake side. Gas drawn in through an intake side of the second powered air mover flows between the first covered side and the support member side before exiting the second exhaust port. Additionally, a method of venting thermal energy generated within an electronic apparatus through an exterior side of a ventilation unit operating within the apparatus. This method comprises the steps of drawing air in through a first intake side of a first powered air mover and out a first exhaust port of the exterior side, separately from drawing air in through a second intake side of a second powered air mover and out a second exhaust port of the exterior side located in stacked relationship with the first exhaust port.

Claims

1. A ventilation unit for operative arrangement within an electronic apparatus, the unit comprising:

an exterior side having a first exhaust port separated from and in stacked relationship with, a second exhaust port;

a first and second powered air mover, each having an intake side oriented at an angle greater than zero degrees from said exterior side;

said first powered air mover intake side in communication with said first exhaust port and said second powered air mover intake side in communication with said second exhaust port; and

a tapered duct for directing the flow of gas out of said second powered air mover, wherein a height of said exterior side is less than a sum of an outer thickness of said first powered air mover plus an outer thickness of said second powered air mover.

2. The unit of claim 1 wherein said first powered air mover is located closer to said exterior side than said second powered air mover and said angle is less than one-hundred degrees.

3. The unit of claim 2 wherein said second powered air mover is located a distance from said exterior side that is substantially equal to or greater than a length of said first powered air mover.

4. The unit of claim 1 further comprising a support member side adjacent said exterior side, and wherein said second powered air mover further comprises a second covered side opposite said second powered air mover intake side, said second covered side secured to said support member side.

5. The unit of claim 4 wherein:

said first powered air mover further comprises a first covered side opposite said first powered air mover intake side; and

said second powered air mover comprises a radial impeller fan to draw air in through said second powered air mover intake side, out through said tapered duct, then between said first covered side and said support member side, and out said second exhaust port.

6. The unit of claim 5 wherein said support member side comprises mounting flaps to which said first powered air mover is secured.

7. The unit of claim 4 wherein said second powered air mover comprises a propeller fan having its axis of rotation substantially along the perpendicular to said support member side, to draw air in through said second powered air mover intake side and out said second exhaust port.

8. The unit of claim 1 wherein:

said first powered air mover further comprises a first covered side opposite said first powered air mover intake side, said first covered side to baffle the gas flowing out said tapered duct.

9. The unit of claim 1 wherein an outer width of said exterior side is less than the sum of an outer width of said first powered air mover plus an outer width of said second powered air mover;

and said angle is approximately 90 degrees.

10. The unit of claim 9 wherein said outer width of said first powered air mover is substantially equal to said outer width of said second powered air mover.

11. The unit of claim 1 wherein an outer width of said exterior side is substantially equal to the larger of either an outer width of said first powered air mover or an outer width of said second powered air mover.

12. The unit of claim 11 wherein said outer width of said first powered air mover is greater than an outer width of said second powered air mover.

13. The unit of claim 1 further comprising a support member side adjacent said exterior side and a back side to which an electrical connector is attached, said support member side comprising mounting flaps to which said first powered air mover is secured.

14. The unit of claim 13 wherein said exterior side further comprises a grated panel to which a latch, for releasably securing the unit within the electronic apparatus, is attached.

15. The unit of claim 1:

wherein said exterior side further comprises a third exhaust port separated from and in stacked relationship with, said second exhaust port; and

further comprising a third powered air mover, said second powered air mover located closer to said exterior side than said third powered air mover.

16. The unit of claim 15 wherein an outer width of said exterior side is substantially equal to the largest outer width of either of said first, second, or third powered air mover.

23. A method of using the ventilation unit of claim 1 to vent thermal energy generated within the electronic apparatus through the exterior side of the ventilation unit.

17. A ventilation unit for operative arrangement within an electronic apparatus, the unit comprising:

an exterior side having first and second exhaust ports;

said exterior side adjacent a support member side to which a second powered air mover has been secured; and

a first powered air mover in communication with said first exhaust port, wherein said first powered air mover has a first covered side opposite an intake side; and

gas is drawn in through an intake side of said second powered air mover, out through a tapered duct, and then between said first covered side and said support member side, wherein a height of said exterior side is less than a sum of an outer thickness of said first powered air mover plus an outer thickness of said second powered air mover.

18. The unit of claim 17 wherein said second powered air mover is located a distance from said exterior side that is greater than a length of said first powered air mover, and said support member side comprises mounting flaps to which said first powered air mover is secured.

19. The unit of claim 17 wherein:

said first and second powered air movers each comprise a radial impeller fan to draw air in through a respective intake side.

20. The unit of claim 17 wherein the apparatus is a computerized device and said first and second powered air movers operate concurrently to expel air through said exhaust ports.

21. The unit of claim 17 further comprising a powered air mover failure indicator and wherein said first and second powered air movers operate independently and concurrently to expel air through said exhaust ports as needed.

22. A ventilation unit for operative arrangement within an electronic apparatus, the unit comprising:

an exterior side having first, second, and third exhaust ports;

said exterior side adjacent a support member side to which a third powered air mover has been secured;

a first powered air mover in communication with said first exhaust port; and

a second powered air mover in communication with said second exhaust port, wherein said first, second, and third exhaust ports are located in stacked relationship;

said first powered air mover has a first covered side opposite an intake side; and

gas is drawn in through an intake side of said second towered air mover, out through a tapered duct, and then flows along said first covered side and out said second exhaust port, wherein a height of said exterior side is less than a sum of an outer thickness of said first powered air mover plus an outer thickness of said second powered air mover plus an outer thickness of said third powered air mover.