Wash down filtered fan apparatus

• US 6,643,130 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2002
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ice Qube, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DeMarchis, John A., Palmer, Jeffrey S.
• Inventors: DeMarchis, John A., Palmer, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TOLIN, GERALD P
• Application Number:
  US10/189,687
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 174/16.1, 312/236, 454/184, 454/275, 454/280, 454/283, 454/367, 165/80.3, 165/121-126, 361/687, 361/690, 361/692, 361/694, 361/695, 361/717-719
• US Class Current: 361/695
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20181 Filters; Louvers

Abstract

A wash down filtered fan apparatus for cooling and filtering a cabinet enclosure housing electromechanical equipment and sensitive electronics is provided consisting of an intake housing and exhaust housing. A blower mounted within an intake housing induces ambient air for cooling while a plurality of downwardly angled baffles provide protection at both intake and exhaust ports preventing the threat of detrimental external elements consisting of dust, residue, rain, pressurized water and other splashing liquids from penetrating such apparatus and cabinet enclosure housing.

Claims

1. A wash down filtered fan apparatus in combination with a sealed enclosure enfolding electromechanical equipment for protection from detrimental external elements, comprising:

an intake housing secured to a first vertical surface of said sealed enclosure having a downwardly oriented intake inlet port, an intake outlet port, and at least one intake baffle located upward from said intake inlet port;

a suction means secured within said intake housing for inducing ambient air into said intake inlet port for passage into said sealed enclosure and about said electromechanical equipment extracting heat from said electromechanical equipment;

an exhaust housing secured to a second opposing vertical surface of said sealed enclosure having an exhaust inlet port for acceptance of high temperature end air internally generated within said sealed enclosure, a downwardly oriented exhaust outlet port, at least one exhaust baffle located upward from said exhaust outlet port, functioning in combination to promote efficient exit of said high end temperature air to said ambient air.

2. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 1, whereby an air-permeable filter is located downward from said suction means and above said intake baffle within said intake housing for screening out undesirable particulate from entrance into said sealed enclosure.

3. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said filter is horizontally and removably secured within a channel for cleaning and replacement purposes.

4. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said filter is inserted and removed to and from said channel through a channel aperture, said channel being located between a first vertical intake surface and a second opposing vertical inside intake surface of said intake housing, whereby said channel is covered with a removable cover plate conforming to a shape and size of said channel aperture.

5. A wash down filtered apparatus according to claim 4, whereby a cover plate gasket is secured on a perimeter of said channel aperture between an outside vertical intake surface and said cover plate.

6. A wash down filtered apparatus according to claim 4, whereby said channel is generally constructed as a frame structure for acceptance of said filter.

7. A wash down filtered apparatus according to claim 6, whereby said filter is formed from a network of webbed pores.

8. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 1, whereby said intake housing consists of an intake base panel generally being of L-shaped cross section for cooperatively fitting to an intake cover panel at an open side of said intake cover panel and said exhaust housing consists of an exhaust base panel generally being of L-shaped cross section for cooperatively fitting to an exhaust cover panel at an open side of said exhaust cover panel.

9. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 1, whereby said suction means consists of a blower secured to an upper section of said intake base panel.

10. A wash down filtered apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said intake baffle is downwardly angled functioning to prevent a threat of liquids from entering said intake housing, simultaneously allowing said ambient air to flow around said intake baffle and upward through an intake passage within said intake housing into said sealed enclosure through a first cut-out, said exhaust baffle is downwardly angled functioning to allow said high end temperature air to flow through a second cut-out into an exhaust passage of said exhaust housing in a downward direction into said ambient air functioning to prevent said threat of liquids from entering said exhaust housing.

11. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 10, whereby said intake outlet port and said exhaust inlet port are constructed in the form of a lattice grid.

12. A wash down filtered fan apparatus in combination with a sealed enclosure enfolding electromechanical and sensitive electronics equipment for protection from detrimental external elements, comprising:

an intake housing secured to a first vertical surface of said sealed enclosure having a downwardly oriented intake inlet port, an intake outlet port, and a plurality of downwardly angled intake baffles located upward from said intake inlet port, said intake baffles functioning to prevent said detrimental external elements comprising dust, residue, rain, pressurized water and other splashing liquids from penetrating said intake inlet port;

a blower upwardly secured upward from said baffles within said intake housing for inducing ambient air into said intake inlet port through an intake passage into said sealed enclosure and about said electromechanical equipment for cooling of said electromechanical equipment;

an exhaust housing secured to a second opposing vertical surface of said sealed enclosure having an exhaust inlet port for acceptance of high end temperature end air internally generated within said sealed enclosure, a downwardly oriented exhaust outlet port, a plurality of downwardly angled outlet baffles located upward from said exhaust outlet port, functioning in combination to promote efficient exit of said high end temperature air through an exhaust passage back to said ambient air, said outlet baffles functioning to prevent said detrimental elements comprising said dust, said residue, said rain, said pressurized water and said other splashing liquids from penetrating said exhaust outlet;

an air permeable filter horizontally and removably secured within a channel downward from said blower and upward from said intake baffles within said intake housing for screening out undesirable particulate from entrance into said sealed enclosure.

13. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said intake baffles are staggered and extend in alternative placement from opposing intake inside side walls of said intake housing and said exhaust baffles are staggered and extend in alternative placement from opposing inside sidewalls of said exhaust housing.

14. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said filter is inserted and removed to and from said channel through a channel aperture, said channel being located between a first vertical intake surface and a second opposing vertical intake surface of said intake housing, whereby said channel is sealed with a removable cover plate conforming to a shape and size of said channel aperture.

15. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 14, whereby a cover plate gasket is secured by a fastening means by a fastening means on a perimeter of said channel aperture between an outside vertical intake surface and said cover plate.

16. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 15, whereby said channel generally consists of a frame structure for acceptance of said filter.

17. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 16, whereby said filter is formed from a network of webbed pores.

18. A wash down filtered fan apparatus according to claim 17, whereby said blower consists of an electric motor and a centrifugal fan encased within a housing.