Server blade chassis with airflow bypass damper engaging upon blade removal

• US 6,771,499 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo International Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Crippen, Martin Joseph, Trumbo, Brian Alan, Matteson, Jason Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/306,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100765A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/687-695, 361/610, 361/616, 162/29--92, 415/213.1, 165/80.3, 312/223--22
• US Class Current: 361/679.48
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20718 Forced ventilation of a gaseous coolant in closed loop H05K7/20754

Abstract

A server blade system includes a plurality of slots for receiving server blades. The system includes an air moving device to move air through each of the server blades installed in the system. When one of the server blades is removed, a bypass damper rotates into the empty slot to obstruct the flow of air through the slot. The bypass damper is pivotally mounted within each slot and includes a torsion spring to move the damper into the obstruction position. Two hinge pin mounts, which are “U” shaped in cross section, provide a snap fit for two hinge pins positioned at one end of the bypass damper. A spring mounting pin is positioned between the two hinge pins and a torsion spring is mounted over the spring mounting pin.

Claims

1. A server blade system for use with first and second server blades, wherein each server blade has at least one air flow opening, said server blade system comprising:

a chassis having first and second slots, wherein a server blade can be inserted into each of said slots;

an air moving device for moving air through a first server blade when the first server blade is installed into said first slot;

a bypass damper positioned in said second slot, said bypass damper having first and second positions, said bypass damper obstructing the flow of air through said second slot when said bypass damper is in said second position, said bypass damper being moved to said first position in response to a second server blade being inserted into said second slot, said bypass damper being moved to said second position in response to the removal of the second server blade from said second slot.

2. The server blade system of claim 1, wherein said bypass damper is pivotally mounted within said second slot, such that said bypass damper rotates between said first and second positions.

3. The server blade system of claim 2, further comprising a torsion spring for moving said bypass damper from said first to said second position.

4. The server blade system of claim 3, further comprising:

a first hinge pin;

a hinge pin mount, said hinge pin mount being “

U”

shaped in cross section and providing a snap fit for said first hinge pin.

5. The server blade system of claim 4, further comprising:

a second hinge pin spaced apart from said first hinge pin;

a spring mounting pin positioned between said first and second hinge pins, wherein said torsion spring is mounted on said spring mounting pin.

6. The server blade system of claim 2, further comprising:

a hinge pin;

a hinge pin mount, said hinge pin mount being “

U”

shaped in cross section and providing a snap fit for said hinge pin.

7. The server blade system of claim 3, further comprising:

first and second hinge pins, said first hinge pin being spaced apart from said second hinge pin;

a spring mounting pin positioned between said first and second hinge pins, wherein said torsion spring is mounted on said spring mounting pin.