Computer system cooling

• US 6,924,977 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Ritson, Nigel D, Garnett, Paul J, Bestwick, Graham, Wilson, Helenaur
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US10/171,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 361/680, 361/683, 361684-687, 361690-697, 361724-727, 361/736, 361/794, 361/797, 361/802, 312/223.2, 312/204, 312/298, 312/334.4, 312/334.8, 312/138, 312/236, 622/592, 624/04, 624/07, 624/19, 364/708, 364/708.1, 454/186, 165/80.2, 165/80.3, 165121-127, 16510432-10434, 165/185, 165/106.33, 174/15.1, 174/16.1
• US Class Current: 361/679.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1425 of standardised dimensions, e.g. 19"-subrack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence

Abstract

A housing is provided for a modular computer system. The housing comprises a face through which a first removable computer system module is receivable at a module receiving location. The housing also comprises a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the module receiving location.

Claims

1. A housing for a modular computer system comprising:

a face through which removable computer system modules are receivable at first and second module receiving locations;

a divider arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the first module receiving location, wherein the barrier is configured to form a part of the divider when in the second position.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein the barrier is operable to be moved from the first position to the second position by a computer system module received at the first module receiving location.

3. The housing of claim 1, wherein the barrier is biased toward the first position.

4. The housing of claim 1, wherein the barrier is configured to rotate about a hinge axis between the first and second positions.

5. The housing of claim 1, wherein the first module receiving location is arranged vertically below the second receiving location.

6. The housing of claim 1, comprising two said module receiving locations, each said first receiving location having a barrier and a second module receiving location corresponding to each said first module receiving location and wherein each pair of first and second receiving locations have a divider.

7. The housing of claim 6, wherein at least part of the divider for each pair of first and second receiving locations is a unitary member with at least part of the divider for the other pair.

8. The housing of claim 1, wherein the barrier is configured to rotate about a hinge axis between the first and second positions and comprising a hinge at a junction between the barrier and a portion of the divider not formed by the barrier in the second position.

9. The housing of claim 1, wherein the first computer system module is a power supply module and the first module receiving location is a power supply module receiving location.

10. The housing of claim 9, comprising a second face through which a plurality of removable information processing modules are receivable at respective information processing module receiving locations, and an interconnection member intermediate the information processing module receiving locations and the power supply module receiving locations and arranged to provide connections therebetween.

11. The housing of claim 10, wherein the interconnection member comprises a plurality of apertures to allow a flow of cooling air therethrough.

12. A housing for a modular computer system comprising:

receiving means at a face through which removable computer system modules are receivable at first and second module receiving locations;

divider means arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

barrier means movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which a computer system module is received in the first module receiving location, wherein the barrier means is configured to form a part of the divider means when in the second position.

13. A modular computer system comprising:

an enclosure for receiving computer system modules;

a removable computer system module received at a first module receiving location at a face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

a removable computer system module received at a second module receiving location at the face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

a divider arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the first module receiving location, wherein the barrier is configured to form a part of the divider when in the second position.

14. The modular computer system of claim 13, wherein the barrier is operable to be moved from the first position to the second position by a computer system module received at the first module receiving location.

15. The modular computer system of claim 13, wherein the barrier is biased toward the first position.

16. The modular computer system of claim 13, wherein the barrier is configured to rotate about a hinge axis between the first and second positions.

17. The modular computer system of claim 13, wherein the first module receiving location is arranged vertically below the second receiving location.

18. The modular computer system of claim 13, comprising two said first module receiving locations each said first receiving location having a barrier, and a second module receiving location corresponding to each said first module receiving location and wherein each pair of first and second receiving locations have a divider.

19. The modular computer system of claim 18, wherein at least part of the divider for each pair of first and second receiving locations is a unitary member with at least part of the divider for the other pair.

20. The modular computer system of claim 13, wherein the barrier is configured to rotate about a hinge axis between the first and second positions and comprising a hinge at a junction between the barrier and a portion of the divider not formed by the barrier in the second position.

21. The modular computer system of claim 13, wherein the first computer system module is a power supply module and the first module receiving location is a power supply module receiving location.

22. The modular computer system of claim 21, comprising a second face through which a plurality of removable information processing modules are receivable at respective information processing module receiving locations, and an interconnection member intermediate the information processing module receiving locations and the power supply module receiving locations and arranged to provide connections therebetween.

23. The modular computer system of claim 22, wherein the interconnection member comprises a plurality of apertures to allow a flow of cooling air therethrough.

24. The modular computer system of claim 22, wherein the information processing modules are arranged to be cooled by a flow of cooling air therethrough and wherein each power supply module comprises at least one fan operable to drive a flow of cooling air through the power supply unit and through the information processing modules.

25. The modular computer system of claim 13, wherein the computer system module received at the first module receiving location comprises a buffer member operable to maintain the barrier in the second position when the computer system module is received at the first module receiving location.

26. The modular computer system of claim 25, wherein the buffer member comprises a protrusion on an upper surface of the computer system module received at the first module receiving location.

27. The modular computer system of claims 13, wherein the barrier comprises a buffer member operable to maintain the barrier in the second position when the computer system module is received at the first module receiving location.

28. The modular computer system of claim 27, wherein the buffer member comprises a spring member.

29. A modular computer system comprising:

enclosure means for receiving computer system modules;

removable computer system module means received at a first module receiving location at a face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

removable computer system module means received at a second module receiving location at the face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

divider means arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

barrier means movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the first module receiving location, wherein the barrier means is configured to form a part of the divider means when in the second position.

30. A method of impeding a by-pass flow of cooling air through a first of first and second computer module receiving locations, the receiving locations being divided by a divider, the first receiving location having a moveable barrier member which is configured to form a part of the divider when the barrier is in a storage position, the method comprising:

moving the barrier member from the storage position to a barrier position on depopulating the computer module receiving location; and

moving the barrier member from the barrier position to the storage position on populating the computer module receiving location.

31. A housing for a modular computer system comprising:

a face through which removable computer system modules are receivable at first and second module receiving locations;

a divider arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which a computer system module is received in the first module receiving location, wherein the first module receiving location is arranged vertically below the second receiving location.

32. A housing for a modular computer system comprising:

a face through which removable computer system modules are receivable at first and second module receiving locations;

a divider arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which a computer system module is received in the first module receiving location, the housing comprising two said first module receiving locations, each said first receiving location having a barrier, and a second module receiving location corresponding to each said first module receiving location and wherein each pair of first and second receiving locations have a divider.

33. The housing of claim 32, wherein at least part of the divider for each pair of first and second receiving locations is a unitary member with at least part of the divider for the other pair.

34. A housing for a modular computer system comprising:

a face through which removable computer system modules are receivable at first and second module receiving locations;

a divider arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which a computer system module is received in the first module receiving location, the barrier being configured to rotate about a hinge axis between the first and second positions and comprising a hinge at a junction between the barrier and a portion of the divider not formed by the barrier in the second position

35. A housing for a modular computer system comprising:

a face through which a first removable computer system module is receivable at a module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the module receiving location,

wherein the first computer system module is a power supply module and the first module receiving location is a power supply module receiving location, the housing further comprises a second face through which a plurality of removable information processing modules are receivable at respective information processing module receiving locations, and an interconnection member intermediate the information processing module receiving locations and the power supply module receiving locations and arranged to provide connections therebetween, the interconnection member comprising a plurality of apertures to allow a flow of cooling air therethrough.

36. A modular computer system comprising:

an enclosure for receiving computer system modules;

a removable computer system module received at a first module receiving location at a face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

a removable computer system module received at a second module receiving location at the face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

a divider arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the first module receiving location,

wherein the first module receiving location is arranged vertically below the second receiving location.

37. A modular computer system comprising:

an enclosure for receiving computer system modules;

a removable computer system module received at a first module receiving location at a face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

a removable computer system module received at a second module receiving location at the face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

a divider arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the first module receiving location, the modular computer system comprising two said first module receiving locations each said first receiving location having a barrier, and a second module receiving location corresponding to each said first module receiving location and wherein each pair of first and second receiving locations have a divider.

38. The modular computer system of claim 37 wherein at least part of the divider for each pair of first and second receiving locations is a unitary member with at least part of the divider for the other pair.

39. A modular computer system comprising:

an enclosure for receiving computer system modules;

a removable computer system module received at a first module receiving location at a face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

a removable computer system module received at a second module receiving location at the face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough;

a divider arranged substantially perpendicular to the face to divide the first module receiving location from the second module receiving location; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the first module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the first module receiving location,

wherein the barrier is configured to rotate about a hinge axis between the first and second positions and comprising a hinge at a junction between the barrier and a portion of the divider not formed by the barrier in the second position.

40. A modular computer system comprising:

an enclosure for receiving computer system modules;

a removable computer system module received at a module receiving location at a face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the module receiving location,

wherein the first computer system module is a power supply module and the first module receiving location is a power supply module receiving location, the modular computer system comprising a second face through which a plurality of removable information processing modules are receivable at respective information processing module receiving processing modules are receivable at respective information processing module receiving locations, and an interconnection member intermediate the information processing module receiving locations and the power supply module receiving locations and arranged to provide connections therebetween, the interconnection member comprising a plurality of apertures to allow a flow of cooling air therethrough.

41. A modular computer system comprising:

an enclosure for receiving computer system modules;

a removable computer system module received at a module receiving location at a face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the module receiving location,

wherein the computer system module comprises a buffer member operable to maintain the barrier in the second position when the computer system module is received at the module receiving location.

42. The modular computer system of claim 41, wherein the buffer member comprises a protrusion on an upper surface of the computer system module.

43. A modular computer system comprising:

an enclosure for receiving computer system modules;

a removable computer system module received at a module receiving location at a face of the enclosure and arranged to be cooled by flow of a cooling air therethrough; and

a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the module receiving location,

wherein the barrier comprises a buffer member operable to maintain the barrier in the second position when the computer system module is received at the module receiving location.

44. The modular computer system of claim 43 wherein the buffer member comprises a spring member.