Directing air in a chassis

• US 7,403,387 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Pav, Darren B., Bryant, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; Gregory D
• Application Number:
  US11/532,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20080068795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 361/694
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means

Abstract

An air directing apparatus includes a first air directing member defining a component access passageway. A second air directing member is moveably coupled to the first air directing member, whereby the second air directing member is moveable relative to the first air directing member into a first position and a second position, wherein with the second air directing member in the first position the component access passageway is substantially obstructed and with the second air directing member in the second position the component access passageway is substantially unobstructed.

Claims

1. An air directing apparatus, comprising:

a first air directing member defining a component access passageway, wherein the first air directing member comprises a cable routing feature; and

a second air directing member moveably coupled to the first air directing member, whereby the second air directing member is moveable relative to the first air directing member into a first position and a second position, wherein with the second air directing member in the first position the component access passageway is substantially obstructed and with the second air directing member in the second position the component access passageway is substantially unobstructed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first air directing member comprises at least one chassis coupling member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first air directing member comprises a second air directing member securing feature, whereby the second air directing member engages the second air directing member securing feature when the second air directing member is in the first position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first air directing member defines a cable routing channel located adjacent the component access passageway.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second air directing member is operable to moveably couple to and decouple from the first air directing member without the use of a tool.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second air directing member is pivotally coupled to the first air directing member, whereby the second air directing member is pivotable from the first position to the second position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second air directing member is slideably coupled to the first air directing member, wherein the second air directing member is slidable between the first position and the second position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second air directing member comprising a first air directing member securing feature, whereby the first air directing member engages the first air directing member securing feature when the second air directing member is in the first position.

9. An information handling system (IHS), comprising:

an IHS chassis;

a fan mounted in the chassis;

an IHS component coupled to the chassis; and

an air directing apparatus coupled to the chassis, located adjacent the IHS component, and operable to direct air from the fan, the air directing apparatus comprising;

a first air directing member defining a component access passageway that is located immediately adjacent the IHS component; and

a second air directing member moveably coupled to the first air directing member, whereby the second air directing member is moveable relative to the first air directing member into a first position and a second position, wherein with the second air directing member in the first position the component access passageway is substantially obstructed and the first air directing member and the second air directing member are operable to direct air from the fan, and with the second air directing member in the second position the component access passageway is substantially unobstructed and the IHS component is accessible through the component access passageway.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first air directing member comprises at least one chassis coupling member that engages the IHS chassis and couples the first air directing member to the IHS chassis.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first air directing member comprises a second air directing member securing feature, whereby the second air directing member engages the second air directing member securing feature when the second air directing member is in the first position.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first air directing member comprises a cable routing feature, whereby a cable is coupled to the cable routing feature.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first air directing member defines a cable routing channel located adjacent the component access passageway, whereby a cable is located in the cable routing channel.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the second air directing member is operable to moveably couple to and decouple from the first air directing member without the use of a tool.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the second air directing member is pivotally coupled to the first air directing member, whereby the second air directing member is pivotable from the first position to the second position.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the second air directing member is slideably coupled to the first air directing member, wherein the second air directing member is slidable between the first position and the second position.

17. A method of directing air in an IHS chassis, comprising:

providing an IHS chassis comprising an IHS component located in the chassis, a fan coupled to the chassis, and an air directing apparatus located adjacent the IHS component, wherein the air directing apparatus comprises a first air directing member defining a component access passageway and a second air directing member moveably coupled to the first air directing member;

moving the second air directing member into the component access passageway; and

directing air from the fan with the first air directing member and the second air directing member.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

moving the second air directing member out of the component access passageway; and

accessing the IHS component through the component access passageway.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

coupling a cable to the first air directing member to route the cable through the IHS chassis.