Ducted exhaust equipment enclosure

• US 8,737,068 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chatsworth Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chatsworth Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Krietzman, William, Lewis, Richard Evans II, Vanlith, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Datskovskiy, Michail V
• Application Number:
  US13/348,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20120194999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 36167946-6795, 361690-697, 361/688, 361/689, 361724-727, 361/831, 165/80.2, 165/80.3, 165/104.19, 165/104.21, 165/104.33, 165/104.34, 165121-127, 165/185, 454/184, 454/359, 312/223.2, 312/223.3, 312/236, 312/265.5, 138/151, 138/157, 138/158, 138/149, 138/145, 138/165, 138/141, 138/163, 138/119, 138/155
• US Class Current: 361/690
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1488 Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20745 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20754 Air circulating in closed loop within cabinets

Abstract

An electronic equipment enclosure includes a frame structure at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels defining a compartment in which one or more electronic components are mounted and an exhaust air duct that is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the compartment from cool air entering the compartment, thereby improving thermal management of the enclosure. The exhaust duct includes a lower duct section extending upward from the top panel of the compartment and an upper duct section telescoping upward from an upper end of the lower duct section. Each duct section includes four panels connected together by hinged corner fittings such that the section is collapsible. The upper duct section includes an outwardly flared portion.

Claims

1. An electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:

(a) a frame at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels to define a compartment;

(b) one or more electronic components stored in the compartment;

(c) a column of space defined by three panels of the plurality of panels and faces of the one or more electronic components;

(d) a first rectangular opening, defined by interior edges of a top panel of the compartment, arranged directly above the column of space;

(e) a second rectangular opening, defined by a first vertical exhaust duct section, arranged directly above the first rectangular opening and the column of space; and

(f) a third rectangular opening, defined by a second vertical exhaust duct section, arranged directly above the second rectangular opening, the first rectangular opening, and the column of space;

(g) wherein the second vertical exhaust duct section may be translated vertically relative to the first vertical exhaust duct section;

(h) wherein each of the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections includes four generally planar duct panels;

(i) wherein the duct panels of at least one of the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections are connected together with corner fittings; and

(j) wherein each corner fitting includes a hinge to facilitate the collapse of the respective vertical exhaust duct section from a use state to a flattened state.

2. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein a corner lock is coupled to one of the corner fittings to maintain the respective vertical exhaust duct section in the use state.

3. An electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:

(a) a frame at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels to define a compartment;

(b) one or more electronic components stored in the compartment;

(c) a column of space defined by three panels of the plurality of panels and faces of the one or more electronic components;

(d) a first rectangular opening, defined by interior edges of a top panel of the compartment, arranged directly above the column of space;

(e) a second rectangular opening, defined by a first vertical exhaust duct section, arranged directly above the first rectangular opening and the column of space; and

(f) a third rectangular opening, defined by a second vertical exhaust duct section, arranged directly above the second rectangular opening, the first rectangular opening, and the column of space;

(g) wherein the second vertical exhaust duct section may be translated vertically relative to the first vertical exhaust duct section; and

(h) wherein each of the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections includes at least a pair of columns of apertures that are selectively alignable with one another, each aperture being sized to accommodate a fastener extending therethrough for securing the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections together at a desired vertical height.

4. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 3, wherein the first rectangular opening is disposed toward the rear of the compartment.

5. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections includes four generally planar duct panels.

6. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 5, wherein the duct panels of at least one of the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections are connected together with corner fittings.

7. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6, wherein each corner fitting extends substantially along the length of an edge of a respective duct panel and an edge of a respective adjacent duct panel.

8. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6, wherein each corner fitting includes a hinge to facilitate the collapse of the respective vertical exhaust duct section from a use state to a flattened state.

9. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 8, wherein a corner lock is coupled to one of the corner fittings to maintain the respective vertical exhaust duct section in the use state.

10. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 3, wherein the columns of apertures are disposed adjacent side edges of respective duct panels of the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections.

11. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 3, wherein the apertures in each column are evenly spaced.

12. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 3, wherein the second vertical exhaust duct section includes a seal arranged at an upper edge thereof.

13. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 12, wherein the seal is at least partially flexible so as to permit abutment against an uneven surface.

14. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 12, wherein the upper edge of the second vertical exhaust duct section is flared outward.

15. An electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:

(a) a frame at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels to define a column of space at a rear portion thereof;

(b) a first rectangular opening, defined by interior edges of a top panel, arranged directly above the column of space;

(c) a second rectangular opening, defined by a first vertical exhaust duct section, arranged directly above the first rectangular opening and the column of space; and

(d) a third rectangular opening, defined by a second vertical exhaust duct section, arranged directly above the second rectangular opening, the first rectangular opening, and the column of space;

(e) wherein the second vertical exhaust duct section may be translated vertically relative to the first vertical exhaust duct section; and

(f) wherein each of the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections includes at least a pair of columns of apertures that are selectively alignable with one another, each aperture being sized to accommodate a fastener extending therethrough for securing the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections together at a desired vertical height.

16. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 15, wherein the columns of apertures are disposed adjacent side edges of respective duct panels of the first and second vertical exhaust duct sections.

17. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 15, wherein the apertures in each column are evenly spaced.

18. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 15, wherein the second vertical exhaust duct section includes a seal arranged at an upper edge thereof.

19. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 18, wherein the seal is at least partially flexible so as to permit abutment against an uneven surface.

20. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 18, wherein the upper edge of the second vertical exhaust duct section is flared outward.