Vertical exhaust duct for electronic equipment enclosure

• US 9,974,198 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chatsworth Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chatsworth Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, II, Richard Evans, Vanlith, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Mukund G
• Application Number:
  US14/793,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20150319872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 361690-695, 454184, 454284
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0213 Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20 Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20736 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades

Abstract

An electronic equipment enclosure comprises a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels. The panels include at least side, top and back panels defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom and a rear thereof. The top panel includes an opening there through that is rectangular in shape. The equipment enclosure further comprises an exhaust air duct extending upward from the top panel of the enclosure. The exhaust air duct is rectangular in cross-section and is disposed in surrounding relation to, and in fluid communication with, the top panel opening. The exhaust air duct is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the enclosure from cool air entering the enclosure, thereby improving thermal management of the enclosure.

Claims

1. An electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:

a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels, the panels including at least a top panel and one or more of a side panel, a front panel, and a rear panel, the support posts and panels defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear thereof, wherein the top panel includes a rectangular opening therethrough; and

a vertical exhaust duct disposed in fluid communication with the top panel opening, the vertical exhaust duct including;

first and second duct sections, each having a generally rectangular cross-section,

wherein the generally rectangular cross-section of the first duct section is smaller than the generally rectangular cross-section of the second duct section such that the first duct section is nestable relative to the second duct section,

wherein the duct sections are telescopically adjustable to permit adjustment of a vertical height defined by the first and second duct sections,

wherein one of the first and second duct sections includes a lower mounting edge to facilitate attachment to the top panel, and

wherein one and only one of the duct sections includes a column of three or more apertures at a constant pitch distance, the apertures being selectively alignable with at least one aperture of the other of the duct sections so as to accommodate a fastener extending through both duct sections, thereby fixing the vertical height;

wherein the vertical exhaust duct is attached to the top panel of the frame structure via the lower mounting edge.

2. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the first duct section includes the lower mounting edge.

3. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the second duct section includes the lower mounting edge.

4. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a bolt.

5. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1, wherein the fastener is a spring-loaded pin.

6. An electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:

a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels, the panels including at least a top panel and one or more of a side panel, a front panel, and a rear panel, the support posts and panels defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear thereof, wherein the top panel includes a rectangular opening therethrough; and

a vertical exhaust duct disposed in fluid communication with the top panel opening, the vertical exhaust duct including;

first and second duct sections, each having a generally rectangular cross-section,

wherein the generally rectangular cross-section of the first duct section is smaller than the generally rectangular cross-section of the second duct section such that the first duct section is nestable relative to the second duct section,

wherein the duct sections are telescopically adjustable to permit adjustment of a vertical height defined by the first and second duct sections,

wherein one of the first and second duct sections includes a lower mounting edge to facilitate attachment to the top panel, and

wherein the lower mounting edge includes an aperture for accommodating a fastener;

wherein the vertical exhaust duct is attached to the top panel of the frame structure via the lower mounting edge; and

wherein one and only one of the duct sections includes a column of three or more apertures at a constant pitch distance, the apertures being selectively alignable with at least one aperture of the other of the duct sections so as to accommodate a fastener extending through both duct sections, thereby fixing the vertical height.

7. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6, wherein the first duct section includes the lower mounting edge.

8. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6, wherein the second duct section includes the lower mounting edge.

9. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6, wherein the fastener is a bolt.

10. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6, wherein the fastener is a spring-loaded pin.

11. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 6, wherein the lower mounting edge includes a flange.

12. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 11, wherein the vertical exhaust duct is attached to the top panel via the flange.

13. An electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:

a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels, the panels including at least a top panel and one or more of a side panel, a front panel, and a rear panel, the support posts and panels defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear thereof, wherein the top panel includes an opening therethrough; and

a vertical exhaust duct disposed in fluid communication with the top panel opening, the vertical exhaust duct including;

an inner duct assembly and an outer duct assembly,

wherein the inner duct assembly nests within the outer duct assembly and telescopes to adjust the height of the vertical exhaust duct,

wherein the outer duct assembly includes a first opening for securing the vertical exhaust duct at a desired height,

wherein the inner duct assembly includes a second opening aligned with the first opening of the outer duct assembly,

wherein at least one of the first opening and the second opening is one of a column of three or more openings in the respective inner or outer duct assembly, the openings in the column of openings being at a constant pitch distance, and

wherein the second opening of the inner duct assembly is adapted to receive a fastener threaded into a corresponding nut or other element;

wherein the vertical exhaust duct is attached to the top panel of the frame structure via a lower mounting edge.

14. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 13, wherein the first opening of the outer duct assembly is adapted to receive a fastener.

15. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 13, wherein the second opening of the inner duct assembly includes at least one pair of spaced apart openings disposed on opposite sides of the inner duct assembly.

16. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 13, wherein the inner duct assembly includes a top flange.

17. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 13, further comprising a base for securing the lower of the inner duct assembly and the outer duct assembly to the top panel.