System for cooling environmentally sealed enclosures

• US 20050150634A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vanner, Inc. (Vanner Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vanner, Inc. (Vanner Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howard, Scott Douglas, Irwin, Philip Warwick
• Granted Patent: US 7,418,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/80.300
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20918 the components being isolated from air flow, e.g. hollow heat sinks, wind tunnels or funnels

Abstract

A system for cooling an environmentally sealed enclosure. The system includes an air channel extending generally vertically from a top surface of the enclosure to a bottom surface of the enclosure, at least one interior heat sink forming a barrier between the air channel and an interior portion of the enclosure, a fan disposed in the air channel and adapted to force air to flow through the air channel, and a plenum proximate the air channel to duct exhaust air away from the enclosure, wherein air flowing through the air channel cools the enclosure. A method employs the system.

Claims

1. A system for cooling an environmentally sealed enclosure, comprising:

an air channel extending generally vertically from a top surface of the enclosure to a bottom surface of the enclosure;

at least one interior heat sink forming a barrier between the air channel and an interior portion of the enclosure;

a fan disposed in the air channel and adapted to force air to flow through the air channel; and

a plenum proximate the air channel to duct exhaust air away from the enclosure, wherein air flowing through the air channel cools the enclosure.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rear heat sink mounted to a rear portion of the enclosure.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the wherein the plenum is adapted to direct the flowing air over the rear heat sink.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein at least one of the interior heat sink and the rear heat sink is black in color to increase heat radiation.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the air channel comprises four sidewalls formed by four interior heatsinks.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the fan is a tube-axial fan.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the plenum is connected to ducting to exhaust the flowing air away from the enclosure.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein an air filter is disposed in the air channel to capture and retain contaminants in the flowing air.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an air inlet disposed in the bottom surface of the enclosure proximate the air channel;

an air outlet disposed in the top surface of the enclosure proximate the air channel,

wherein air flows into the inlet, through the air channel, and is exhausted through the outlet and the plenum to cool the enclosure.

10. A system for cooling an environmentally sealed enclosure, comprising:

an air channel extending generally vertically from a top surface of the enclosure to a bottom surface of the enclosure;

at least one interior heat sink forming a barrier between the air channel and an interior portion of the enclosure;

a fan disposed in the air channel and adapted to force air to flow through the air channel;

an air inlet disposed in the bottom surface of the enclosure proximate the air channel;

an air outlet disposed in the top surface of the enclosure proximate the air channel;

a rear heat sink mounted to a rear portion of the enclosure; and

a plenum proximate the air channel to duct exhaust air away from the enclosure,

wherein air flows into the inlet, through the air channel, is exhausted through the outlet, and is directed over the rear heat sink by the plenum to cool the enclosure.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein at least one of the interior heat sink and the rear heat sink is black in color to increase heat radiation.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the air channel comprises four sidewalls formed by four interior heatsinks.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the fan is a tube-axial fan.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the plenum is connected to ducting to exhaust the flowing air away from the enclosure.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein an air filter is disposed in the air channel to capture and retain contaminants in the flowing air.

16. A method for cooling an environmentally sealed enclosure, comprising the steps of:

routing an air channel generally vertically from a top surface of the enclosure to a bottom surface of the enclosure;

installing at least one interior heat sink in the air channel to form a barrier between the air channel and an interior portion of the enclosure;

forcing air to flow through the air channel; and

ducting exhaust air away from the enclosure, wherein air flowing through the air channel cools the enclosure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of mounting a rear heat sink to a rear portion of the enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of directing flowing air over the rear heat sink.