US20100267329A1 - Return air blocking device for fan-based heat dissipation mechanism - Google Patents
Return air blocking device for fan-based heat dissipation mechanism Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100267329A1 US20100267329A1 US12/424,935 US42493509A US2010267329A1 US 20100267329 A1 US20100267329 A1 US 20100267329A1 US 42493509 A US42493509 A US 42493509A US 2010267329 A1 US2010267329 A1 US 2010267329A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fan
- fans
- hinged plates
- rotatable hinged
- chassis
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05K—PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- H05K7/00—Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus
- H05K7/20—Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating
- H05K7/20009—Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures
- H05K7/20136—Forced ventilation, e.g. by fans
- H05K7/20172—Fan mounting or fan specifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/20—Cooling means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F11/00—Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring
- G06F11/07—Responding to the occurrence of a fault, e.g. fault tolerance
- G06F11/0796—Safety measures, i.e. ensuring safe condition in the event of error, e.g. for controlling element
Definitions
- the present invention relates to fan-based heat dissipation mechanisms and, more particularly, to a return air blocking device for a fan-based heat dissipation mechanism having a plurality of fans, wherein a plurality of rotatable hinged plates are provided on outer sides of the fans and are lifted open or shut by virtue of the kinetic energy of airflow.
- a plurality of rotatable hinged plates are provided on outer sides of the fans and are lifted open or shut by virtue of the kinetic energy of airflow.
- information apparatuses such as industrial servers and computers are generally equipped with a fan-based mechanism including a fan configured for heat dissipation.
- a fan configured for heat dissipation.
- heat dissipation is carried out as designed.
- the fan may fail unexpectedly whenever its service life comes to an end.
- an information apparatus for industrial use typically has at least two cooling fans for backup purpose. Nevertheless, when one of the fans malfunctions (given a low chance of simultaneous breakdown of several fans), the airflow path in the apparatus will be adversely changed so that the intended heat dissipating effect is unattainable.
- the aforesaid change of airflow path occurs because the malfunctioning fan is located at an air outlet important for heat dissipation. Once the fan stops operating, no hot air or exhaust will be discharged through the fan, thus turning the air outlet, which is usually adjacent to the other fan(s), into an air inlet for the immediately adjacent functioning fan(s). As a result, heat dissipation efficiency decreases significantly.
- a return air blocking device includes rotatable hinged plates installed at air outlets of cooling fans. When the fans are not in operation, the rotatable hinged plates are shut under the action of gravity. When the fans are actuated, air blown outward by the fans will rotate and lift the rotatable hinged plates up to allow passage of airflow.
- the corresponding air outlet will be turned into an air inlet, and the corresponding rotatable hinged plate will be automatically shut by the incoming airflow in addition to gravity, thus blocking the now air inlet which might otherwise allow hot exhaust to return and interfere with heat dissipation.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 .
- a return air blocking device for a fan-based heat dissipation mechanism includes a plurality of rotatable hinged plates 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 which are installed at outer sides of a plurality of air outlets 11 , 12 of a chassis 1 and correspond in position to a plurality of fans mounted in the chassis 1 .
- the rotatable hinged plates 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 are rotated and lifted open by the kinetic energy of airflow driven by the fans, thus allowing hot exhaust to be discharged.
- one of the fans such as the one corresponding in position to the rotatable hinged plates 17 , 18 , fails, the rotatable hinged plates 17 , 18 drop automatically and are thus shut due to gravity and absence of the airflow kinetic energy. In consequence, external air or hot exhaust discharged from the neighboring fan is prevented from being sucked into and detained in the chassis 1 , which might otherwise result in obstruction of the heat-dissipating airflow.
- the return air blocking device for a fan-based hear dissipation mechanism is implemented as one or several rotatable hinged plates 13 , 14 installed at an air outlet 21 of a fan frame 2 configured for receiving a blower fan 22 mounted securely therein.
- the fan frame 2 can be conveniently installed on the chassis 1 for use.
Abstract
A return air blocking device for a fan-based heat dissipation mechanism includes a plurality of rotatable hinged plates provided in a heat-dissipation mechanism having a plurality of fans. The rotatable hinged plates are lifted open or shut due to the presence or absence of airflow kinetic energy. When some of the fans fail, the corresponding rotatable hinged plates are shut to prevent hot exhaust from returning to and being detained in the heat dissipation mechanism.
Description
- 1. Technical Field
- The present invention relates to fan-based heat dissipation mechanisms and, more particularly, to a return air blocking device for a fan-based heat dissipation mechanism having a plurality of fans, wherein a plurality of rotatable hinged plates are provided on outer sides of the fans and are lifted open or shut by virtue of the kinetic energy of airflow. Thus, when some of the fans fail to function, hot exhaust is prevented from returning to the heat dissipation mechanism and being detained therein, so as not to interfere with the design airflow.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- In order to ensure highly reliable operation, information apparatuses such as industrial servers and computers are generally equipped with a fan-based mechanism including a fan configured for heat dissipation. When the fan works properly, heat dissipation is carried out as designed. However, the fan may fail unexpectedly whenever its service life comes to an end.
- Hence, an information apparatus for industrial use typically has at least two cooling fans for backup purpose. Nevertheless, when one of the fans malfunctions (given a low chance of simultaneous breakdown of several fans), the airflow path in the apparatus will be adversely changed so that the intended heat dissipating effect is unattainable.
- The aforesaid change of airflow path occurs because the malfunctioning fan is located at an air outlet important for heat dissipation. Once the fan stops operating, no hot air or exhaust will be discharged through the fan, thus turning the air outlet, which is usually adjacent to the other fan(s), into an air inlet for the immediately adjacent functioning fan(s). As a result, heat dissipation efficiency decreases significantly.
- According to the present invention, a return air blocking device includes rotatable hinged plates installed at air outlets of cooling fans. When the fans are not in operation, the rotatable hinged plates are shut under the action of gravity. When the fans are actuated, air blown outward by the fans will rotate and lift the rotatable hinged plates up to allow passage of airflow.
- Should one of the fans fail, the corresponding air outlet will be turned into an air inlet, and the corresponding rotatable hinged plate will be automatically shut by the incoming airflow in addition to gravity, thus blocking the now air inlet which might otherwise allow hot exhaust to return and interfere with heat dissipation.
- Now that the factor causing the change of airflow path is eliminated, all the other functioning fans are allowed to maintain their intended operation, at deteriorated efficiency of heat dissipation, though. In so doing, hot exhaust is prevented from returning and being detained, so as not to interfere with the otherwise fluent heat-dissipating airflow.
- The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 2 . - Referring to
FIG. 1 , a return air blocking device for a fan-based heat dissipation mechanism according to the present invention includes a plurality of rotatable hingedplates air outlets chassis 1 and correspond in position to a plurality of fans mounted in thechassis 1. - When the fans in the
chassis 1 work normally and blow out air, the rotatable hingedplates plates plates chassis 1, which might otherwise result in obstruction of the heat-dissipating airflow. - Referring to
FIG. 2 andFIG. 3 , the return air blocking device for a fan-based hear dissipation mechanism according to the present invention is implemented as one or several rotatable hingedplates air outlet 21 of afan frame 2 configured for receiving ablower fan 22 mounted securely therein. After the mounting of theblower fan 22 in thefan frame 2 and the installation of the rotatable hingedplates air outlet 21 of thefan frame 2, thefan frame 2 can be conveniently installed on thechassis 1 for use.
Claims (2)
1. A return air blocking device for a fan-based heat dissipation mechanism, essentially comprising a plurality of rotatable hinged plates provided at outer sides of a plurality of air outlets of a chassis such that the rotatable hinged plates correspond in position to a plurality of fans mounted in the chassis, wherein when all the fans in the chassis are in normal operation, all the rotatable hinged plates are rotated and thus lifted open by kinetic energy of airflow driven by the fans, wherein when one of the fans fails, at least a corresponding one of the rotatable hinged plates drops automatically due to gravity so as to be shut, thereby preventing external air or hot exhaust discharged via a neighboring said fan from being sucked into the chassis.
2. The return air blocking device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rotatable hinged plates is provided at an air outlet of a fan frame configured for receiving a blower fan mounted securely in the fan frame, and the fan frame which is mounted securely with the blower fan and whose said air outlet is provided with the at least one rotatable hinged plate is conveniently installed on the chassis.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/424,935 US20100267329A1 (en) | 2009-04-16 | 2009-04-16 | Return air blocking device for fan-based heat dissipation mechanism |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/424,935 US20100267329A1 (en) | 2009-04-16 | 2009-04-16 | Return air blocking device for fan-based heat dissipation mechanism |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20100267329A1 true US20100267329A1 (en) | 2010-10-21 |
Family
ID=42981356
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/424,935 Abandoned US20100267329A1 (en) | 2009-04-16 | 2009-04-16 | Return air blocking device for fan-based heat dissipation mechanism |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20100267329A1 (en) |
Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3479947A (en) * | 1968-01-15 | 1969-11-25 | Chore Time Equipment | Ventilator unit |
US6011689A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 2000-01-04 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Computer component cooling fan closure device and method thereof |
US6031717A (en) * | 1999-04-13 | 2000-02-29 | Dell Usa, L.P. | Back flow limiting device for failed redundant parallel fan |
US6042348A (en) * | 1998-05-11 | 2000-03-28 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Protective shutter assembly for a forced air cooling system |
US6181557B1 (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2001-01-30 | Motorola, Inc. | Electronic component, method of cooling, and damper therefor |
US6587340B2 (en) * | 2001-04-10 | 2003-07-01 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Maintaining cooling efficiency during air mover failure |
US6688965B1 (en) * | 2002-11-27 | 2004-02-10 | International Business Machines Corporation | Invertible back flow damper for an air moving device |
US6710240B1 (en) * | 2003-04-24 | 2004-03-23 | Datech Technology Co., Ltd. | Register incorporating a toggle-joint mechanism between open and closed position |
US7236361B2 (en) * | 2003-12-22 | 2007-06-26 | Emc Corporation | Fan assembly for installing and removing fans individually and collectively |
US7345875B2 (en) * | 2005-06-20 | 2008-03-18 | Emerson Network Power, Energy Systems, North America, Inc. | Electromagnet-assisted ventilation cover for an electronic equipment enclosure |
US7416481B2 (en) * | 2006-03-06 | 2008-08-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Blower exhaust backflow damper |
US20080310103A1 (en) * | 2007-06-04 | 2008-12-18 | Della Fiora Troy A | Air backflow prevention in an enclosure |
US7952870B1 (en) * | 2010-02-02 | 2011-05-31 | Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. | Computer enclosure |
-
2009
- 2009-04-16 US US12/424,935 patent/US20100267329A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3479947A (en) * | 1968-01-15 | 1969-11-25 | Chore Time Equipment | Ventilator unit |
US6011689A (en) * | 1998-04-27 | 2000-01-04 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Computer component cooling fan closure device and method thereof |
US6042348A (en) * | 1998-05-11 | 2000-03-28 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Protective shutter assembly for a forced air cooling system |
US6031717A (en) * | 1999-04-13 | 2000-02-29 | Dell Usa, L.P. | Back flow limiting device for failed redundant parallel fan |
US6181557B1 (en) * | 1999-10-29 | 2001-01-30 | Motorola, Inc. | Electronic component, method of cooling, and damper therefor |
US6587340B2 (en) * | 2001-04-10 | 2003-07-01 | Sun Microsystems, Inc. | Maintaining cooling efficiency during air mover failure |
US6688965B1 (en) * | 2002-11-27 | 2004-02-10 | International Business Machines Corporation | Invertible back flow damper for an air moving device |
US6710240B1 (en) * | 2003-04-24 | 2004-03-23 | Datech Technology Co., Ltd. | Register incorporating a toggle-joint mechanism between open and closed position |
US7236361B2 (en) * | 2003-12-22 | 2007-06-26 | Emc Corporation | Fan assembly for installing and removing fans individually and collectively |
US7345875B2 (en) * | 2005-06-20 | 2008-03-18 | Emerson Network Power, Energy Systems, North America, Inc. | Electromagnet-assisted ventilation cover for an electronic equipment enclosure |
US7416481B2 (en) * | 2006-03-06 | 2008-08-26 | International Business Machines Corporation | Blower exhaust backflow damper |
US20080310103A1 (en) * | 2007-06-04 | 2008-12-18 | Della Fiora Troy A | Air backflow prevention in an enclosure |
US7952870B1 (en) * | 2010-02-02 | 2011-05-31 | Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. | Computer enclosure |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: T-WIN SYSTEMS, INC., TAIWAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHUNG, TA CHIH;REEL/FRAME:022555/0713 Effective date: 20090313 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |