Patent · US Active

Fan reconfiguration and displacement due to a failed or failing fan

US10542634B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
10References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 10, 2017
Grant dateJan 21, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 31, 2037

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF05D2260/84
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system which provides redundant cooling of heat generating components within an electronic system with a single row of fans out the use of counter-rotational fans or multiple rows of fan by displacing failed fans in orthogonal directions. The system includes a fan track that has an orthogonal portion and at least one parallel portion. A failed or failing fan is moved from the orthogonal portion of the fan track to the parallel portion of the fan track. A bank of fans are each upon the orthogonal portion of the track. Each fan in the bank of fans acts upon air to produce an airflow. The bank of fans includes a moved fan at least partially filling a void upon the orthogonal portion of the fan track that is created when the failed or failing fan was moved from the orthogonal portion of the fan track to the parallel portion of the fan track.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.