Patent · US Expired

Temperature protection device for air cooled electronics housing

US5714938A · kind A · utility

55Cited by
11References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 19, 1996
Grant dateFeb 3, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 19, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG08B17/06
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A temperature protection device and method for an air-cooled housing containing electronic equipment is disclosed. A fan forces air to circulate through the housing with air being expelled from the housing at a normal operating temperature inside the housing and with air at an ambient temperature being drawn into the housing. A temperature sensitive element such as a temperature sensitive switch is mounted to the housing such that it is maintained cooler than the operating temperature in the housing as a result of air being drawn into the housing and such that it is exposed to the operating temperature only upon failure of the air circulation. The temperature sensitive element or switch generates an interrupt signal when it senses a response temperature which is near the operating temperature in the housing. In the case of a temperature sensitive switch, power to the electronic equipment may be shut down by the switch. In one embodiment, the temperature sensitive element is mounted to a plate fitting in a personal computer expansion port slot, and at least one phase of the AC power is fed through a power connector on the device including a switch before being connected into the com…

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