Patent · US Expired

Chambered forced cooling method

US5860291A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
24References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 20, 1997
Grant dateJan 19, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 20, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/20
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cooling components within a housing, such as those of a computer system. Multiple chambers are created within the housing, each having at least one cooling fan and a corresponding air inlet. These chambers are segregated by an internal divider or baffle element which effectively eliminates airflow between the chambers. Cooling fans within the housing are utilized as exhaust fans such that, in conjunction with the effect of the baffle element, substantially linear airflow is maintained within each chamber. Certain critical heat-producing components of the system are placed in proximity to the air inlets in each chamber, thereby maximizing the cooling of the components for a given fan rating and inlet air temperature, and increasing cooling system efficiency by substantially reducing the cooling of components that are insensitive to heat.

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