Automatic coupling of independent cooling regions during fan maintenance
US8988877B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2011 |
| Grant date | Mar 24, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 12, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K7/20572
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a computer system, airflow through first and second cooling regions are normally separated by a chassis wall, and are independently controlled by respective first and second fan modules. The internal chassis wall includes a bypass opening that is normally blocked by the second fan module. In response to removal of the second fan module, the bypass opening is unblocked, to fluidly couple the two cooling regions. A redundant fan module is optionally included in fluid communication with the first cooling region, to either generate airflow through the first cooling region in response to failure or removal of the first fan module, or to supplement the airflow capacity of the first fan module in response to removal of the second fan module.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.