U.S. patent application number 10/037505 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-03 for ventilation system for electronic equipment.
Invention is credited to Howell, Chris, Scofield, Michael A..
Application Number | 20030124968 10/037505 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21894698 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030124968 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Howell, Chris ; et
al. |
July 3, 2003 |
Ventilation system for electronic equipment
Abstract
A system for ventilating an enclosure for electronic equipment
has an axial fan mounted between first and second pipes. The first
and second pipes have major and minor diameters, the diameters
being sized to fit into different sized of standard ventilation
duct. The first and second pipes, the fan, mounting means, and an
optional gas cap can be assembled to provide airflow through the
system in either of two directions. The system if preferably
connected by ducting to an enclosure having heat-generating
electronic components and mounted some distance away therefrom,
such as in an attic space.
Inventors: |
Howell, Chris; (Flower
Mound, TX) ; Scofield, Michael A.; (The Colony,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John A. Thomas, Esq.
Glast, Phillips & Murray, P.C.
2200 One Galleria Tower
13355 Noel Road, L.B. 48
Dallas
TX
75240-6657
US
|
Family ID: |
21894698 |
Appl. No.: |
10/037505 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23L 17/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/16 |
International
Class: |
F23L 017/02 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A ventilation system comprising: a first pipe; the first pipe
having a first end and a second end; the first end of the first
pipe having a major diameter and the second end of the first pipe
having a minor diameter; an axial fan; the axial fan connected to
the first pipe at its first end; a second pipe; the second pipe
having a first end and a second end; the first end of the second
pipe having a major diameter and the second end of the second pipe
having a minor diameter; and, the first end of the second pipe
connected to the axial fan, so that operation of the fan causes
airflow through the first and second pipes.
2. The ventilation system of claim 1, further comprising a first
mounting means for connecting the first pipe to the axial fan.
3. The ventilation system of claim 1, further comprising a second
mounting means for connecting the second pipe to the axial fan.
4. The ventilation system of claim 1 where the minor and major
diameters of the first pipe are sized to fit the inside diameters
of standard ventilation ducts.
5. The ventilation system of claim 1 where the minor and major
diameters of the second pipe are sized to fit the inside diameters
of standard ventilation ducts.
6. The ventilation system of claim 1 where the axial fan is driven
by a brushless motor.
7. A ventilation system comprising: a first pipe; the first pipe
having a first end and a second end; the first end of the first
pipe having a major diameter and the second end of the first pipe
having a minor diameter; the major and minor diameters of the first
pipe being sized to fit the inside diameters of standard
ventilation ducts; an axial fan; the axial fan driven by a
brushless motor; a first mounting means connecting the first end of
the first pipe to the axial fan; the first mounting means further
comprising a flange integral with the first pipe; a second pipe;
the second pipe having a first end and a second end; the first end
of the second pipe having a major diameter and the second end of
the second pipe having a minor diameter; the major and minor
diameters of the second pipe being sized to fit the inside
diameters of standard ventilation ducts; and, a second mounting
means connecting the first end of the second pipe to the axial fan;
the second mounting means further comprising a flange integral with
the second pipe, so that operation of the fan causes airflow
through the first and second pipes.
8. A kit for ventilating an enclosure comprising: an axial fan; a
first pipe, the first pipe having a first and second ends; the
first end of the first pipe having a major diameter and the second
end of the first pipe having a minor diameter; a second pipe; the
second pipe having a first and second ends; the first end of the
second pipe having a major diameter and the second end of the first
pipe having a minor diameter; so that the kit may be assembled by
connecting the first and second pipes to the axial fan to direct
the airflow from the axial fan through the first and second pipes
in either of two predetermined directions.
9. The kit for ventilating an enclosure of claim 8 further
comprising first and second mounting means for mounting the first
end of the first pipe and the first end of the second pipe to the
axial fan.
10. The kit for ventilating an enclosure of claim 8 where the minor
and major diameters of the first and second pipes being sized to
fit the inside diameters of standard ventilation ducts.
11. The kit for ventilating an enclosure of claim 8 further
comprising an axial fan having a brushless motor.
12. A kit for ventilating an enclosure comprising: an axial fan;
the axial fan having a brushless motor; a first pipe, the first
pipe having first and second ends; the first end of the first pipe
having a major diameter and the second end of the first pipe having
a minor diameter; the major and minor diameters of the first pipe
being sized to fit the inside diameters of standard ventilation
ducts; a second pipe; the second pipe having first and second ends;
the first end of the second pipe having a major diameter and the
second end of the first pipe having a minor diameter; the major and
minor diameters of the second pipe being sized to fit the inside
diameters of standard ventilation ducts; a first mounting means for
connecting the first end of the first pipe to the axial fan; the
first mounting means further comprising a flange integral with the
first pipe; and, a second mounting means for connecting the first
end of the second pipe to the axial fan; the second mounting means
further comprising a flange integral with the second pipe, so that
the kit may be assembled by connecting the first and second pipes
to the axial fan to direct the airflow from the axial fan through
the first and second pipes in either of two predetermined
directions.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a ventilation system for
increasing the flow of heated air from an enclosure for electronic
equipment.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] The reliability of all electronic devices is influenced by
their operating temperatures. If the electronic device is operated
below a certain temperature, it will not function properly. If the
electronic device is operated above a certain temperature, it will
fail prematurely. The temperature at which such failure occurs
decreases with time as the device is aged by operational stresses.
If the device can be operated below all critical temperatures,
voltages and currents, then it should be able to operate
indefinitely. The higher the device is operated above these
critical levels, the sooner the device will fail.
[0003] Several methods have been employed to reduce the operational
temperatures of electronic devices. The device may incorporate heat
sinks to enhance the ability of the device to dissipate heat. A
number of devices may be arranged in a manner in which the
generated heat establishes natural convection currents which may be
employed to draw in cool air at the base of the enclosure and to
exhaust warmer air above. The device may be placed in an actively
ventilated enclosure wherein an air moving device is employed to
either pump ambient air into or draw heated air out of the
enclosure. The device may be actively cooled by refrigeration
equipment to reduce the operational temperature below the otherwise
available ambient temperature. These methods can be and are
employed in various combinations.
[0004] In industrial environments, electronic device failure can be
very costly due to line stoppage. Reliability of the electronic
device is of prime importance. The noise generated by increased
ventilation is minimal with respect to that generated by common
industrial operations. Thus, industrial electronic devices are
often highly ventilated.
[0005] In office environments, thermal stresses are not as
prevalent as in industrial environments. However, noise reduction
is a major concern. A noisy device will not be purchased if there
is a quieter alternative available. Competition motivates
manufacturers to provide quiet devices wherein the minimal amount
of ventilation required for the typical environment is
employed.
[0006] The means conventionally used to reduce the noise generated
by ventilation involve the reduction of ventilation capacity. Low
speed fans generate less noise but inherently less flow. Fans are
usually placed internally to isolate the noise. With such
placement, there is likely to be an internal recirculation
component reducing the effective fresh air exchange. Exhaust ports
are placed at the rear of the enclosure to limit forward
propagation of noise. Little attention is paid to the noise
generation characteristics of the air mover, because air movers are
standardized components. The manufacturers of these air movers have
made some progress in terms of airfoil design and turbulence
minimization to reduce the generated noise. However, electronic
device manufacturers simply add these air movers to their devices
without modification. The interface between the air movers and
their surroundings has been largely ignored.
[0007] The advent of the home theater and its associated
heat-generating electronics has combined the requirement of the
industrial environment for high air flow with the office
requirement of low noise. Home theater systems comprise video,
audio and control components and may generate heat from hundreds to
thousands of watts. Such systems are also expensive, and premature
failure cannot be tolerated.
[0008] In the preferred embodiment, the invention is directed to
solving the conflicting problems of adequate airflow and low noise,
particularly in noise-sensitive environments, such as the home. The
present invention includes a fan mounted to air-flow pipes so as to
accept at least two different sizes of ventilation duct. The duct
may be connected to the enclosure containing the electronic
equipment, and the fan may be mounted in an attic, false ceiling,
crawl space, or through a roof, thus removing the source of noise
from the home theater or other noise-sensitive area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention is embodied in a ventilation system comprising
components which may be provided to the user pre-assembled, or in
kit form.
[0010] The preferred embodiment comprises a first pipe that has a
first end and a second end; the first end of the first pipe has a
major diameter and the second end of the first pipe has a minor
diameter. The major and minor diameters of the first pipe are sized
to fit the inside diameters of standard ventilation ducts.
[0011] An axial fan, preferably driven by a brushless motor,
provides airflow through the system. The axial fan is connected to
the first pipe at its first end. A first mounting means is provided
for connecting the first end of the first pipe to the axial
fan.
[0012] Further, there is a second pipe that the second pipe having
a first end and a second end; the first end of the second pipe has
a major diameter and the second end of the second pipe has a minor
diameter. Again, the major and minor diameters of the second pipe
are sized to fit the inside diameters of standard ventilation
ducts. A second mounting means connects the first end of the second
pipe to the axial fan, so that operation of the fan causes airflow
through the first and second pipes.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 depicts the elements of the preferred embodiment
before assembly.
[0014] FIG. 2 depicts the assembled preferred embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a top view of the assembled preferred
embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] FIG. 1 depicts the elements of the preferred embodiment
before assembly. Generally, an axial fan (100) is mounted between
two airflow pipes (110, 140). The axial fan (100) would typically
be an AC brushless-motor type, typically having an air delivery of
about 240 cubic feet per minute, although greater or lesser
capacities could be used.
[0018] A first pipe (110) has a major diameter (130) at its first
end, and a minor diameter (120) at its second end. The major
diameter (130) would typically be sized to fit inside standard
6-inch ventilation duct. The minor diameter (120) would typically
be sized to fit inside standard 5-inch ventilation duct. In the
preferred embodiment, the first pipe (110) and the second pipe
(140) are made of noise-absorbing PVC plastic, although ABF plastic
could be used, at the cost of higher emitted noise. Metal pipes
could be used at greater cost and additional weight. The first pipe
(110) is connected to the axial fan (100) with a first mounting
means (160). In FIGS. 1 and 2, the mounting means is a PVC ring
having axial holes (180) for screw mounting to the axial fan (100),
and radial holes (190) for screw mounting to the first pipe (110).
Of course other mounting means are possible, including threaded
holes or inserts for receiving machine screws, glue, or threaded
engagement with the first pipe (110). The mounting means (160) is
preferably a ring cut from PVC pipe, but could be made of other
plastics or metal. Also, it would be possible to use a pipe flanged
at the major diameter (130) for the first pipe (110), thereby
allowing screw or other connections directly between the axial fan
(100) and the first pipe (110). Preferably, such a flange would be
integral to the pipe. A depiction of a first pipe (110) having a
flange (165) is shown in FIG. 4. In a still further embodiment, the
mounting means (160) may be a ring having a flange, and this flange
may be connected to the first pipe (110) and axial fan (100) by any
of the several ways just described.
[0019] Similarly, a second pipe (140) is provided. The second pipe
(140) may have a major diameter (130) and a minor diameter (120)
also sized to fit inside standard ventilation duct. The second pipe
may also be connected to the axial fan (100) by a second mounting
means (170) as described above for the first mounting means
(160).
[0020] The reader should recognize that only one pipe need be sized
to receive different sized ducts, because the other pipe, if the
exhaust pipe, may not have duct connected to it, but rather be open
to an attic space or mounted through a roof.
[0021] A gas cap (150) may be mounted over the minor diameter (120)
of the second pipe (140), to keep dust, rain, or insects from
entering the duct system.
[0022] FIG. 2 depicts the preferred embodiment assembled. It should
be apparent that the preferred embodiment may be provided to the
user un-assembled, as a kit for construction of a ventilation
system. In that case, the user may choose which end of the system
will be the inlet and which will be the outlet, as well as what
size of duct will connect with the unit, even what capacity of fan
will be used. If the unit is mounted horizontally, or further
connected to a ventilation duct at its exhaust, a gas cap (150)
will not be necessary. When assembled, the system will typically be
mounted to a rafter or joist with a pair of conventional zip
ties.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a top view, with the gas cap (150) removed,
looking into the second end, or minor diameter (120) of the second
pipe (140). FIG. 3 shows the axial fan (100) and its motor (200)
and blades (210).
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