Abstract:
An enclosure for operationally retaining a plurality of electronic modules has a housing comprising front, side, upper, lower, and rear walls, and housing enclosing an inner volume. The enclosure has an inner wall running between the side walls and attached to the lower wall. The inner wall is positioned between the front and back walls, and splits the inner volume into a first inner volume and a second inner volume. The inner wall extends from the bottom wall to a height less than that of the height of said top wall, and defines an opening between the first inner volume and the second inner volume. An exhaust vent is disposed through the rear wall of the housing. Openings exist in the housing into the first inner volume. This allows an airflow into the first inner chamber. An environmental flow mechanism, such as a fan, is coupled in proximity to the exhaust vent. The environmental flow mechanism is directionally oriented to create an airflow from the upper portion of the housing outwards through the exhaust vent. The interaction of the directionally drawn air from the top of the casing and the inner wall of blocking an air flow in a lateral direction produces a flow of air in a particular orientation. The flow of air originates from the openings of the housing, moves upwards and laterally to the environmental flow opening, and outwards through the vent.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an enclosure in which electronic circuitry operates. More specifically, the invention relates to an enclosure having enhanced airflow characteristics to aid in heat transfer for the circuitry held within. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     In many typical computer systems, a so-called “rack” system is implemented. In such a rack system, an electronic bus is provided and cards containing electronic circuits are attached thereto. In this manner, the individual electronic cards may be swapped in and out as needed. 
     During operation of the electronic equipment, one problem that is encountered is heat buildup within the environment. The circuits used in electronic components radiate heat. This heat can be transferred to the immediate environment, but if the immediate environment heats up, far less heat transfer between the circuits and the environment is possible. 
     When operating in such an elevated temperature, such circuits are more prone to operational failure. In extreme cases, the circuit may fail completely and be rendered permanently inoperable. 
     Typically, to effectuate heat transfer from the electronic circuits, an airflow is created in the casing that houses the components. This airflow typically allows for greater heat transfer when more air is in contact with the heated circuit components. With this technique, heat is dissipated from the elements into the air, which is in turn heated. This heated air is then removed from the casing, allowing for cooler air to be drawn into the casing. In this manner the airflow allows for both an enhanced heat transfer between the circuits and interior environment, as well as maintaining an effective heat transfer between the interior and exterior environments is accomplished. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     An enclosure for operationally retaining a plurality of electronic modules is envisioned. The enclosure is made of a housing having front, side, upper, lower, and rear walls, the housing enclosing an inner volume. The enclosure has an inner wall running between the side walls and attached to the lower wall. The inner wall is positioned between the front and back walls, and splits the inner volume into a first inner volume and a second inner volume. The inner wall extends from the bottom wall to a height less than that of the height of said top wall, and defines an opening between the first inner volume and the second inner volume. An exhaust vent is disposed through the rear wall of the housing. Openings exist in the housing into the first inner volume. This allows an airflow into the first inner chamber. An environmental flow mechanism, such as a fan, is coupled in proximity to the exhaust vent. The environmental flow mechanism is directionally oriented to create an airflow from the upper portion of the housing outwards through the exhaust vent. The interaction of the directionally drawn air from the top of the casing and the inner wall of blocking airflow in a lateral direction produces a flow of air in a particular orientation. The flow of air originates from the openings of the housing, moves upwards and laterally to the environmental flow opening and outwards through the vent. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the invention. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a cutaway side view of an enclosure as in accordance with the invention. 
         FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  2 C are cut away views of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 , depicting the interaction between the inner, upper, and side walls of the enclosure of FIG.  1 . 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are detailed side view diagrams of the relationship of the environmental flow mechanism, the vent, and the environmental opening in accordance with the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cutaway diagram of an alternative embodiment of the enclosure having an inner floor, in accordance with one aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an enclosure according to an aspect of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cutaway diagram from the top detailing the horizontal airflows into the enclosure in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of an enclosure for the storage and operation of electronic components having increased airflow characteristics. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. In accordance with the present invention, the components or structures may be implemented using various types of items. 
       FIG. 1  is a cutaway side view of an enclosure as in accordance with the invention. An enclosure  10  allows for the operation of a plurality of electronic modules inside. The enclosure  10  is made up of housing comprising an upper wall  12  and a bottom wall  14 . The upper wall  12  and the bottom wall  14  are both attached to a rear wall  16  and a front wall  18 . 
     Also included, but not shown in  FIG. 1 , are two side walls. The two side walls are attached to the upper wall  12 , the bottom wall  14 , the front wall  18 , and the rear wall  16 . These top, bottom, front, back, and side walls form an enclosure that protects one or more electronic modules  20  that operate in the enclosure from any damage from an external environment. 
     The enclosure  10  also contains an inner wall  22 . The inner wall  22  is attached to the two side walls (not shown) and to the lower wall  14 . The inner wall  22  does not rise completely to the height of the upper wall  12 . In this manner the inner wall  22  separates the enclosure  10  into a forward volume and a rear volume. 
     Since the inner wall  22  does not rise to the height of the upper wall  12 , an environmental opening remains between the forward volume and the back volume of the enclosure  10 . In this case, air can move between the forward and the rearward volumes of the enclosure  10  only through the environmental opening. Accordingly, the inner wall  22  transforms any lateral movement of air in the forward volume below the environmental opening into a vertical movement. As will be shown later in this disclosure, the environmental opening may be constructed in a number of different ways. 
     An exhaust vent is disposed through the rear wall  16 . An environmental flow mechanism  26  is placed in proximity to the exhaust vent  24 . Accordingly, when the environmental floor mechanism is engaged, a flow of air is created from inside the enclosure  10  to the outside environment. 
     Typically, an environmental flow mechanism may be a fan. However, other flow mechanisms are known to those skilled in the art, and this disclosure should be read as to include them as well. Such mechanisms may include such items as pumps, blowers, or any item operable to produce an environmental flow. Further, the vent and fan assemblies may be placed on any exterior wall, and the inclusion of them on the rear wall should be illustrative. Additionally, the number of fan and vent assemblies as shown in  FIG. 1  is one. It should be noted that any numbers of these assemblies may be contemplated in the scope of this disclosure, as well as the placement of the assemblies on differing walls. 
     Working in concert with the environmental flow mechanism  26 , openings are disposed through the walls of the enclosure  10 . Typically, these will be present towards the front or bottom of the enclosure  10 . Again, the openings may be disposed anywhere on the enclosure  10 , and this description is not intended to limit the position of any such openings. 
     Accordingly, when the environmental flow mechanism  26  is engaged, air is vented out from the enclosure  10  through the vent  24  to the external environment. The resulting outflow creates a corresponding inflow from any openings disposed in the enclosure  10 . In this manner, heated air is output from the enclosure  10  through the vent  24 , and air internal to the enclosure  10  is drawn towards the vent from the its interior. This action, in turn, creates an inflow of air through the openings disposed in the enclosure  10  located away from the vent  26 . 
     In particular, when an airflow is output through the vents  24  disposed on the rear wall  16 , any airflow from the forward portion of the enclosure  10  must come through the environmental opening, defined at least in part by the inner wall  22 . Accordingly, any airflow in the forward portion of the enclosure  10  is directed towards the environmental opening. 
     The placement of the environmental opening creates a twofold effect on the airflow within the enclosure  10 . First, when the input openings are placed near the front of the enclosure  10 , air must flow laterally across the electronic modules  20 . 
     Second, the inner wall  22  acts to redirect any lateral flows in the forward volume of the enclosure  10  into vertical flows. Thus, any flow entering the enclosure  10  at a point lower than the environmental opening must flow upwards towards the environmental opening contained within the enclosure  10 . 
     Accordingly, when the input openings are placed near the bottom of the forward portion of the enclosure  10 , air must flow upwards across the electronic modules  20 . In addition, the same airflow is also directed laterally across the electronic modules  20 . Accordingly, the placement of the inner wall provides enhanced vertical and lateral flow of air across the height and width of the electronic modules  20  operating within the enclosure  10 . In this manner, an improved heat transfer is accomplished for the electronic modules  20  with the use of the depicted enclosure  10 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the inflow openings through the walls may be provided near the bottom portion of the inner volume of the enclosure  10 . These inflow openings may be disposed in the side walls (not shown) or in the front wall  18 . This allows for an enhanced vertical-oriented airflow. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the inflow openings may be provided in the enclosure near the forward portion of the inner volume of the enclosure  10 . These forward inflow openings may also be disposed in the side walls (not shown) or in the front wall  18 . The more-forward placed openings provide for greater lateral airflow across the electronic modules. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  are cut away views of the enclosure of  FIG. 1 , depicting the interaction between the inner, upper, and side walls. In  FIG. 2A  an inner wall  22   a  is disposed between two side walls  28   a  and  28   b . The inner wall  22   a  is attached to the side wall  28   a  and  28   b . The inner wall  22   a  is not attached to the upper wall. In this embodiment, the side walls  28   a  and  28   b , the upper wall  12 , and the uppermost edge of the inner wall  22   a  define the environmental opening. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 2B , the inner wall  22   b  is attached to the side walls  28   a  and  28   b , much like that shown for FIG.  2 A. However, in this case, the inner wall  22   b  is also partially attached to the upper wall  12 . Note that the attachment to the upper wall  12  does not completely close the environmental opening. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 2C , the inner wall  22   c  is attached to the side walls  28   a  and  28   b , much like that shown for FIG.  2 A. However, in this case, the inner wall  22   b  is also attached to the upper wall  12 . Note that the attachment to the upper wall  12  does not completely close the environmental opening, and that the inner wall defines the contours and location of the opening. Of course, many other constructions of the environmental opening may be envisioned by ones skilled in the art, and those constructions should be thought of as being included in this description. Accordingly, the inner wall  22  defines at least one edge of the environmental opening. 
     It should be noted that the vent  24  and the environmental flow mechanism  26  may be located at any points on the rear wall  16 . However, in one embodiment of the invention, the position of the environmental flow mechanism  26  and the vent  24  on the rear wall  16  are designed such that the outflow of air is directionally oriented from the upper portion of the enclosure  10 . However, as stated previously, the environmental flow mechanism  26  and the vent  24  may be placed at any point on the rear wall  16 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  are detailed side view diagrams of the relationship of the environmental flow mechanism  26 , the vent  24 , and the environmental opening particular embodiments according to the invention. In the embodiments depicted in the  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the flow of air from within the enclosure  10  is specifically oriented to be taken from an upper portion of the enclosure  10 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the environmental flow mechanism  26   a  and the vent  24   a  are disposed on the back wall  16  of the enclosure near the upper portion of the back wall  16 . In particular, the orientation of the vent  24   a  and the environmental flow mechanism  26   a  pulls the flow of air from across the top of the enclosure  10 . Accordingly, the orientation of the environmental flow mechanism  26   a  creates a flow directed from across the top of forward portion of the enclosure  10 . This flow directed across the top of the enclosure  10 , along with the interaction of the inner wall  22 , creates an upward and lateral airflow as depicted by the arrows in FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 4  is a depiction of an alternative embodiment of the directed airflow created by the interaction of the inner wall  22  and the position and orientation of the environmental flow mechanism  24   b  and the vent  26   b . In  FIG. 4 , the environmental flow mechanism  26   b  and vent  24   b  are again oriented to create a flow of air originating from near the top of the enclosure  10 . However, in distinction to the apparatus depicted in  FIG. 3 , the environmental flow mechanism  26   b  and the vent  24   b  are disposed to create a flow that is away from the parallel relative to the top wall  12 . 
     However, like the apparatus of  FIG. 3 , the flow of air is directed from the upper portions of the enclosure  10 . However, in this case, the environmental flow mechanism  26   b  is oriented to create a flow at an angle away from the parallel relative to the upper wall  12 . In this case, the vertical flow of air across and electronic module  20  is enhanced due to the vertical orientation of the airflow. The angled flow creates a more distributed vertical airflow across the electronic module  20  as opposed to the more parallel output airflow of FIG.  3 . 
     It should be noted that the orientation of the mechanisms may be reversed. Thus, the present embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A,  2 B,  3 , and  4  depict the enclosure  10  having a directed flow from the upper portions of the enclosure  10 . It is possible to create a similar structure whereby a flow is created along the lower portions of the enclosure  10 . Accordingly, the orientation of vertical flow across the electronic module may be either upwards or downwards according to the specific embodiment. 
       FIG. 5  is a cutaway diagram of an alternative embodiment of the enclosure having an inner floor, according to one aspect of the invention. This embodiment contains an optional inner floor  30 . This inner floor  30  is disposed between the front wall  18  and the inner wall  22 . The inner floor  30  is disposed at a height below the environmental opening. In this embodiment, the inner floor  30  allows for additional support for the electronic modules  20 . The inner floor  30  contains holes disposed in it, allowing for any flow of air on the inflow openings disposed on the sides or front of the enclosure  10  near the bottom to flow upwards through the inner floor  30 . 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an enclosure according to an aspect of the invention. It should be noted that the inner floor is not depicted, but may be added. Further, the vent may be placed at any place on an exterior wall, and may be oriented at an angle differing than that depicted. 
       FIG. 7  is a cutaway diagram from the top of the enclosure detailing horizontal airflows within it in accordance with the invention. A plurality of components  20   a  is disposed in the enclosure of FIG.  7 . The horizontal airflows  34  and  32  may be introduced into the enclosure of FIG.  7  through openings. It should be noted that the horizontal airflows may have both a horizontal component in the front to back direction or that in a side to side direction. Further, an airflow may have both a vertical component and a horizontal component. The structure  22   a  blocks horizontal components and redirects those components to a vertical. Thus, the horizontal components are changed into a vertical direction, that is, the horizontal component of the airflow is decreased and the vertical component remains proportionately unaffected. Note that the structure  22   a  can be made from the substructures of the components  20   a , and this type of structure may be used in any embodiment. 
     Thus, an enclosure for the storage and operation of electronic components having increased airflow characteristics is described and illustrated. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible without departing from the invention. Of course, the various features depicted in each of the figures and the accompanying text may be combined together. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited by the particular features specifically described and illustrated in the drawings, but the concept of the present invention is to be measured by the scope of the appended claims. It should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the appended claims that follow. 
     While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.