Push-pull computer cooling apparatuses and methods for making and using same

Apparatuses and methods include at least one push fan assembly and at least one pull fan assembly and at least one constriction channel or pathway designed to compress air pulled in by the push fan so that as the compressed air exits the at least one constriction channel or pathway, the air undergoes an expansion and cools and the push-pull fan arrangement pulls the cooled air through the housing improving the cooling of computer or electronic components housed in the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatuses for cooling computer systems.

In particular, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatuses for cooling computer systems, computer components, or other electronic equipment or components housed in a housing amenable to fan cooling, where the apparatuses include at least one push fan and at least one pull fan and at least one constriction channel or pathway designed to compress air pulled in by the push fan so that as the compressed air exits the at least one constriction channel or pathway, the air undergoes an expansion and cools and the push-pull fan arrangement pulls the cooled air through the housing improving the cooling of computer or electronic components housed in the housing.

2. Description of the Related Art

While many apparatuses and methods have been purposed and produced for cooling computers, there is still a need in the art for newer and different cooling apparatuses.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of this disclosure provide apparatuses including a computer housing having an interior to be cooled. The apparatuses also include a push fan assembly and a pull fan assembly. The push fan assembly include a push fan housing including a push fan, at least one push fan inlet, and at least one constriction pathway having a pathway inlet and a pathway outlet. The pull fan assembly includes a pull fan housing including a pull fan, at least one pull fan air inlet, and at one pull fan outlet. The computer housing includes a computer power supply, circuit boards or other components including processing units, memory, external storage units, and other computer components. The assemblies may be attached to the computer housing so that air is pushed into and pulled out of the interior including the computer components to be cooled.

Embodiments of this disclosure provide apparatuses including a computer housing having an interior to be cooled, a push fan assembly and a pull fan assembly. The push fan assembly include a push fan housing including a push fan, at least one push fan inlet, and at least one constriction pathway having a pathway inlet and a pathway outlet. The pull fan assembly includes a pull fan housing including a pull fan, at least one pull fan air inlet, and at one pull fan outlet. The computer housing interior includes a computer power supply, circuit boards or other components including processing units, memory, external storage units, and other computer components.

DEFINITIONS USED IN THE DISCLOSURE

The term “at least one” means one or more or one or a plurality, additionally, these three terms may be used interchangeably within this application. For example, at least one device means one or more devices or one device and a plurality of devices.

The term “one or a plurality” means one item or a plurality of items.

The term “about” means that a value of a given quantity is within ±20% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±15% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±10% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±2.5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±1% of the stated value.

The term “substantially” means that a value of a given quantity is within ±5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±2.5% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±2% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±1% of the stated value. In other embodiments, the value is within ±0.1% of the stated value.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The inventors have found that cooling apparatuses and methods implements the cooling apparatuses, where the cooling apparatuses are designed to cool computers, computer components, electronic equipment, or electronic components housed in a housing and where the cooling apparatuses including at least one push fan, at least one pull fan, and at least one constriction channel that compresses the air as it enters the channel produced by the push fan so that as the air exits the at least one channel, the air expands and cools via adiabatic cooling and the pull fan pulls the cooled air through the housing and exhausts the air from the interior of the housing cooling all components therein. The components in the interior may be computer boards or any other electronic component, mechanical component or electromechanical component that requires cooling by air.

In certain embodiments, the constriction/restriction channels may be associated with a member through which the air flow produced by the push fan must pass through before entering the interior of the housing to be cooled so support air compression entering the channels and expansion upon exiting the channels resulting in cooling via expansion.

In other embodiments, the channels may include nozzles to direct the air flow and to increase compression and expansion. In other embodiments, the channels include control valves under control of a microprocessor or the computer processor is the housing houses a computer, where the control valves act to increase compression and thereby increasing cooling by expansion. In other embodiments, the channels include chambers into which air may be compressed. In other embodiments, the push fan assembly may include unidirectional intake valves that allow air to entire the fan housing, but not to exit through the fan housing except via the constriction/restriction channels.

Embodiments of this present disclosure provide cooling apparatuses comprising a housing including an interior to be cooled, a push fan assembly including at least one push fan and at least one constriction/restriction pathway or channel, and a pull fan assembly including at least one pull fan and at least one exhaust pathway. In certain embodiments, the push assembly further includes a member defining one or a plurality of constriction/restriction pathways or channels. In other embodiments, each pathway includes a control valve. In other embodiments, the push assembly further includes one or a plurality of unidirectional intake valves. In other embodiments, each pathway includes a compression chamber and a control valve. In other embodiments, the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a bottom of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on a top of the housing or the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a side of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on a top of the housing or the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a side of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on an opposite side of the housing. In other embodiments, each pathway terminates in a nozzle. In other embodiments, the apparatus also includes intakes screens or intakes screens and an interior screen. In other embodiments, the push fan assembly include a plurality push fans and/or the pull fan assembly include a plurality pull fans.

Embodiments of this present disclosure provide cooling apparatuses comprising a housing including an interior to be cooled, a push fan assembly including at least one push fan, a member defining one or a plurality of constriction/restriction pathways or channels, and a pull fan assembly including at least one pull fan and at least one exhaust pathway. In certain embodiments, each pathway includes a control valve. In other embodiments, the push assembly further includes one or a plurality of unidirectional intake valves. In other embodiments, each pathway includes a compression chamber and a control valve. In other embodiments, the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a bottom of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on a top of the housing or the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a side of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on a top of the housing or the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a side of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on an opposite side of the housing. In other embodiments, each pathway terminates in a nozzle. In other embodiments, the apparatuses further comprising intakes screens or intakes screens and an interior screen. In other embodiments, the push fan assembly include a plurality push fans, and/or the pull fan assembly include a plurality pull fans.

Embodiments of this present disclosure provide cooling apparatuses comprising a housing including an interior to be cooled, a push fan assembly including at least one push fan, a member defining one or a plurality of constriction/restriction pathways or channels including nozzles or narrow openings, and a pull fan assembly including at least one pull fan and at least one exhaust pathway. In certain embodiments, each pathway includes a control valve. In other embodiments, the push assembly further includes one or a plurality of unidirectional intake valves. In other embodiments, each pathway includes a compression chamber and a control valve. In other embodiments, the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a bottom of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on a top of the housing or the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a side of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on a top of the housing or the push fan assembly is disposed in or on a side of the housing and the pull fan assembly is disposed in or on an opposite side of the housing. In other embodiments, the apparatuses further comprising intakes screens or intakes screens and an interior screen. In other embodiments, the push fan assembly include a plurality push fans, and/or the pull fan assembly include a plurality pull fans.

Embodiments of this present disclosure provide methods comprising pushing air into an interior of a housing to be cooled through at least one constriction/restriction pathway associated with the push fan assembly an apparatus of claim1, wherein the air is compressed as it enter and flow through the pathway and expands and cools as it exits the pathway, and pulling air through the interior and out of the exhaust pathway associated with the pull fan assembly.

Suitable Components for Use in the Disclosure

Suitable processing units or processors include, without limitation, any processing unit capable of executing programs. The processors can be digital, analog, quantum or any other type or processing unit capable of executing programs.

Suitable digital processing units (DPUs) include, without limitation, any digital processing unit capable of accepting input from a singular or plurality of devices, touches, or objects and converting at least some of the input into output designed to select and/or control attributes of one or more of the devices or objects. Exemplary examples of such DPUs include, without limitation, microprocessor, microcontrollers, or the like manufactured by Intel, Motorola, Erricsson, HP, Samsung, Hitachi, NRC, Applied Materials, AMD, Cyrix, Sun Microsystem, Philips, National Semiconductor, Via Electonics, Qualcomm, or any other manufacture of microprocessors or microcontrollers.

Suitable analog processing units (APUs) include, without limitation, any analog processing unit capable of accepting input from a singular or a plurality of devices, touches, or objects and converting at least some of the input into output designed to control attributes of one or more of the devices or objects. Such analog devices are available from manufacturers such as Analog Devices Inc.

Suitable materials from which the members having constriction/restriction flow paths therethrough include, without limitation, metals, plastics, composites, ceramics, or mixtures thereof.

Detailed Description of Drawings of the Disclosure

Referring now toFIGS. 1A-F, an embodiment of a push-pull cooling system/apparatus, generally100, is shown to include a housing102having a top104, a bottom106, sides108, and an interior110including electronic components112to be cooled. The apparatus100also includes a push fan assembly120disposed on or at the bottom106of the housing102and a pull fan assembly140disposed on or at the top104of the housing102.

The push fan assembly120includes a push fan housing122having a push fan top124, a push fan bottom126, push fan sides128having screens130, and a push fan interior132including a push fan134having fan blades136. The push fan assembly120also includes a constriction/restriction flow path138.

The pull fan assembly140includes a push fan housing142having a pull fan top144, a pull fan bottom146, pull fan sides148, and a pull fan interior152including a pull fan154having fan blades156. The pull fan assembly140also includes an exhaust flow path158.

Looking atFIG. 1B, heat flow is shown by light gray arrowed lines. Looking atFIG. 1C, the pull fan134pulls air from the surroundings in through the screen130around interior due to rotation of the fan blades136as shown by darker gray arrowed lines. Looking atFIG. 1D, the air flows through the constriction/restriction flow path138and into the interior110of the housing102. Looking atFIG. 1E, the air flows up through the interior and into the pull fan154. Looking atFIG. 1F, the air flows out of the exhaust flow path158.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A-E, another embodiment of a push-pull cooling system/apparatus, generally200, is shown to include a housing202having a top204, a bottom206, sides208, and an interior210including electronic components212to be cooled. The apparatus200also includes a push fan assembly220disposed on or at the bottom206of the housing202and a pull fan assembly240disposed on or at the top204of the housing202and heat flow is shown by light gray arrowed lines.

The push fan assembly220includes a push fan housing222having a push fan top224, a push fan bottom226, push fan sides228having screens230, and a push fan interior232including a push fan234having fan blades236. The push fan assembly220also includes a constriction/restriction flow path238.

The pull fan assembly240includes a push fan housing242having a pull fan top244, a pull fan bottom246, pull fan sides246, a screen250situated in the bottom246, and a pull fan interior252including a pull fan254having fan blades256. The pull fan assembly240also includes an exhaust flow path258.

Looking atFIG. 2B, the pull fan234pulls air from the surroundings in through the screen230around interior due to rotation of the fan blades236as shown by darker gray arrowed lines. Looking atFIG. 2D, the air flows through the constriction/restriction flow path238and into the interior210of the housing202. Looking atFIG. 2E, the air flows up through the interior and into the pull fan254and out of the exhaust flow path258.

Referring now toFIG. 3, another embodiment of a push-pull cooling system/apparatus, generally300, is shown to include a housing302having a top304, a bottom306, sides308, and an interior310to be cooled, and a power supply housing312. The apparatus300also includes a push fan assembly314disposed on or at the bottom306of the housing302including two push fans316a&band a pull fan assembly318including a single pull fan320disposed on or at the top304of the housing302. The apparatus300also include intake screens322, an interior screen324, and a member326including constriction/restriction flow paths328therethrough.

Referring now toFIG. 4, another embodiment of a push-pull cooling system/apparatus, generally400, is shown to include a housing402having a top404, a bottom406, sides408, and an interior410to be cooled. The apparatus400also includes a push fan assembly412disposed on or at the left side408aof the housing402including a push fan414and a pull fan assembly416disposed on or at the top404of the housing402and include a pull fan418. The apparatus400also include intake screens420, an interior screen422, and constriction/restriction flow paths424.

Referring now toFIG. 5, an embodiment of a fan assembly, generally500, is shown to include a housing502having radially extending members504extending out from the housing and terminating in nozzles506defining constriction/restriction flow paths508.

Referring now toFIG. 6A, an embodiment of a constriction/restriction flow path assembly, generally600, is shown to include a flow conduit602having a distal end604and including a control valve606controlled by a microprocessor608.

Referring now toFIG. 6B, another embodiment of a constriction/restriction flow path assembly, generally600, is shown to include the flow conduit602having the distal end604and including the control valve606controlled by the microprocessor608. The distal end604terminates in a nozzle610.

Referring now toFIG. 7A, an embodiment of a constriction/restriction flow path assembly, generally700, is shown to include a flow conduit702having a compression chamber704and a distal end706and including a control valve708controlled by a microprocessor710.

Referring now toFIG. 7B, another embodiment of a constriction/restriction flow path assembly, generally700, is shown to include the flow conduit702having the compression chamber704and the distal end706and including the control valve708controlled by the microprocessor710. The distal end704terminates in a nozzle712.

Referring now toFIG. 8A, an embodiment of a constriction/restriction flow member, generally800, is shown to include a constriction/restriction flow path802.

Referring now toFIG. 8B, another embodiment of the constriction/restriction flow member, generally800, is shown to include radially constriction/restriction flow paths804.

Referring now toFIG. 8C, another embodiment of the constriction/restriction flow member, generally800, is shown to include radially and concentrically distributed constriction/restriction flow paths806.

Referring now toFIG. 8D, another embodiment of the constriction/restriction flow member, generally800, is shown to include rectangularly distributed constriction/restriction flow paths808.

Referring now toFIG. 8E, another embodiment of the constriction/restriction flow member, generally800, is shown to include concave constriction/restriction flow paths810.

Referring now toFIG. 8F, another embodiment of the constriction/restriction flow member, generally800, is shown to include convex constriction/restriction flow paths812.

Referring now toFIG. 8G, another embodiment of the constriction/restriction flow member, generally800, is shown to include constriction/restriction flow paths814having compression chamber816and straight shaped openings818.

Referring now toFIG. 8H, another embodiment of the constriction/restriction flow member, generally800, is shown to include constriction/restriction flow paths820having straight portions822and nozzle shaped openings824.

These members may be used with any of the push-pull fan apparatuses described herein.

Referring now toFIGS. 9A&B, top plan and side plan views of an embodiment of a push fan assembly, generally900, is shown to include a housing902, unidirectional valves904, and a flow path member906having constriction/restriction flow paths908.

Closing Paragraph of the Disclosure

All references cited herein are incorporated by reference. Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to its preferred embodiments, from reading this description those of skill in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be made which do not depart from the scope and spirit of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter.