Abstract:
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a vertical exhaust duct for an electronic equipment enclosure. The vertical exhaust duct includes a first duct section, a second duct section slidably connected to the first duct section and extendable to a first height above the first duct section, and a third duct section slidably connected to the second duct section and extendable to a second height above the second duct section.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/222,528, filed on Jul. 2, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an adjustable vertical exhaust duct. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adjustable vertical exhaust duct for a network cabinet in a data center room. 
         [0003]    Existing vertical exhaust ducts channel hot air from the network cabinet into an exhaust air plenum in the data center room. However, network cabinets and exhaust air plenums are available in different heights, potentially leaving a vertical gap between the network cabinet and the exhaust air plenum. Additionally, the same size vertical exhaust duct is typically used for network cabinets of various widths, such as 24, 28, or 32 inches, potentially leaving a horizontal gap between adjacent vertical exhaust ducts. 
         [0004]    Therefore, there is a need for an adjustable vertical exhaust duct that will accommodate the vertical gap between server cabinets and exhaust air plenums in a data center room. Additionally, there is a need for an adjustable vertical exhaust duct that will accommodate the horizontal gap between adjacent vertical exhaust ducts. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a vertical exhaust duct for an electronic equipment enclosure. The vertical exhaust duct includes a first duct section, a second duct section slidably connected to the first duct section and extendable to a first height above the first duct section, and a third duct section slidably connected to the second duct section and extendable to a second height above the second duct section. 
         [0006]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, the first duct section includes a first plurality of elongated openings for securing the second duct section to the first duct section at the first height and the second duct section includes a second plurality of elongated openings for securing the third duct section to the second duct section at the second height. 
         [0007]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, at least one of the first duct section and the second duct section includes at least one first fastener for securing the second duct section to the first duct section at the first height and at least one of the second duct section and the third duct section includes at least one second fastener for securing the third duct section to the second duct section at the second height. 
         [0008]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a vertical exhaust duct for an electronic equipment enclosure. The vertical exhaust duct includes a first duct section, a second duct section slidably connected to the first duct section and extendable to a height above the first duct section, and a first side flange slidably connected to the second duct section and extendable to a first position adjacent a first side of the second duct section for sealing a first gap between the vertical exhaust duct and a first adjacent vertical exhaust duct. 
         [0009]    Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a vertical exhaust duct for an electronic equipment enclosure. The vertical exhaust duct includes a duct section and a flange slidably connected to the duct section and extendable to a position adjacent a side of the duct section for sealing a gap between the vertical exhaust duct and an adjacent vertical exhaust duct. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an adjustable vertical exhaust duct in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the exhaust duct is shown in a retracted vertical position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the adjustable vertical exhaust duct of  FIG. 1 , wherein the exhaust duct is shown in a partially extended vertical position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the adjustable vertical exhaust duct of  FIG. 1 , wherein the exhaust duct is shown in a fully extended vertical position; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the adjustable exhaust duct of  FIG. 3 , showing the components of the duct bottom and the outer duct section; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of a portion of the outer duct section of  FIG. 4 , after the outer duct section is assembled; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the adjustable vertical exhaust duct of  FIG. 3 , showing the components of the inner duct section and the top collar; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a detailed view of one of the locking systems of the adjustable vertical exhaust duct of  FIG. 2 , wherein four identical nut, screw, and slot locking systems secure the inner duct section to the outer duct section; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a detailed view of one of the locking systems of the adjustable vertical exhaust duct of  FIG. 2 , wherein four identical nut, screw, and slot locking systems secure the top collar to the inner duct section; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the top collar of  FIG. 3 , wherein the top collar is in a retracted horizontal position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a detailed view of section A of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the top collar of  FIG. 3 , wherein the top collar is in an extended horizontal position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a detailed view of section A of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the duct bottom of  FIG. 4  attached to a top cap of a network cabinet; 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a partial perspective view of two adjacent network cabinets, each of which includes the adjustable vertical exhaust duct of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a partial side view of the two adjacent adjustable vertical exhaust ducts of  FIG. 16 , wherein the top collars are in the retracted horizontal position and a gap exists between the adjacent assemblies; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 18  is a partial side view of the two adjacent adjustable vertical exhaust ducts of  FIG. 16 , wherein the top collars are in the extended horizontal position and the gap is sealed between the adjacent assemblies. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1-18  illustrate an adjustable vertical exhaust duct  100  for a network cabinet in a data center room. Exhaust duct  100  will channel hot air from the network cabinet into an exhaust air plenum in the data center room. Network cabinets and exhaust air plenums come in different heights, potentially leaving a vertical gap between the network cabinets and the exhaust air plenums. Also, the same size exhaust duct  100  is typically used for network cabinets of different widths, such as 24, 28, or 32 inches, potentially leaving a horizontal gap  20  (see  FIG. 17 ) between adjacent exhaust ducts. However, exhaust duct  100  can accommodate these gaps. 
         [0029]    Exhaust duct  100  includes a duct bottom  110 , an outer duct section  120 , an inner duct section  130 , and a top collar  140 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  shows exhaust duct  100  in a retracted vertical position (e.g., inner duct section  130  and top collar  140  in retracted vertical positions). In the retracted vertical position, exhaust duct  100  is preferably about 42 inches high. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  shows exhaust duct  100  in a partially extended vertical position (e.g., inner duct section  130  in an extended vertical position and top collar  140  in a retracted vertical position). In the partially extended vertical position, exhaust duct  100  is preferably about 68 inches high. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows exhaust duct  100  in a fully extended vertical position (e.g., inner duct section  130  and top collar  140  in extended vertical positions). In the fully extended vertical position, exhaust duct  100  is preferably about 70 inches high. 
         [0033]    As described above,  FIG. 1  shows inner duct section  130  in the retracted vertical position, and  FIGS. 2 and 3  show inner duct section  130  in the extended vertical position. Preferably, inner duct section  130  is smaller than outer duct section  120 , and inner duct section  130  telescopes to adjust the height of exhaust duct  100 . That is, adjustable or telescoping inner duct section  130  provides for “coarse” adjustment of exhaust duct height, for example, from about 42 inches high to about 68 inches high. 
         [0034]    Additionally, as described above,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show top collar  140  in the retracted vertical position, and  FIG. 3  shows top collar  140  in the extended vertical position. As best seen in  FIG. 6 , top collar  140  includes a bottom flange  141  and a top flange  142 . Preferably, bottom flange  141  is smaller than inner duct section  130 , and top collar  140  telescopes to adjust the height of exhaust duct  100 . That is, adjustable or telescoping top collar  140  provides for “fine” adjustment of exhaust duct height, for example, from about 68 inches high to about 70 inches high. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  shows the formed pieces of outer duct section  120 . Outer duct section  120  includes two end panels  121  and two side panels  122 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , end panels  121  and side panels  122  hook together at the corners using open hems on each piece. End panels  121  and side panels  122  are secured to duct bottom  110 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows the formed pieces of inner duct section  130 . Inner duct section  130  includes two end panels  131  and two side panels  132 . Similar to outer duct section  120  (see  FIG. 5 ), end panels  131  and side panels  132  hook together at the corners using open hems on each piece and are held together with threaded fasteners. 
         [0037]    Outer duct section  120  includes a plurality of slots  123 . Preferably, each slot  123  is configured to provide infinite adjustability. For example, as best seen in  FIG. 7 , one slot is longer than the other slots. Inner duct section  130  includes a plurality of apertures having a plurality of nuts  133 . Preferably, each aperture is identical and each nut  133  is an insertion hardware nut, such as a PEM nut. As shown in  FIG. 7 , slots  123  in outer duct section  120  align with nuts  133  in inner duct section  130  and screws hold outer and inner duct sections  120 ,  130  together at the desired height. The screws may include paint piercing washers to ground outer and inner duct sections  120 ,  130  together. Also, outer duct section  120  overlaps inner duct section  130  to cover each slot  123  and prevent air leakage. 
         [0038]    Similarly, inner duct section  130  includes a plurality of slots  134 . Preferably, each slot  134  is identical. Top collar  140  includes a plurality of apertures having a plurality of nuts  144 . Preferably, each aperture is identical and each nut  144  is an insertion hardware nut, such as a PEM nut. As shown in  FIG. 8 , slots  134  in inner duct section  130  align with nuts  144  in top collar  140  and screws hold inner duct section  130  and top collar  140  together at a desired height. The screws may include paint piercing washers to ground inner duct section  130  and top collar  140  together. Also, inner duct section  130  overlaps top collar  140  to cover each slot  134  and prevent air leakage. 
         [0039]    Referring again to  FIG. 6 , top flange  142  includes a front flange  145 , a back flange  146 , and two side flanges  147 . Front and back flanges  145 ,  146  are integrally formed with bottom flange  141 , but it is likewise contemplated that front and back flanges  145 ,  146  may be removably connected to bottom flange  141 . Side flanges  147  are slidably connected to front and back flanges  145 ,  146 , for example, via slots  148  and fasteners (not shown), allowing side flanges  147  to slide from the retracted horizontal position (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ) to the extended horizontal position (see  FIGS. 11 and 12 ). Additionally, top flange  142 , and more particularly, front, back, and side flanges  145 - 147 , may include one or more gaskets  149 , such as foam and/or rubber gaskets, that will press against the exhaust air plenum to ensure that hot air is evacuated from the network cabinet and channeled into the exhaust air plenum. 
         [0040]    As best seen in  FIG. 13 , duct bottom  110  may be secured to a top cap  11  of the network cabinet, for example, using one or more fasteners  111 , such as serrated head screws, to ground the network cabinet and the duct bottom  110  together (see  FIGS. 14 and 15 ). As such, a grounding whip is not required. 
         [0041]    In operation, an installer begins with exhaust duct  100  in the retracted vertical position (see  FIG. 1 ). The installer raises inner duct section  130  to the extended vertical position (see  FIG. 2 ) and secures inner duct section  130  to outer duct section  120 , as described above. Next, the installer raises top collar  140  to the extended vertical position (see  FIG. 3 ) and secures top collar  140  to inner duct section  130 , as described above, to seal the vertical gap between the network cabinet and the exhaust air plenum in the data center room. Gaskets  149  further seal the vertical gap between the network cabinet and the exhaust air plenum in the data center room. 
         [0042]    In the case of adjacent network cabinets, inner duct sections  130  of adjacent exhaust ducts  100  may be connected using one or more optional ganging brackets  150  (see  FIG. 16 ). Additionally or in the alternative, side flanges  147  may be slid from the retracted horizontal position (see  FIG. 17 ) to the extended horizontal position (see  FIG. 18 ) to seal horizontal gap  20  between adjacent exhaust ducts  100 . 
         [0043]    While the particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the teaching of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation. The illustrated embodiments are examples only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention. The claims should not be read as limited to the described order or elements unless stated to that effect. Therefore, all embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.