Patent Publication Number: US-2013248148-A1

Title: Cooling device with blocking plate

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to cooling devices, and particularly to a cooling device with a blocking plate in an electronic apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Several cooling members, such as heat exchangers, are used for cooling an electronic apparatus such as a server or a data center container. Generally, the cooling members are secured to a bracket together. The bracket defines an air inlet and an air outlet. Air flows from the air inlet to the air outlet via the cooling members. When one cooling member is damaged and removed to be repaired, the space occupied by the damaged cooling member become empty allowing air flows from the air inlet to the empty space, which may affect the cooling efficiency of the electronic apparatus. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a cooling device. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, isometric view of a blocking plate of the cooling device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of assembled cooling device of  FIG. 1  with the blocking plate in an initial position. 
         FIG. 4  is a second isometric view of the assembled cooling device of  FIG. 1  with the blocking plate in a first blocking position, but without a second cooling member. 
         FIG. 5  is similar to  FIG. 4 , but viewed from a different aspect. 
         FIG. 6  another isometric view of the assembled cooling device of  FIG. 1  with the blocking plate in a second blocking position, but without a first cooling member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
       FIG. 1  shows a cooling device in accordance with an embodiment. The cooling device comprises a case  10 , a first cooling member  20 , a second cooling member  21 , a blocking plate  30 , and a division plate  50 . 
     The case  10  comprises a bottom plate  11  and two opposite side plates  13 . In one embodiment, the bottom plate  11  is substantially perpendicular to the two side plates  13 . A first beam  15 , a second beam  151 , and a support plate  16  are secured between the two side plates  13 . The first beam  15  and the second beam  151  connect to each of two opposite sides of the two side plates  13 . The first beam  15 , the second beam  151 , and the support plate  16  are substantially parallel to the bottom plate  11 . A first support frame  17  is secured to the first beam  15  and a first side of the support plate  16 . The first support frame  17  is oblique relative to the bottom plate  11  and the support plate  16 . A second side of the support plate  16 , opposite to the first side, defines a plurality of first locking holes  161 . A second support frame  18  is secured to the two side plates  13  and the bottom plate  11 . The second support frame  18  is substantially parallel to the first support frame  17 . A flange  181  extends from a top edge of the second support frame  18 . The flange  181  is substantially parallel to the support plate  16  and defines a second locking hole  1811 . 
     An air inlet  19  is defined cooperatively by the first beam  15 , the bottom plate  11 , and the two side plates  13 . An air outlet  191  is defined cooperatively by the second beam  151 , the bottom plate  11 , and the two side plates  13 . Each of the two side plates  13  defines two first installation holes  133  adjacent to the first support frame  17 , two mounting holes  131  and two second installation holes  135  adjacent to the second support frame  18 . In one embodiment, the two first installation holes  133  are connected to form a first line substantially parallel to the first support frame  17 ; two second installation holes  135  are connected to form a second line substantially parallel to the second support frame  18 ; and an acute angle is defined between the first line and the second line. The first support frame  17  defines a first ventilation opening  171 . The second support frame  18  defines a second ventilation opening  183 . 
     The first cooling member  20  and the second cooling member  21  are used for cooling an electronic device. The first cooling member  20  can be secured to the first support frame  17 . The second cooling member  21  can be secured to the second support frame  18 . In one embodiment, each of the first cooling member  20  and the second cooling member  21  is a heat exchanger. 
       FIG. 2  shows the blocking plate  30  comprising a body  31  and two installation pieces  33  extending from opposite sides of the body  31 . In one embodiment, the two installation pieces  33  are substantially perpendicular to the body  31 . A distance between the two installation pieces  33  is substantially equal to that between the two side plates  13 . 
     Two installation members  35  are secured to each of the two installation pieces  33 . Each of the two installation members  35  can be engaged in each of the two mounting holes  131 , each of the two first installation holes  133  and each of the two second installation holes  135 . 
     The division plate  50  comprises a main body  51  and two locking pieces  52  extending from opposite ends of the main body  51 . Each of the two locking pieces  52  defines a plurality of locking holes  521  corresponding to the first locking hole  161  and the second locking hole  1811 . In one embodiment, the division plate  50  is substantially a “Z” shaped. 
       FIG. 3  shows that in assembly, the division plate  50  is placed between the support plate  16  and the flange  181 . The two locking pieces  52  abut the support plate  16  and the flange  181  respectively. The two locking holes  521  are aligned with the first locking hole  161  and the second locking hole  1811  respectively. The division plate  50  is secured to the support plate  16  and the flange  181  by screws (not shown). The first cooling member  20  is secured to the first support frame  17  and the support plate  16  and is located between the first support frame  17  and the division plate  50 . The second cooling member  21  is secured to the bottom plate  11  and the second support frame  18  opposite to the first cooling member  20 . The blocking plate  30  is placed between the two side plates  13 , and each of the installation members  35  is aligned with each of the mounting holes  131 . Each of the installation members  35  is rotated to engage in the mounting hole  131  to secure the blocking plate  30  between the two side plates  13 . In this position, the blocking plate  30  is in an initial position. A distance between the support plate  16  and the bottom plate  11  is smaller than that between the blocking plate  30  and the bottom plate  11 . The second cooling member  21  is located between the blocking plate  30  and the bottom plate  11 . 
       FIGS. 1-3  show that in use, an air path is defined by the air inlet  19 , the first ventilation opening  171 , the first cooling member  20 , and the air outlet  191 . A part of air flows from the air inlet  19  to the air outlet  191  via the first ventilation opening  171  and the first cooling member  20 . Another part of air flows from the air inlet  19  to the air outlet  191  between the support plate  16  and the bottom plate  11  via the second ventilation opening  183  and the second cooling member  21  guided by the blocking plate  191 . 
       FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show that when the first cooling member  20  is in operation, and the second cooling member  21  is removed from the case  10 , the installation member  35  is rotated to disengage from the mounting hole  131 . The blocking plate  30  is removed from the initial position. Then the blocking plate  30  is moved to be adjacent to the second support frame  18 . The body  31  abuts a side of the second support frame  18  opposite to the first cooling member  20 , and the installation member  35  is aligned with the second installation hole  135 . The installation member  35  is rotated to engage in the second installation hole  135 , and then the blocking plate  30  is secured to the two side plates  13  and the second support frame  18 . In this position, the blocking plate  30  is in a first blocking position. The body  31  covers the second ventilation opening  183  and prevents air from flowing from the air inlet  19  to the air outlet  191  via the second ventilation opening  183 . Thus, air from the air inlet  19  is substantially completely flows to the first cooling member  20 . 
       FIG. 6  shows when the second cooling member  21  is in operation, and the first cooling member  20  is removed from the case  10 , the installation member  35  is rotated to disengage from the second installation hole  135 . The blocking plate  30  is removed from the first blocking position. Then the blocking plate  30  is moved to be adjacent to the first support frame  17 . The body  31  abuts a side of the first support frame  17  opposite to the second cooling member  21 , and the installation member  35  is aligned with the first installation hole  133 . The installation member  35  is rotated to engage in the first installation hole  133 , and then the blocking plate  30  is secured to the two side plates  13  and the first support frame  17 . In this position, the blocking plate  30  is in a second blocking position. The body  31  covers the first ventilation opening  171  and prevents air from flowing from the air inlet  19  to the air outlet  191  via the first ventilation opening  171 . Thus, air from the air inlet  19  is substantially completely flows to the second cooling member  21 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.