Source: http://patents.com/us-9351424.html
Timestamp: 2017-10-22 12:07:48
Document Index: 243537747

Matched Legal Cases: ['art\n5946191', 'Application No. 2012', 'Application No. 201080037116', 'Application No. 201080037116', 'Application No. 201080037116', 'Application No. 2012']

US Patent # 9,351,424. Passive cooling enclosure system and method for electronics devices - Patents.com
United States Patent 9,351,424
Facusse , et al. May 24, 2016
Facusse; Mario E. (Miami, FL), Kosch; David Scott (Austin, TX)
XYBER TECHNOLOGIES (Miami, FL)
Family ID: 1000001866781
14/049,529
US 20140036450 A1 Feb 6, 2014
12716888 Mar 3, 2010 8582298
12488818 Jun 22, 2009 9036351
Current CPC Class: H05K 7/20418 (20130101); H05K 7/20809 (20130101); H05K 7/20818 (20130101); H05K 7/20827 (20130101)
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The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No 12/716,888, filed Mar. 3, 2010, which is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/488,818, filed Jun. 22, 2009, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
1. An apparatus for cooling electronics, the apparatus comprising: a modular support structure including: a first heat sink configured to thermally couple to a cabinet, wherein the first heat sink comprises a first slot that tapers from front to back in terms of a mounting direction of the cabinet such that the first slot is wider at the front than at the back, and wherein the cabinet comprises a first heat pipe configured to thermally engage the first heat sink via the first slot; and a second heat sink configured to thermally couple to the cabinet, wherein the second heat sink comprises a second slot that tapers from front to back in terms of the mounting direction of the cabinet such that the second slot is wider at the front than at the back, and wherein the cabinet comprises a second heat pipe configured to thermally engage the second heat sink via the second slot; wherein the first heat sink and the second heat sink are external to the cabinet; and wherein, when the cabinet is thermally coupled to the first heat sink and the second heat sink, the first heat sink and the second heat sink are configured to passively draw heat from the cabinet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heat sink and the second heat sink do not include an active fluid cooling element.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cabinet comprises at least one electronic device that generates heat.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modular support structure is positioned beside a second modular support structure such that a channel is formed between the modular support structure and the second modular support structure, and wherein the channel is configured to receive and direct cooling air over the first heat sink of the modular support structure and a third heat sink of the second modular support structure, wherein the first heat sink comprises at least a portion of a wall of the modular support structure, and wherein the third heat sink comprises at least a portion of a wall of the second modular support.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the cabinet.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cabinet comprises a sealed cabinet.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cabinet is configured to removably couple to the first heat sink and the second heat sink.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heat sink is not thermally coupled to the at least one cabinet using a liquid or a gas.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heat sink and the second heat sink are each located in at least one wall of the modular support structure.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modular support structure comprises a plurality of slots, and wherein the plurality of slots are configured to allow a plurality of cabinets to each linearly slide along respective slots of the plurality of slots, and wherein the plurality of slots are configured to receive respective heat pipes extending from an external surface of the respective cabinet.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modular support structure encloses the cabinet.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the modular support structure comprises at least four sides, wherein a first side of the at least four sides comprises the first heat sink, and wherein a second side of the at least four sides opposite the first side comprises the second heat sink.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first heat sink and the second heat sink are further configured to passively dissipate heat from the cabinet to a space outside of the modular support structure.
14. A method for passively cooling electronics comprising: passively drawing heat from a cabinet through: a first solid thermal joint to a first heat sink located in a modular support structure external to the cabinet, wherein the first heat sink comprises a first slot that tapers from a first end of the modular support structure toward a second end of the modular support structure such that the first slot is wider at the first end of the modular support structure than at the second end of the modular support structure, and wherein the cabinet comprises a first heat pipe configured to thermally engage the first heat sink via the first slot; and a second solid thermal joint to a second heat sink located in the modular support structure external to the cabinet, wherein the second heat sink comprises a second slot that tapers from the first end of the modular support structure toward the second end of the modular support structure such that the second slot is wider at the first end of the modular support structure than at the second end of the modular support structure, and wherein the cabinet comprises a second heat pipe configured to thermally engage the second heat sink via the second slot; wherein the cabinet is located between the first heat sink and the second heat sink.
15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first heat pipe and the second heat pipe are each configured to thermally couple to an internal component of the cabinet.
16. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first heat pipe includes a first compression rail and a second compression rail, wherein a space is formed between the first compression rail and the second compression rail, and wherein the space tapers from front to back in terms of the mounting direction of the cabinet to engage the first slot between the first compression rail and the second compression rail.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first compression rail and the second compression rail are made of a flexible and thermal conductive material.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first heat pipe further includes a starting block disposed at an edge of the first heat pipe.
19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first heat pipe includes a first compression rail and a second compression rail, wherein a space is formed between the first compression rail and the second compression rail, and wherein the space tapers from front to back in terms of the mounting direction of the cabinet to engage the first slot between the first compression rail and the second compression rail.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising: forming a channel between the modular support structure and a second modular structure, wherein the modular support structure is positioned beside the second modular support structure; receiving and directing cooling air through the channel over the first heat sink of the modular support structure and a third heat sink of the second modular support structure, wherein the first heat sink comprises at least a portion of a wall of the modular support structure, and wherein the third heat sink comprises at least a portion of a wall of the second modular support.
The device module 220 includes a cradle assembly and an electronic component. Preferably, the electronic component is a hot-swappable non-volatile storage device such as a hard drive. Alternatively, the electronic component can be any electronic device; for example, a 3.5'' hard drive, a 2.5'' hard drive, a 5.25'' drive, an optical drive, a tape drive, solid state drive, a card reader, a memory bank, a magnetic memory bank, a communications module, a daughterboard, a sensor module, or an input/output module. The electronic component is thermally coupled to the cradle assembly. The cradle assembly draws heat away from the electronic component. The passive cooling system 100 can include a plurality of device modules. The cradle assembly can also include a clamping or securing mechanism as described in more detail below.
In one illustrative embodiment, the first power supply integrated circuit 2530 and the second power supply integrated circuit 2540 are soldered to a first side of the printed circuit board 2520. The first power supply integrated circuit 2530 is coupled to a first heat pipe 2630. The first heat pipe 2630 is coupled to the heat sink 140. Thus, the first power supply integrated circuit 2530 is thermally coupled to the heat sink 140 via the first heat pipe 2630. Heat generated by the first power supply integrated circuit 2530 is drawn to the heat sink 140 through the first heat pipe 2630 and dissipated into the ambient air. The first heat pipe 2630 can be an "I-beam" shape; however, any other shape can be used. The joints between the first power supply integrated circuit 2530, the first heat pipe 2630, and the heat sink 140 can include thermal compound to enhance thermal coupling.
The second power supply integrated circuit 2540 is coupled to a second heat pipe 2640. The second heat pipe 2640 is coupled to the heat sink 140. Thus, the second power supply integrated circuit 2540 is thermally coupled to the heat sink 140 via the second heat pipe 2640. Heat generated by the second power supply integrated circuit 2540 is drawn to the heat sink 140 through the second heat pipe 2640 and dissipated into the ambient air. The second heat pipe 2640 can be an "I-beam" shape; however, any other shape can be used. The joints between the second power supply integrated circuit 2540, the second heat pipe 2640, and the heat sink 140 can include thermal compound to enhance thermal coupling.
In one illustrative embodiment, each of the cabinets 920 can be a server with modular bays as described above. In another illustrative embodiment, each of the cabinets 920 can be a scaled rack chassis unit such as a hermetically scaled unit. Advantageously, a scaled rack chassis unit can be easily removed and cleaned. For example, suppose a server farm consisting of passive cooling enclosure systems was located in an area that was exposed to a biohazard such as anthrax or to particulate contamination, floods, or a hurricane. Personnel could easily remove and decontaminate or salvage the sealed rack chassis units. The decontaminated or salvaged sealed rack chassis units could then be safely moved to a different facility thereby preserving the equipment and the data stored on the sealed rack chassis units. In addition, the support structure 905 and heat sinks 910 can be easily decontaminated. In addition, any power modules or other electronics associated with the passive cooling enclosure system 900 can be sealed in a removable cabinet.
The devices 1310 and processors 1320 can be electrically connected by motherboard 1340. Motherboard 1340 can be electrically connected to external devices through port 1380. Port 1380 can be hermetically scaled allowing electrical connections with cabinet 920 without exposing the internal components of the cabinet 920 to contaminants.
The heat sink 1410 can include tins, coolant channels, or any other heat dissipation means as discussed above. The heat sink 1410 is located toward the rear. In some embodiments, the heat sink 1410 also provides the structure of the rack.
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