Patent ID: 8885341

Claim:
An electronic communications cooling system comprising: an electronic communications device providing an electronic communications module having a chassis with a front, a back and sides extending between and connecting said front and back; a stack of line cards comprising printed circuit boards, said line cards being spaced from each other to form passageways therebetween; an inlet side cooling plenum positioned adjacent one side of said line cards for passing influent cooling air to said passageways between said line cards; an outlet side cooling plenum positioned adjacent another side of said line cards for receiving and passing effluent heated air from said passageways between said line cards; dual plenum chambers positioned above or below said line cards and separated by a fluid impermeable plate, said dual plenum chambers comprising an intake cooling chamber and an exhaust cooling chamber; at least one fan module for circulating air in said electronic communications module in a front to back flow pattern; and said fan module cooperating with said cooling chambers, plenums, and passageways to cool heat generated by said line card by directing the flow of influent cooling air through said intake cooling chamber, said inlet side cooling plenum, and said passageways between said line cards and for directing the flow of effluent heated air from said passageways between said line cards through said outlet side cooling plenum and through said exhaust cooling chamber for front to back cooling of said electronic communications device.