Patent ID: 7633754

Claim:
An air cooling system for an electronics rack, comprising: a front inlet area disposed between a lower shelf of the electronics rack and an upper shelf of the electronics rack, substantially adjacent to a middle shelf of the electronics rack, wherein the front inlet area comprises a lower front inlet area, a middle front inlet area, and an upper front inlet area, and wherein the front inlet area permits a cooling air flow to enter the electronics rack; a lower fan assembly disposed substantially adjacent to the lower shelf opposite the middle shelf; and an upper fan assembly disposed substantially adjacent to the upper shelf opposite the middle shelf; wherein the front inlet area, the lower fan assembly, and the upper fan assembly are collectively operable for pulling the cooling air flow into the front of the electronics rack, through the middle shelf, and to a backplane of the electronics rack, where the cooling air flow is split and diverted both down and up along the backplane, at a rear portion of the lower shelf and the upper shelf; and wherein the front inlet area, the lower fan assembly, and the upper fan assembly are collectively operable for pulling the cooling air flow into the front of the electronics rack and through the lower shelf and the upper shelf.