Front-to-rear airflow assembly for an equipment casing mounted on a rack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11997829-B2
Application number	US-202117362393-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2021
Priority date	Jun 29, 2021
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling airflow through a casing or shelf assembly are provided. An apparatus, according to one implementation, includes a mount plate configured to be attached to a side panel of a casing for housing network equipment. For example, the mount plate may include a window. The apparatus also includes one or more hinges arranged at an edge of the window of the mount plate and a baffle pivotably attached to the one or more hinges. The baffle can be arranged within a range of positions with respect to the mount plate to control an amount of airflow through the window. Within these range of positions, the baffle is configured to redirect the airflow in a front-to-back direction through the casing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A network element comprising:
a shelf having a side exhaust vent and configured to support one or more cards and a cooling unit; and
an exhaust control device over the side exhaust vent, wherein the exhaust control device is configured to redirect airflow from a side direction to a rear direction.

2. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust control device includes a baffle that is configured to open based on air flow out the side exhaust vent and redirect the airflow to the rear direction.

3. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the shelf is configured to mount in a 19-inch width rack.

4. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust control device includes
a mount plate configured to be attached to a side panel of the shelf, the mount plate including a window;
one or more hinges arranged at an edge of the window of the mount plate; and
a baffle pivotably attached to the one or more hinges, the baffle configured to be arranged within a range of positions with respect to the mount plate to control an amount of airflow through the window;
wherein, within the range of positions, the baffle is configured to redirect the airflow in a front-to-back direction through the casing.

5. The network element of claim 4 , further comprising a top accordion pleat and a bottom accordion pleat, the top accordion pleat configured to be attached between a top edge of the baffle and a top edge of the window, the bottom accordion pleat configured to be attached between a bottom edge of the baffle and a bottom edge of the window.

6. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the cooling unit includes a fan for directing the airflow in the front-to-back direction through the side exhaust vent and the exhaust control device.

7. An apparatus configured to control airflow, the apparatus comprising:
a mount plate configured to be attached to a side panel of a casing for housing network equipment, the mount plate including a window;
one or more hinges arranged at an edge of the window of the mount plate; and
a baffle pivotably attached to the one or more hinges, the baffle configured to be arranged within a range of positions with respect to the mount plate to control an amount of airflow through the window;
wherein, within the range of positions, the baffle is configured to redirect the airflow in a front-to-back direction through the casing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a top accordion pleat and a bottom accordion pleat, the top accordion pleat configured to be attached between a top edge of the baffle and a top edge of the window, the bottom accordion pleat configured to be attached between a bottom edge of the baffle and a bottom edge of the window.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the top accordion pleat and bottom accordion pleat are configured to limit the movement of the baffle with respect to the mount plate to within the range of positions.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the mount plate further comprises a first crimping edge arranged near the top edge of the window and a second crimping edge arranged near the bottom edge of the window, the first crimping edge configured to hold a first support strip of the top accordion pleat, the second crimping edge configured to hold a first support strip of the bottom accordion pleat.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the baffle further comprises a first crimping edge arranged at the top edge thereof and a second crimping edge arranged at the bottom edge thereof, the first crimping edge configured to hold a second support strip of the top accordion pleat, the second crimping edge configured to hold a second support strip of the bottom accordion pleat.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the top accordion pleat includes a plurality of triangular fold elements connected together and configured to fold with respect to each other, and wherein the bottom accordion pleat includes a plurality of triangular fold elements connected together and configured to fold with respect to each other.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the baffle, top accordion pleat, and bottom accordion pleat include a flame-retardant material.

14. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the casing is a shelf configured to be attached to a rack of a network element.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a clasp configured to hold the baffle in a closed position on the mount plate during a process of installing the shelf on the rack.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the shelf includes a plurality of horizontal slots configured to support a plurality of circuit packs and network cards.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the rack includes a 19-inch wide frame with four vertically oriented upright posts.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the baffle is configured to be moved within the range of positions between a front upright post and a rear upright post on one side of the rack.

19. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a second mount plate configured to be attached to an opposite side panel of the casing, the second mount plate including a second window;
a second set of one or more hinges arranged at an edge of the second window of the second mount plate; and
a second baffle pivotably attached to the second set of one or more hinges, the second baffle configured to be arranged within a range of positions with respect to the second mount plate to control an amount of airflow through the second window;
wherein, within the range of positions, the second baffle is configured to redirect the airflow in the front-to-back direction through the casing.

20. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a fan for directing the airflow in the front-to-back direction through the casing.

Assignees

• Ciena Corp

Inventors

• Shearman Simon J E
• Bishop Michael R
• Cote Jacques

Classifications

• H05K7/20563 Primary

  within sub-racks for removing heat from electronic boards · CPC title

• H05K7/1417

  having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards (H05K7/1461 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/1489

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/20145 Primary

  Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides · CPC title

• H05K7/20572

  within cabinets for removing heat from sub-racks, e.g. plenum · CPC title