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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12439567-B2
Application number	US-202318538170-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2023
Priority date	Jun 29, 2021
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

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 rack or shelf assembly, and
a filler card disposed in the rack or shelf assembly, wherein the filler card has no electrical connectivity for carrying traffic, wherein the filler card is adapted to receive and retain one or more pluggable device connectors and cables at a faceplate of the filler card,
wherein the filler card comprises one or more cages disposed at the faceplate of the filler card adapted to receive and retain the one or more pluggable device connectors plugged through and into one or more holes of the faceplate and the one or more cages of the filler card or comprises one or more hook or finger structures disposed externally on the faceplate of the filler card, the faceplate having no holes, and adapted to receive and retain the one or more pluggable device connectors at the faceplate of the filler card.

2. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the filler card is adapted to be removed from the rack or shelf assembly and replaced with a working card, wherein the working card has electrical connectivity for carrying traffic.

3. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the filler card is adapted to fill a space in the rack or shelf assembly such that electromagnetic interference shielding integrity of the rack or shelf assembly is maintained.

4. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the filler card is adapted to fill a space in the rack or shelf assembly such that airflow integrity of the rack or shelf assembly is maintained.

5. A filler card adapted to be disposed in a rack or shelf assembly, the filler card comprising:
a faceplate, and
one or more mechanisms coupled to or defined by the faceplate that is/are adapted to receive and retain one or more pluggable device connectors and cables,
wherein the filler card has no electrical connectivity for carrying traffic, and
wherein the one or more mechanisms comprise one or more cages disposed at the faceplate of the filler card adapted to receive and retain the one or more pluggable device connectors plugged through and into one or more holes of the faceplate and the one or more cages of the filler card or comprises one or more hook or finger structures disposed externally on the faceplate of the filler card, the faceplate having no holes, and adapted to receive and retain the one or more pluggable device connectors at the faceplate of the filler card.

6. The filler card of claim 5 , wherein the filler card is adapted to be removed from the rack or shelf assembly and replaced with a working card, wherein the working card has electrical connectivity for carrying traffic.

7. The filler card of claim 5 , wherein the filler card is adapted to fill a space in the rack or shelf assembly such that electromagnetic interference shielding integrity of the rack or shelf assembly is maintained.

8. The filler card of claim 5 , wherein the filler card is adapted to fill a space in the rack or shelf assembly such that airflow integrity of the rack or shelf assembly is maintained.

9. A method comprising:
disposing a filler card in a rack or shelf assembly, wherein the filler card has no electrical connectivity for carrying traffic, wherein the filler card is adapted to receive and retain one or more pluggable device connectors and cables at a faceplate of the filler card,
wherein the filler card comprises one or more cages disposed at the faceplate of the filler card adapted to receive and retain the one or more pluggable device connectors plugged through and into one or more holes of the faceplate and the one or more cages of the filler card or comprises one or more hook or finger structures disposed externally on the faceplate of the filler card, the faceplate having no holes, and adapted to receive and retain the one or more pluggable device connectors at the faceplate of the filler card.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising removing the filler card from the rack or shelf assembly and replacing the filler card with a working card, wherein the working card has electrical connectivity for carrying traffic.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the filler card is adapted to fill a space in the rack or shelf assembly such that electromagnetic interference shielding integrity of the rack or shelf assembly is maintained.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the filler card is adapted to fill a space in the rack or shelf assembly such that airflow integrity of the rack or shelf assembly is maintained.

13. The network element of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pluggable device connectors received and retained at the faceplate of the filler card comprise one or more Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable, Double-Density devices received and retained at the faceplate of the filler card.

14. The filler card of claim 5 , wherein the one or more pluggable device connectors received and retained at the faceplate of the filler card comprise one or more Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable, Double-Density devices received and retained at the faceplate of the filler card.

Assignees

• Ciena Corp

Inventors

• O'Leary Mitchell
• Shearman Simon J E
• Rivaud Daniel
• Leclair Marc

Classifications

• 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

• H05K7/20736

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title