JP2011066132A - Air cooling device and method of preventing air flow leak from the air cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cooling device of a simple structure which when a cooling fan unit is replaced, opens and closes a shutter preventing a leak of an air flow from an opening without relying on operation by a user. <P>SOLUTION: The air cooling device 11 housing a plurality of fan units 12 and 13 arranged in tandem includes an opening 15 for putting in and pulling out the fan unit 13, and a shutter 21 for closing the opening 15. The shutter 21 is so shaped that lift to the shutter 21 is created by a cooling air flow 18 caused by the fan unit 12 arranged in tandem with the fan unit 13. When the fan unit 13 is pulled out, the lift closes the opening 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an air-cooled device and an air-cooling method for an air-cooled device, and more particularly to an air-cooled device with redundant cooling fans and an air-cooling method for an air-cooled device.

  In an air-cooled apparatus such as an air-cooled rack mount, a method of making a cooling fan redundant by arranging a plurality of cooling fan units in series on the front surface of the apparatus is known.

  FIG. 9 shows an example of the configuration of an air-cooled apparatus with redundant cooling fans. In FIG. 9, two fan units 12 and 13 are arranged in series on the front surface of the air-cooled apparatus 11. The fan units 12 and 13 are inserted and removed from the openings 14 and 15 on the upper surface of the air-cooled device 11. Here, for example, when the fan unit 13 is removed for replacement, leakage (wind leakage) from the opening 15 of the cooling airflow (cooling airflow) inside the air-cooled apparatus 11 occurs. Due to the occurrence of this wind leakage, the cooling airflow 18 inside the air-cooled apparatus 11 is weakened, and the cooling capacity inside the air-cooled apparatus 11 is lowered. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a restriction on the work time for replacing the fan unit 13 so that the temperature rise inside the apparatus does not exceed the upper limit due to the cooling capacity drop due to wind leakage. If the working time exceeds this limit, the air-cooled device 11 may stop due to a temperature rise inside the device.

  FIG. 10 shows another example of the configuration of the air-cooled apparatus in which the cooling fans are made redundant. In FIG. 10, a cover 61 for preventing wind leakage is provided in the openings 14 and 15 on the upper surface of the air-cooled apparatus 11. When removing the fan unit 13, the operator needs to manually open and close the cover 61 along the cover rotation locus 62 in order to prevent air leakage from the opening 15. However, if the operator forgets to close the cover 61, the air leakage from the opening 15 remains to occur, and the air-cooled device 11 stops due to the temperature rise inside the device, similarly to the air-cooled device 11 of FIG. There is a fear.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a method for preventing such a temperature rise inside the air-cooled apparatus when the cooling fan unit is replaced. In the cooling device of Patent Document 1, when the fan is removed, the fan insertion hole is closed by pushing up the lid for closing the fan insertion hole (corresponding to the opening 15 described above) by a spring.

JP 2002-006994 A

  In the cooling device of Patent Document 1 described above, the cover for closing the opening for exchanging the cooling fan unit is moved by a spring, so that there is a problem that the structure of the part that houses the fan unit becomes complicated. It was.

(Object of invention)
An object of the present invention is to provide an air-cooled apparatus and an air-cooling prevention method for the air-cooled apparatus that solve the above-described problems.

  An air-cooled apparatus according to the present invention is an air-cooled apparatus in which a plurality of fan units are arranged in series, and an opening for inserting and removing at least one of the plurality of fan units, and a shutter for closing the opening And the shutter is shaped to generate lift with respect to the airflow generated by another fan unit arranged in series with the fan unit inserted and removed by the opening corresponding to the shutter, and the opening corresponding to the shutter When the fan unit inserted / extracted by the part is removed, the opening is closed by the lifting force.

  The air leakage prevention method for an air-cooled apparatus of the present invention is an air-cooled apparatus in which a plurality of fan units are arranged in series, and when the fan unit is removed from the opening, a shutter for closing the opening is It closes with the lift force which generate | occur | produces in the said shutter with respect to the airflow produced by the other fan unit arrange | positioned in series with a fan unit.

  An advantage of the present invention is that an air-cooled apparatus capable of opening and closing a shutter that prevents air leakage from the opening when the cooling fan unit is replaced can be realized with a simple configuration.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the air-cooled apparatus 11 in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure inside the air-cooled apparatus 11 in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the cross-sectional shape of the shutter 21 in the air-cooled apparatus 11 of 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of the structure for latching the shutter 21 in the air-cooled apparatus 11 of 1st embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the opening / closing operation | movement of the shutter 21 in the air-cooled apparatus 11 of 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure inside the air-cooled apparatus 11 in 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of the structure for sliding the shutter 41 in the air-cooling-type apparatus 11 of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the characteristic structure of the air-cooled apparatus 11 in 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the example of a structure of the air-cooling-type apparatus with which the cooling fan was made redundant. It is a perspective view which shows the other example of a structure of the air-cooling-type apparatus with which the cooling fan was made redundant.

(First embodiment)
Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an air-cooled apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, an air-cooled device 11 is an air-cooled device such as an air-cooled rack mount that performs front intake and rear exhaust. A fan unit is made redundant by installing a first-stage fan unit 12 and a second-stage fan unit 13 in series on the intake side (front surface) of the air-cooled device 11. The fan unit 12 and the fan unit 13 generate a cooling air flow 18 by a built-in motor fan.

  The air-cooled apparatus 11 includes an opening 14 for inserting / removing the fan unit 12 in the upper part of the fan unit 12 and an opening 15 for inserting / removing the fan unit 13 in the upper part of the fan unit 13. The fan unit 12 and the fan unit 13 are inserted and removed in the fan unit insertion / removal direction 19 at the time of replacement. The fan unit 12 and the fan unit 13 can be replaced while the air-cooled device 11 is in operation.

  In addition, the air-cooled device 11 includes a shutter 21 (21a, 21b) in the opening 14 with respect to the second-stage fan unit 13. When the second-stage fan unit 13 is removed, the shutter 21 rotates by the lift generated with respect to the cooling airflow 18 generated by the first-stage fan unit 12 and closes the opening 15.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the air-cooled apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the air-cooled apparatus 11 includes a frame 16 that houses the fan unit 12 and a frame 17 that houses the fan unit 13. The shutter 21 includes a shutter rotation shaft 22 at one end parallel to the fan rotation axis direction of the fan unit 12 and the fan unit 13. The frame 17 includes a shutter bearing 31 that receives the shutter rotation shaft 22 on the opening 15 side. The shutter bearing 31 holds the shutter rotation shaft 22 so that the shutter 21 can rotate around the shutter rotation shaft 22.

  The frame 17 includes a shutter holding spring 32 around the opening 15. The shutter holding spring 32 locks the shutter 21 when the shutter 21 rotates to the position where the opening 15 is closed.

  FIG. 2 shows a direction in which the shutter 21 closes the opening 15 by the cooling airflow 18 generated by the first-stage fan unit 12 when the second-stage fan unit 13 is removed in the fan unit insertion / extraction direction 19. Shows a rotating state. When the shutter 21 rotates to the position where the opening 15 is closed, the shutter 21 is locked by the shutter holding spring 32.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a cross-sectional shape of the shutter 21 (21a) in the air-cooled apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the shutter cross-sectional shape 25, like a wing of an airplane, cools the shutter 21 by a lift in the lift direction 26 with respect to the cooling airflow 18 (the pressure difference between both surfaces of the shutter 21 generated by the cooling airflow 18). A force that moves in a direction perpendicular to the airflow 18). The shutter cross-sectional shape 25 is formed so that the shutter 21 rotates about the shutter rotation shaft 22 in the direction of closing the opening 15 by the lift in the lift direction 26.

  The shutter 21b has a symmetrical shape with the shutter 21a.

  In addition, it is desirable to use a lightweight material such as plastic for the shutter 21, but any material may be used as long as it can be rotated by lift with respect to the cooling airflow 18.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing details of a configuration for locking the shutter 21 in the air-cooled apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the frame 17 includes four shutter holding springs 32. Each of the shutter holding springs 32 has a leaf spring shape in which one end is fixed to the frame 17 and the other end is opened, and a protruding shutter holding latch 33 (latch portion) is provided at the open end. In addition, the shutter 21 includes a hole-type latch receiving boss 23 (latch engagement portion) at a position facing the shutter holding latch 33 at the end opposite to the shutter rotation shaft 22.

  When the shutter 21 is rotated to the position where the opening 15 is closed, the shutter holding latch 33 is engaged with the latch receiving boss 23 that faces the shutter. As a result, the shutter holding spring 32 locks the shutter 21 with the opening 15 closed.

  Here, the shutter holding latch 33 may be formed integrally with the frame 17 in the air-cooled apparatus 11.

  Further, the relationship between the projection of the latch portion and the hole of the latch engagement portion may be reversed, and the shutter holding spring 32 may be provided with a hole-type latch portion, and the shutter 21 may be provided with a projection-type latch engagement portion.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the opening / closing operation of the shutter 21 in the air-cooled apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 5 shows a state where the second stage fan unit 13 is housed in the frame 17. When the fan unit 13 is removed from the opening 15 along the fan unit insertion / removal direction 19, the cooling airflow 18 generated by the first-stage fan unit 12 hits the shutters 21 a and 21 b provided in the opening 15. The shutters 21 a and 21 b generate lift with respect to the cooling air flow 18, and the shutters 21 a and 21 b rotate along the shutter rotation locus 24 in the direction of closing the opening 15 around the shutter rotation shaft 22. When the shutters 21a and 21b rotate to the position where the opening 15 is closed, the shutter holding latch 33 of the shutter holding spring 32 engages with the latch receiving boss 23 of the shutters 21a and 21b. Thereby, shutter 21a, 21b is latched in the state which closed the opening part 15. As shown in FIG.

  In this state, since the opening 15 is held closed, the cooling airflow 18 generated by the fan unit 12 does not leak from the opening 15.

  Next, when the second-stage fan unit 13 is inserted from the opening 15 along the fan unit insertion / removal direction 19, the shutters 21 a and 21 b are pushed by the fan unit 13, thereby the shutter holding latch of the shutter holding spring 32. 33 is released from the latch receiving boss 23 of the shutters 21a and 21b. Further, when the fan unit 13 is inserted, the shutters 21 a and 21 b rotate along the shutter rotation locus 24 in the direction opposite to that at the time of removal, and the fan unit 13 is housed in the frame 17.

  Thus, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention is completed.

  Next, a characteristic configuration of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a characteristic configuration of the air-cooled apparatus 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  The air-cooled apparatus 11 is an air-cooled apparatus 11 in which a plurality of fan units 12 and 13 are arranged in series, and includes an opening 15 for inserting and removing the fan unit 13 and a shutter 21 for closing the opening 15. Prepare. Here, the shutter 21 has a shape in which lift is generated with respect to the airflow (cooling airflow 18) generated by the fan unit 12 arranged in series with the fan unit 13, and when the fan unit 13 is removed, The opening 15 is closed.

  In the above embodiment, the number of shutters 21 is two, but the number of shutters 21 may be one as long as the opening 15 can be closed.

  According to the first embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an air-cooled apparatus that can perform opening and closing of a shutter that prevents air leakage from an opening without an operator's operation when replacing a cooling fan unit. There is an effect that it can be realized by a simple configuration. The reason is that when the fan unit 13 is removed, the shutter 21 closes the opening 15 due to the lift generated in the shutter 21 with respect to the airflow generated by the other fan units 12 arranged in series with the fan unit 13. This is because a drive mechanism such as a spring or a motor for operating the shutter 21 is not necessary.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, when the cooling fan unit is replaced, the air cooling type that can perform opening and closing of the shutter that prevents air leakage from the opening without the operator's operation. There is an effect that the apparatus can be realized at low cost. The reason is that, as described above, the air-cooled apparatus 11 can be realized with a simple configuration and the mechanical parts can be reduced.

  Further, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, in the air-cooled apparatus, it is possible to avoid forgetting to close the shutter when replacing the cooling fan unit, and to eliminate the time limit for the fan unit replacement work. . The reason is that, as described above, when the fan unit 13 is removed, the operator operates the lift generated in the shutter 21 against the airflow generated by the other fan units 12 arranged in series with the fan unit 13. This is because the shutter 21 closes the opening 15 and prevents wind leakage.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  The second embodiment of the present invention is different from the first embodiment of the present invention in that the shutter is not rotated by the lift generated by the cooling air flow but moves upward by the lift. .

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of the air-cooled apparatus 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The air-cooled device 11 includes a shutter 41 in the opening 15 for the second-stage fan unit 13. The cross-sectional shape of the shutter 41 is the same as the shutter cross-sectional shape 25 of the shutter 21 in the first embodiment of the present invention, and the shutter 41 moves (slides) upward due to the lift generated by the cooling airflow 18, thereby opening the shutter 41. It is formed so as to close the portion 15.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing details of a configuration for sliding the shutter 41 in the air-cooled apparatus 11 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the frame 17 includes a shutter guide groove 51 (guide portion) on the inner side. The shutter 41 includes a shutter guide protrusion 42 (guide engaging portion) at a position facing the shutter guide groove 51. The shutter guide groove 51 holds the shutter guide protrusion 42 so that the shutter 41 can slide in the vertical direction.

  Here, the relationship between the groove of the guide portion and the protrusion of the guide engagement portion may be reversed, and the frame 17 may include a protrusion-type guide portion and the shutter 41 may include a groove-type guide engagement portion.

  Further, the frame 17 includes a shutter holding spring 52. The shutter holding spring 52 includes a protrusion-type shutter holding latch 53 (latch portion) as in the form of the shutter holding spring 32 in the first embodiment of the present invention. The shutter 41 includes a hole-type latch receiving boss 43 (latch engaging portion) at a position facing the shutter holding latch 53.

  When the shutter 41 moves to a position where it closes the opening 15, the shutter holding latch 53 engages with the opposing latch receiving boss 43. Thereby, the shutter holding spring 52 locks the shutter 41 with the opening 15 being closed.

  Regarding the operation of the second embodiment of the present invention, the point that the shutter 41 does not rotate by the lift generated by the cooling airflow 18 but slides upward along the shutter movement locus 44 by the lift. Except for this, the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment of the present invention.

  According to the second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an air-cooled apparatus that can perform opening and closing of a shutter that prevents air leakage from an opening without an operator's operation when replacing a cooling fan unit. In addition, there is an effect that it can be realized at a lower cost. The reason is that the air-cooled device 11 can be realized with a simpler configuration without requiring a rotating mechanism such as a rotating shaft or a bearing to operate the shutter 41.

  The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present invention within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where two fan units are installed in series on the intake side (front surface) of the air-cooled device 11 has been described as an example. It may be installed in series on the exhaust side (rear surface). In this case, among the fan units installed in series, by providing the shutters 21 and 41 in the opening for inserting and removing the inner fan unit, the cooling capacity inside the air-cooled device 11 generated by the intake air from the opening Can be prevented.

  Similarly, two fan units may be installed in series between the air-cooled devices 11. In this case, by providing the shutters 21 and 41 in the openings for inserting and removing each of the fan units installed in series, the cooling capacity inside the air-cooled apparatus 11 caused by wind leakage or intake air from the openings is reduced. Can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the case where two fan units are installed in series in the air-cooled device 11 has been described as an example. However, three or more fan units may be installed in series. In this case, by providing the shutters 21 and 41 in the openings for inserting and removing each of the fan units installed in series, the cooling capacity inside the air-cooled apparatus 11 caused by wind leakage or intake air from the openings is reduced. Can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the air-cooled device 11 includes an opening for inserting and removing the fan unit at the upper portion of the air-cooled device 11, but the opening for inserting and removing the fan unit is provided on the side surface of the air-cooled device 11. Or may be provided at the bottom. In this case, if the shutters 21 and 41 are installed so as to close the side and lower openings by the cooling airflow 18, the inside of the air-cooled apparatus 11 caused by wind leakage or intake from the side and lower openings will be described. A decrease in cooling capacity can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the shutters 21 and 41 is an airfoil as shown in FIG. 3, but the shutters 21 and 41 are operated in the direction of closing the opening 15 by the lift to the cooling airflow 18. If possible, the cross-sectional shape of the shutters 21 and 41 may be other than the shape shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Air-cooled apparatus 12 Fan unit 13 Fan unit 14 Opening part 15 Opening part 16 Frame 17 Frame 18 Cooling air flow 19 Fan unit insertion / extraction direction 21 Shutter 22 Shutter rotation shaft 23 Latch receiving boss 24 Shutter rotation locus 25 Shutter cross-sectional shape 26 Lifting direction 31 Shutter bearing 32 Shutter holding spring 33 Shutter holding latch 41 Shutter 42 Shutter guide protrusion 43 Latch receiving boss 44 Shutter movement locus 51 Shutter guide groove 52 Shutter holding spring 53 Shutter holding latch 61 Cover 62 Cover rotation locus

Claims (11)

An air-cooled device in which a plurality of fan units are arranged in series,
An opening for inserting and removing at least one of the plurality of fan units;
A shutter for closing the opening,
The shutter has a shape in which lift is generated with respect to the airflow generated by another fan unit arranged in series with the fan unit inserted and removed through the opening corresponding to the shutter, and is inserted and removed through the opening corresponding to the shutter. An air-cooled device that closes the opening by the lift when the fan unit is removed. The air-cooled apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutter closes the opening by rotating with the lift. Furthermore, the opening includes a bearing for holding the rotating shaft of the shutter,
The shutter has the rotation shaft at an end,
3. The air-cooled apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the bearing allows the rotation shaft to rotate about the rotation shaft, and holds the rotation shaft in an axial direction when the plurality of fan units are arranged in series. . The air-cooled apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shutter closes the opening by moving with the lift. Furthermore, a guide part for sliding the shutter along the insertion / extraction direction of the fan unit is provided,
The shutter has a guide engaging portion that engages with the guide portion at a position facing the guide portion,
The air-cooled device according to claim 4, wherein the guide portion holds the guide engaging portion so that the shutter can slide along the guide portion. The air-cooled device according to claim 1, wherein the shutter has an airfoil cross-sectional shape that generates the lift. Further, the opening includes a latch portion,
The shutter has a latch engaging portion that can be engaged with the latch portion at a position facing the latch portion,
The air-cooled device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the latch portion engages with the latch engaging portion when the shutter closes the opening, thereby locking the shutter. A method for preventing wind leakage of an air-cooled device in which a plurality of fan units are arranged in series,
When the fan unit is removed from the opening, the shutter for closing the opening is closed by the lift generated in the shutter against the airflow generated by the other fan unit arranged in series with the fan unit. Wind leakage prevention method. The method according to claim 8, wherein the opening is closed by rotating the shutter by the lift. The method according to claim 8, wherein the opening is closed by moving the shutter by the lift force. The method of preventing air leakage from an air-cooled apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the shutter has an airfoil cross-sectional shape in which the lift is generated.

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