Tanja A Smith

US Patent:

20080192429, Aug 14, 2008

Filed:

Feb 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/673466

Inventors:

Terrill Woolsey - Wichita KS, US
Tanja Smith - Wichita KS, US

International Classification:

H05K 7/20

US Classification:

361695

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-fan cooling system in which redundancy in airflow across a plurality of electrical boards is maintained. This redundancy is provided by having an ability to at least partially divert airflow from a functioning fan to an electrical board for which its corresponding fan has failed. According to various embodiments of the present invention, the multi-fan cooling system comprises two fans located proximate to each other. An airflow plenum couples and distributes air from the two fans across a plurality of electrical boards. In certain embodiments, the plenum comprises stacked outlets that distribute airflow from the two fans across the plurality of electrical boards. During normal operation, this airflow is approximately evenly distributed across the electrical boards. However, if one of the fans fails, the plenum causes air from the single operating fan to still be distributed across the plurality of electrical boards. In one embodiment of the invention, the plenum includes a flap that covers an opening for the failed fan to prevent recirculation of airflow back into the failed fan.