An air duct guide module and a network cabinet comprising the same

Abstract

The utility model relates to network equipment manufacturing technical field especially a kind of air duct flow guide module and network cabinet comprising it.The air duct flow guide module is combined by upper air duct flow guide and lower air duct flow guide.Upper air duct flow guide and lower air duct flow guide are respectively arranged in the upper and lower of network switch, and air duct trend is opposite.Upper air duct flow guide and lower air duct flow guide are coordinated to form the regular broken line air duct through network switch.In this way, on the one hand, clear directional constraint is provided for airflow, disorderly flow is avoided from the root, cold air is accurately covered to heat core such as chip and interface module, then hot air after heat absorption is orderly exported, and heat exchange efficiency is greatly improved.On the other hand, the problems such as cold and hot airflow mixing and airflow interference between equipment in existing cooling mode are solved, and good preparation is made for adapting to high-density deployment demand of network equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of network equipment manufacturing technology, and in particular to an air duct guide module and a network cabinet including the same. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid iteration of cloud computing, big data, and 5G communication technologies, the deployment density of network switches (including core devices such as switches and routers) in data centers and edge computing scenarios continues to increase. The computing power and power consumption of a single device are growing simultaneously, placing increasingly stringent demands on the performance of the cooling system. In practical applications, network switches are typically installed in standard network racks and densely arranged along the height of the rack. While this deployment method can efficiently utilize space resources, it also presents a severe challenge to the cooling system. Currently, network cabinets generally adopt an overall ventilation and cooling model. The core principle is to introduce external cool air through centralized fans at the top or bottom of the cabinet, and then rely on the natural diffusion of airflow or a simple airflow guide structure to direct the airflow through the equipment, thereby achieving heat dissipation. However, this ventilation and cooling model has revealed many significant problems in actual operation, the most prominent being low heat exchange efficiency. Specifically, after cold air is introduced into the server rack by a centralized fan, it easily forms disordered turbulence inside. It fails to fully contact the heat-generating core components of the network switch, such as chips and interface modules, and is directly lost, resulting in the ineffective removal of heat generated by the equipment. Further analysis of the airflow trajectory reveals that cold air often rushes in disorderly from the front of the rack, merely skimming the surface of the equipment before being expelled from the rear, or exhibits a completely irregular and chaotic flow direction, with the overall airflow path lacking clear directional constraints. Even more seriously, there is significant airflow interference between the densely deployed network switches on upper and lower levels. The hot air exhausted from the upper network switches is easily drawn directly into the lower network switches' air intake systems, creating a vicious cycle of "mixed hot and cold airflow," further exacerbating the heat dissipation disorder. Especially for highly integrated network switches, the stable operation of their internal components depends heavily on the precise coverage of heat-generating areas by external airflow and the timely removal of heat. However, existing simple airflow structures cannot create continuous and independent airflow channels, resulting in frequent breaks in the heat dissipation path and mixing of hot and cold airflows. This not only significantly weakens the heat dissipation effect but also becomes a key bottleneck restricting the deployment of network devices with higher density and higher reliability.

[0003] In summary, how to solve the problems of airflow turbulence and inefficient heat exchange in existing heat dissipation modes has become an urgent issue for those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an airflow guiding module, which aims to solve the problems in the existing network cabinet overall ventilation mode, such as airflow turbulence, lack of effective path constraint, mutual interference of airflow between adjacent network switches leading to hot and cold mixing, low heat exchange efficiency, and thus restricting its high-density reliable deployment.

[0005] This utility model relates to an air duct guide module, which is composed of an upper air duct guide and a lower air duct guide. The upper air duct guide and the lower air duct guide are respectively arranged above and below the network switch, and their air duct directions are opposite. The upper air duct guide and the lower air duct guide work together to form a regular zigzag air duct that runs through the network switch.

[0006] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed in this utility model, the upper air duct guide includes an upper air guide cover and a fan unit; the upper air guide cover has a hollow structure, and a first rear ventilation hole is opened on its rear side wall; a lower ventilation hole is opened on the bottom wall of the upper air guide cover at a set distance from its front side wall; the lower ventilation hole is directly opposite the air inlet of the network switch; the fan unit is built into the cavity of the upper air guide cover and fixed, and forces the airflow to be introduced through the first rear ventilation hole, and discharged through the lower ventilation hole after being guided, and enters the network switch.

[0007] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed in this utility model, the fan unit includes a load-bearing sheet metal part and multiple axial flow fans; the load-bearing sheet metal part is fixed to the top wall of the upper guide shroud in a detachable manner; the multiple axial flow fans are all mounted on the load-bearing sheet metal part and are distributed in a linear array along the width direction of the upper guide shroud.

[0008] As a further improvement of the technical solution disclosed in this utility model, the lower air duct guide includes a lower air guide shroud and an air guide grille; the lower air guide shroud has a hollow structure, and its front and rear side walls are respectively provided with a front ventilation hole and a second rear ventilation hole; the air guide grille is disposed in the cavity of the lower air guide shroud and is used to guide the airflow introduced by the second rear ventilation hole to the front ventilation hole for discharge; the air guide direction of the air guide grille is opposite to the airflow direction in the upper air guide shroud, which is adapted to the turning requirements of the zigzag air duct.

[0009] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed in this utility model, the flow guide grille is composed of several parallel flow guide strips; the flow guide strips extend along the length direction of the lower flow guide shroud, and their bottoms are fixedly connected to the bottom wall of the lower flow guide shroud.

[0010] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed in this utility model, the upper air duct guide also includes an upper anti-convection component; the lower air duct guide also includes a lower anti-convection component; the upper anti-convection component and the lower anti-convection component are respectively mounted and fixed on the rear sidewalls of the upper guide shroud and the lower guide shroud; both the upper anti-convection component and the lower anti-convection component extend forward and are staggered in the extension direction.

[0011] As a further improvement to the technical solution disclosed in this utility model, the upper anti-convection component and the lower anti-convection component have the same design structure and installation method; the upper anti-convection component includes a connecting transition piece, an extension plate, and a fastening component; the connecting transition piece is in contact with and fixed to the rear side wall of the upper guide shroud; the extension plate and the connecting transition piece are stacked along the height direction and locked and fixed by the fastening component; the connecting transition piece is provided with an oblong hole that is adapted to the fastening component and extends along the front-back direction; the extension plate is provided with mounting holes that are adapted to the fastening component.

[0012] A network cabinet includes a cabinet body, at least one network switch, and the aforementioned airflow guiding module; the network switches are installed at intervals along the height direction inside the cabinet body; the air inlets of the upper and lower airflow guiding devices both face the rear side of the cabinet body; the regular zigzag airflow formed by the airflow guiding module forces the airflow from the rear side of the cabinet body through the upper airflow guiding device, through the network switch, and then through the lower airflow guiding device to the front side of the cabinet body for discharge.

[0013] In practical applications, the air duct guiding module disclosed in this utility model can achieve at least the following beneficial technical effects, specifically: 1) The upper and lower air duct guides are arranged above and below the network switch, respectively, and the air ducts run in opposite directions. Together, they form a regular zigzag air duct that runs through the network switch, providing clear directional constraints for airflow. This avoids disorderly turbulence from the source, ensuring that cold air is guided and accurately covers the heat-generating core such as chips and interface modules. The heat-absorbing hot air is then orderly discharged, and the heat exchange efficiency is greatly improved. 2) Through the combined action of the upper and lower air duct guides, airflow interference between upper and lower network switches is effectively isolated, and an independent heat dissipation channel is constructed for each network switch. Furthermore, the modular structural design not only facilitates installation and compatibility with standard network cabinets, but also makes subsequent maintenance and replacement of components such as fans more convenient. While ensuring heat dissipation performance, it also takes into account the installation flexibility and maintenance convenience in practical applications. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the air duct guiding module in the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model after it has been assembled relative to the network switch.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the air duct guiding module in the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model after it has been assembled relative to the network switch.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram showing the relative positional relationship between the upper and lower air duct guides and the network switch in the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model (before pre-assembly, and the network switch is shown in the form of a double-dotted line).

[0019] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the top-mounted air duct guide in the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model (with hidden lines visible).

[0020] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the fan unit in the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the upper-level anti-convection component in the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model.

[0022] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the bottom air duct guide in the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model (with hidden lines visible).

[0023] 1-Rack body; 2-Network switch; 3-Airflow guide module; 31-Upper airflow guide; 311-Upper airflow guide cover; 3111-First rear ventilation hole; 3112-Lower ventilation hole; 312-Fan unit; 3121-Bearing sheet metal part; 3122-Axial flow fan; 313-Upper anti-convection assembly; 3131-Connecting transition part; 3132-Extension plate; 3133-Fastening assembly; 32-Lower airflow guide; 321-Lower airflow guide cover; 3211-Front ventilation hole; 3212-Second rear ventilation hole; 322-Airflow guide grille; 3221-Airflow guide strip; 323-Lower anti-convection assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the network cabinet disclosed in this utility model is shown. It can be seen that it mainly consists of several parts, including the cabinet body 1, network switches 2, and airflow guiding modules 3. The cabinet body 1 serves as the shared support foundation for the network switches 2 and the airflow guiding modules 3, providing stable support for the spaced installation of multiple network switches 2 along the height direction, and providing adaptation space for the assembly of the airflow guiding modules 3. The network switches 2 are the core carriers for data exchange and transmission, responsible for realizing information interaction and signal relay between multiple devices. The airflow guiding modules 3, as the directional heat dissipation control hub, are precisely adapted to the network switches 2, ensuring stable equipment operating temperature by constructing a regular airflow path. The three components work together to build an efficient heat dissipation network equipment operating system.

[0025] like Figures 2-4 As shown, the airflow guiding module 3 is composed of an upper airflow guide 31 and a lower airflow guide 32, which are respectively arranged above and below the network switch 2, and the airflow directions are opposite. Together, they form a regular zigzag airflow that runs through the network switch 2, thereby providing clear directional constraints for airflow and avoiding the occurrence of disordered turbulence from the root. This ensures that the cold air is guided and accurately covers the heat-generating core such as chips and interface modules, and then the hot air after heat absorption is orderly discharged, which greatly improves the heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, it lays a good foundation for the subsequent realization of independent heat dissipation of the upper and lower network switches 2.

[0026] like Figure 5 As shown, the upper air duct guide 31 includes an upper air guide shroud 311, a fan unit 312, and an upper anti-convection component 313. The upper air guide shroud 311 has a hollow structure, with a first rear ventilation hole 3111 on its rear side wall, serving as the main inlet for external cold air. A lower ventilation hole 3112 is located at a predetermined distance from its front side wall on the bottom wall of the upper air guide shroud 311, and the lower ventilation hole 3112 is directly opposite the air inlet of the network switch 2, ensuring that airflow can be accurately directed to the heat-generating area inside the device. The fan unit 312 is built into and fixed within the cavity of the upper air guide shroud 311, providing forced power for airflow. It guides the airflow through the first rear ventilation hole 3111, buffers it within the internal space of the air guide shroud, and then stably discharges it through the lower ventilation hole 3112 before entering the network switch 2.

[0027] like Figure 6As shown, the fan unit 312 includes a load-bearing sheet metal part 3121 and multiple axial flow fans 3122. The load-bearing sheet metal part 3121 is fixed to the top wall of the upper guide shroud 311 in a detachable manner (such as bolt connection), which facilitates its overall disassembly and maintenance. The multiple axial flow fans 3122 are distributed in a linear array along the width direction of the upper guide shroud 311. In this way, on the one hand, uniform airflow output along the width direction is achieved, avoiding the formation of heat dissipation blind spots due to insufficient local airflow. On the other hand, the independent setting of each axial flow fan 3122 also facilitates individual replacement in case of failure, which helps to reduce maintenance costs.

[0028] like Figure 8 As shown, the lower air duct guide 32 includes a lower air duct cover 321, an air duct grille 322, and a lower anti-convection component 323. The lower air duct cover 321 has a hollow structure, with a front ventilation hole 3211 (as a hot air exhaust channel) on its front side wall and a second rear ventilation hole 3212 (as an access channel for hot air exhaust from the network switch) on its rear side wall. The air duct grille 322 is located in the cavity of the lower air duct cover 321. Its core function is to guide the hot air introduced by the second rear ventilation hole 3212 to the front ventilation hole 3211 for exhaust. Its airflow direction is opposite to the airflow direction in the upper air duct cover 311, precisely adapting to the turning requirements of the zigzag air duct, ensuring that the airflow remains regular during the turning process, and reducing wind pressure loss.

[0029] Furthermore, similarly Figure 8 As shown, the airflow guide grille 322 is composed of several parallel airflow guide strips 3221. The airflow guide strips 3221 extend along the length of the lower airflow guide shroud 321, and their bottoms are fixedly connected to the bottom wall of the lower airflow guide shroud 321. The parallel airflow guide strips can orderly divide and guide the airflow, effectively preventing the formation of vortices in the airflow within the lower airflow guide shroud 321, and further improving the flow efficiency of the air duct.

[0030] like Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 8 As shown, the upper anti-convection component 313 uses the rear wall of the upper air guide shroud 311 as its mounting base, and the lower anti-convection component 323 uses the rear wall of the lower air guide shroud 321 as its mounting base. Both extend forward and are staggered in their extension direction. This staggered structure effectively blocks airflow between the upper and lower air ducts, preventing hot air that has absorbed heat from mixing into the cold air inlet of the lower equipment, further enhancing the heat dissipation independence of the upper and lower network switches. The upper anti-convection component 313 and the lower anti-convection component 323 have the same design structure and installation method. Taking the upper anti-convection component 313 as an example, ... Figure 6As shown, it includes a connecting transition piece 3131, an extension plate 3132, and a fastening assembly 3133. The connecting transition piece 3131 is in contact with and fixed to the rear side wall of the upper airflow guide shroud 311. The extension plate 3132 and the connecting transition piece 3131 are stacked along the height direction and locked in place by the fastening assembly 3133. The connecting transition piece 3131 has an oblong hole extending in the front-to-back direction, and the extension plate 3132 has a matching mounting hole. The oblong hole allows for flexible adjustment of the front-to-back extension length of the extension plate 3132, enabling the anti-convection assembly to adapt to cabinet bodies 1 of different depth specifications.

[0031] It should be further explained that the air inlets of both the upper air duct guide 31 and the lower air duct guide 32 face the rear of the cabinet body 1. The regular, zigzag-shaped air duct formed by the air duct guide module 3 forces the airflow to follow the path of "rear of the cabinet → upper air duct guide 31 → network switch 2 → lower air duct guide 32 → front of the cabinet". This not only effectively isolates airflow interference between the network switches 2 and creates an independent heat dissipation channel for each network switch, but also allows for quick adaptation and installation with standard network cabinets due to its modular design. Subsequent maintenance and replacement of easily damaged components such as the axial fan 3122 only requires operation on a single module, without disassembling the entire unit, significantly improving maintenance convenience and ensuring both heat dissipation performance and practicality.

[0032] As a further optimization of the above technical solution, a dust filter (not shown in the figure) is provided at the lower ventilation hole 3112 of the upper air guide shroud 311. The dust filter can effectively block external dust from entering the network switch 2 with the airflow without obstructing airflow, reducing the accumulation of dust on the surface of precision components such as circuit boards and chips, reducing the risk of short circuits, poor contact and other failures caused by dust, and extending the service life of the equipment. At the same time, a protective mesh cover is provided at the front ventilation hole 3211 of the lower air guide shroud 321. The protective mesh cover can prevent foreign objects from accidentally entering the air duct and causing damage to the air guide grille 322 or airflow blockage, further improving the safety of equipment operation.

[0033] Finally, it should be noted that both the upper and lower air deflectors 311 and 321 are injection molded from flame-retardant ABS material. This not only makes them lightweight and highly precise in molding, meeting the processing requirements of complex structures, but also provides excellent flame-retardant properties, reducing the risk of fire spread in enclosed spaces such as machine rooms. The load-bearing sheet metal part 3121 is made of cold-rolled steel sheet by stamping and has a powder-coated surface, combining high strength and rust and corrosion resistance, thus providing stable support for the axial flow fan 3122. In addition, the connections between all components adopt a standardized snap-fit ​​and bolt combination structure, which can be assembled and disassembled without special tools, greatly simplifying the on-site installation process and providing great convenience for rapid deployment and subsequent upgrades and modifications of the equipment.

[0034] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A duct flow guiding module, characterized in that, It is composed of an upper air duct guide and a lower air duct guide; the upper air duct guide and the lower air duct guide are respectively arranged above and below the network switch, and their air duct directions are opposite; the upper air duct guide and the lower air duct guide work together to form a regular zigzag air duct that runs through the network switch.

2. The air duct guide module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper air duct guide includes an upper air guide shroud and a fan unit; the upper air guide shroud has a hollow structure, and a first rear ventilation hole is opened on its rear side wall; a lower ventilation hole is opened on the bottom wall of the upper air guide shroud at a certain distance from its front side wall; the lower ventilation hole is directly opposite the air inlet of the network switch; the fan unit is built into the cavity of the upper air guide shroud and fixed, and forces the airflow to be introduced through the first rear ventilation hole, and after being guided, it is discharged through the lower ventilation hole and enters the network switch.

3. The air duct guide module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fan unit includes a load-bearing sheet metal component and multiple axial flow fans; the load-bearing sheet metal component is detachably fixed to the top wall of the upper guide shroud; the multiple axial flow fans are all mounted on the load-bearing sheet metal component and are distributed in a linear array along the width direction of the upper guide shroud.

4. The air duct guiding module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lower air duct guide includes a lower air guide shroud and an air guide grille; the lower air guide shroud has a hollow structure, with a front ventilation hole and a second rear ventilation hole respectively opened on its front and rear side walls; the air guide grille is disposed in the cavity of the lower air guide shroud and is used to guide the airflow introduced by the second rear ventilation hole to the front ventilation hole for discharge; the air guide direction of the air guide grille is opposite to the airflow direction in the upper air guide shroud, adapting to the turning requirements of the zigzag air duct.

5. The air duct guiding module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The flow guide grille is composed of several parallel flow guide strips; the flow guide strips extend along the length direction of the lower flow guide shroud, and their bottoms are fixedly connected to the bottom wall of the lower flow guide shroud.

6. The air duct guiding module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The upper air duct guide also includes an upper anti-convection component; the lower air duct guide also includes a lower anti-convection component; the upper anti-convection component and the lower anti-convection component are respectively mounted and fixed on the rear sidewalls of the upper air duct cover and the lower air duct cover; the upper anti-convection component and the lower anti-convection component both extend forward and are staggered in the extension direction.

7. The air duct guiding module according to claim 6, characterized in that, The upper convection shielding assembly and the lower convection shielding assembly have the same design structure and installation method; the upper convection shielding assembly includes a connecting transition piece, an extension plate, and a fastening assembly; the connecting transition piece is in contact with and fixed to the rear side wall of the upper air guide shroud; the extension plate and the connecting transition piece are stacked along the height direction and locked and fixed by the fastening assembly; the connecting transition piece has an oblong hole that is adapted to the fastening assembly and extends along the front-back direction; the extension plate has a mounting hole that is adapted to the fastening assembly.

8. A network cabinet, characterized in that, The system includes a cabinet body, at least one network switch, and an airflow guiding module as described in any one of claims 1-7; the network switches are installed at intervals along the height direction inside the cabinet body; the air inlets of the upper airflow guide and the lower airflow guide both face the rear side of the cabinet body; the regular zigzag airflow formed by the airflow guiding module forces the airflow from the rear side of the cabinet body through the upper airflow guide, through the network switch, and then through the lower airflow guide to the front side of the cabinet body for discharge.

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