Enclosure Shutter Mechanism for Cooling Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic computing apparatuses with multiple tiers face cooling performance issues when one controller board is removed, leading to reduced air intake and circulation, which can be mitigated by blocking unnecessary ventilation paths but requires multiple shutters, increasing component costs and restricting enclosure size.
Innovation Solution
An enclosure design with a partition plate, a single plate-shaped shutter, and a rotating mechanism, along with a push rod and spring mechanism that adjusts the flow path of cooling air, allowing the shutter to automatically shut off the flow path when one electronic computing module is removed, preventing circulation without electrical control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple shutters are installed to block ventilation paths when controller boards are removed, then circulation is prevented, but component costs increase and enclosure space is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple shutter functions are merged into a single shutter by positioning it at a central location where it can block ventilation paths for multiple controller board slots. The single shutter is configured to extend across the housing space and can be rotated to simultaneously obstruct airflow paths that would otherwise exist when controller boards are removed from any slot, thereby preventing circulation issues without requiring multiple separate shutters for each slot.
Solution Approach 2:
The single shutter is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: it can block ventilation paths for different controller board slots, it can be positioned at various angles to accommodate different removal scenarios, and it works in conjunction with the rotating mechanism to provide universal coverage for preventing circulation regardless of which specific slot is empty.
2Extent of automation
If electrical control is used to operate shutters, then shutter operation is automated, but component costs and housing space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter system is designed to be self-operating through a purely mechanical mechanism. The rotating mechanism is passively driven by pressure differential that naturally occurs when controller boards are removed or installed - the pressure difference caused by fan operation automatically rotates the shutter into or out of blocking positions without requiring any electrical sensors, actuators, or control circuits. This mechanical self-service approach eliminates all electrical control components while maintaining automated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces an electrical control system with a mechanical system. Instead of using motors, sensors, and control circuits to operate the shutter, a mechanical rotating mechanism is employed that converts the pressure differential (a mechanical force) directly into shutter rotation. This substitution eliminates all electrical components while achieving the same automated shutter operation.
3Area of stationary object
If controller boards are mounted on upper and lower tiers, then space utilization is improved, but circulation occurs when one board is removed, reducing cooling performance
Solution Approach 1:
The single shutter acts as an intermediary element between the fan and the housing space. When controller boards are removed from either the upper or lower tier, the shutter rotates into position to block the ventilation path that would otherwise create circulation. This intermediary shutter prevents the direct communication between the fan and the empty slot, thereby eliminating the circulation problem while allowing the tiered mounting configuration to maintain efficient space utilization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively prevents circulation and maintains cooling performance by using a single shutter, reducing component costs and preserving enclosure space, while ensuring efficient cooling even when one module is removed.
Implementation Method 1
a push rod spring that is an elastic member wound around the push rod, the push rod spring applying an elastic force of pushing in a front surface direction to the push rod
Implementation Method 2
electronic computing modules each having a built-in fan and being disposed on a rear surface side
Data Source
AI summary
An enclosure of an electronic computing apparatus allows two electronic computing modules, each having a built-in fan, to be mounted in a perpendicular direction, when the two electronic computing modules are inserted, a shutter is at an intermediate position due to an elastic force of pushing a spring cover in a front surface direction, from push rods corresponding to the two electronic computing modules, and when one of the electronic computing modules is removed, the elastic force of pushing the cover from the push rod on the removal is lost, and the shutter moves, around a rotating mechanism, to a side of a housing space on the removal side and shuts off a flow path in the housing space.