JP2780208B2 - Electronic device cooling structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling structure for an electronic device such as a magnetic disk device used as an external storage device of a computer system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in computer systems,
2. Description of the Related Art Magnetic disk drives are used in large quantities, and the proportion of magnetic disk drives in computer rooms is ever increasing.

In addition, the size of the magnetic disk drive has been reduced and the floor area of the magnetic disk drive has been reduced, and the number of drives has increased. In a small system, an indoor air conditioning method that does not require special equipment as shown in the explanatory view of FIG. 8 is generally adopted.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an air conditioner, 2 is a ventilation duct for guiding cooling air from the air conditioner, and 3 is a temperature sensor for detecting the indoor air temperature. The device 5 is cooled by sucking indoor cooling air from below the device 5.

[0005] The suction of the cooling air is performed by the chimney effect of the device 5 or a fan provided in the device 5. On the other hand, in a computer room of a large system, an underfloor air conditioning method as shown in an explanatory view of FIG. 9 is generally adopted.

In this method, cooling air from the air conditioner 1 is sent to the underfloor 6 between the free access floor 4 and the base floor 21, and pressurized cooling air is supplied from the underfloor 6 to the cooling device provided at the lower part of the apparatus 5. The air that is blown into the device 5 through the air intake port 7 is cooled by the device 5.
And is returned to the air conditioner 1 by a return duct 8 provided at the upper part of the air conditioner.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 9 denotes a sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooling air from the air conditioner 1. This underfloor air-conditioning method is extremely effective as compared with the indoor air-conditioning method when the cooling efficiency is high and the heat generation density from the device 5 is large or when the layout is complicated.

For this reason, the apparatus 5 is required to be able to efficiently cope with both air conditioning methods.

[0009]

Even with the above-described underfloor air conditioning method, it is difficult to perform uniform air conditioning over a wide area, and the air conditioning conditions differ depending on the installation location of the apparatus.

[0010] A sufficient amount of cooling air may be supplied to a device near the air conditioner, but a sufficient amount of cooling air may not be supplied to a device far from the air conditioner. For this reason, there arises a problem that it is not possible to cope with different air conditioning conditions for each device.

As a countermeasure, the number of air conditioners is increased or the capacity of the air conditioners is increased, but this is uneconomical because it increases equipment costs and maintenance costs. On the other hand, if an excessive amount of air is supplied to the device, the speed of the fan should be reduced in a device that uses a specific fan, for example, a fan whose speed is changed depending on the load condition. When a circuit for monitoring the number of rotations of the fan and generating a fan alarm is provided, there is a problem that the fan alarm circuit of the apparatus operates.

In general, it is also possible to measure the amount of cooling air supplied to each device and adjust the opening area of the floor for supplying cooling air from the lower portion of the device to make the air conditioning conditions for the device uniform. However, the number of man-hours and costs required for measurement and change are enormous.

Also, there is a problem that it is difficult to cope with an increase in the number of apparatuses or a change in the system. The present invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooling device that can efficiently cope with both an indoor air conditioning method and an underfloor air conditioning method without being affected by an installation environment, and that can achieve efficient air conditioning and simplified air conditioning equipment.

[0014]

According to the present invention, FIG.
As shown in the enlarged view of the main part of FIG.
Through the path 10 and the first opening 11 or through the second path
Opening / closing means 16 having two openings and two paths flowing into the device 5 through the second opening 13 and the second opening 13, and opening and closing by the pressure of the cooling air flowing into the first path 10. With
The second path 12 includes a fan 14 for sucking cooling air,
Opening / closing means 16 and opening / closing means 16 which open and close according to the magnitude of the pressure of the cooling air flowing from the underfloor 6 into the first path 10 and the first opening 11
The cooling air flows into the device 5 through. The opening / closing means 16 includes a detection switch 15 for detecting the degree of opening / closing.When the detection switch 15 detects that the opening of the opening / closing means 16 is equal to or more than a predetermined value, the rotation of the fan 14 is stopped, and The cooling air flows into the apparatus 5 through the second path 12 and the second opening 13 by activating the fan 14.

The opening / closing means 16 includes a plurality of plate-like pieces 18 arranged side by side so as to be rotatable and close the hole 19, or the hole 19 is closed by an elastic tongue 20. Then, the end 20b is fixed, and the tip 20a is opened by the pressure of the cooling air.

[0016]

The cooling air that has flowed in from the cooling air inlet opens the opening / closing means 16 depending on the pressure, and the opening / closing means 16 and the first
The cooling air flows into the apparatus 5 through the path 10 and the first opening 11.

Therefore, a part of the cooling air flowing into the apparatus flows into the apparatus without passing through the fan 14, so that the pressure at the fan suction portion is reduced. Even in a device using a specific fan whose rotation speed is changed depending on the load condition by this effect, the fan alarm of the device is activated when the air volume from under the floor becomes excessive. Can be prevented.

The opening / closing means 16 is a switch for detecting the degree of opening / closing.
When the detection switch 15 detects that the opening / closing means 16 is opened by a predetermined value or more,
The rotation of the fan 14 is stopped on the assumption that the amount of air flowing in is sufficient. When the opening is detected to be equal to or less than the predetermined value, the fan 14 is activated by determining that the air volume is insufficient, and the cooling air flows into the apparatus through the second path 12 and the second opening 13.

Therefore, when the amount of cooling air supplied from under the floor is large, the fan 14 can be stopped,
Underfloor air conditioning can be used effectively. In addition, when the amount of cooling air supplied from under the floor is small, the fan 14 is rotated, and the cooling air is sucked and blown into the apparatus. Therefore, even when the air conditioning condition differs depending on the installation location of the apparatus, An appropriate amount of cooling air can be supplied.

The opening / closing means 16 opens and closes a path by rotating a plurality of plate-like pieces 18 or tongue pieces 20 by the pressure of cooling air.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, as shown in an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1, a cooling air intake port 7 for taking in cooling air at a lower portion of a device 5, a first path 10 and Through the first opening 11 or the second path 12 and the second opening
13 has two openings and two paths that flow into the device 5 through the first path 13. The first path 10 includes opening / closing means 16 that opens and closes depending on the pressure of the cooling air that flows in. 12 has a fan 14 into which cooling air flows.

The cooling air flowing into the first passage 10 from under the floor 6 opens and closes the opening / closing means 16 in accordance with the magnitude of the pressure. The cooling air is supplied to the open / close means 16 and the first
The cooling air flows into the apparatus 5 through the path 10 and the first opening 11.

The first path 10 is a second path through the fan 14
Since the cooling air passing through the first path 10 is not affected by the wind pressure due to the rotation of the fan 14, the cooling air for underfloor air conditioning can be used efficiently.

As described above, when the amount of the cooling air flowing in is large, a part of the cooling air is blown into the apparatus by bypassing without passing through the fan 14. For this reason, a specific fan that changes the rotation speed depending on the load condition
Even when the fan 14 is used, the fan 14 can be monitored by monitoring the rotation speed of the fan 14 without reducing the rotation speed of the fan 14.
Even when a circuit for generating an alarm is provided, the operation of the fan alarm circuit of the apparatus can be prevented.

The opening / closing means 16 has a detection switch 15 for detecting the degree of opening / closing. The detection switch 15 is a switch
The function of detecting the amount of the cooling air flowing in depends on the degree of opening of the fan 13.If the opening is detected to be a predetermined value or more, the rotation of the fan 14 is stopped by determining that the air volume is sufficient and stopping the rotation of the fan 14. Cooling air flows into the device 5 only through the first path 10 and the first opening 11.

If the opening is detected to be equal to or less than the predetermined value, it is determined that the air volume is insufficient, the fan 14 is started, and the second
Cooling air through the passage 12 and the second opening 13 of the device 5
Flows into.

As described above, the first path 10 is a path independent of the second path 12 passing through the fan 14, and the first path 10
Cooling air passing through 10 is not affected by wind pressure due to the rotation of fan 14. For this reason, cooling air for underfloor air conditioning can be used efficiently.

As shown in the side view of FIG.
Each of the plurality of plate-like pieces 18 is provided so as to be openable and closable as indicated by arrows AB around a shaft 26 that supports the plate-shaped pieces 18 on one side, and the path 19 is moved in the direction of arrow A by its own weight or spring means (not shown). It is urged to close.

The plate-like piece 18 opens in the direction of arrow B according to the pressure of the cooling air. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the opening / closing means 16 is opened.

As shown in the side view of FIG. 4, the plate-like piece 18 is formed by connecting the rear ends 18a of the plate-like piece 18 to each other with a bar 22.
It is configured to be opened and closed by the manual push and pull of 22, and closed in the case of the indoor air conditioning method.

Alternatively, as shown in the side view of FIG. 5, the opening / closing means 16 is formed by two elastic tongues 20 such as rubber plates or the like.
Is closed, and the end portion 20b of the tongue piece 20 is fixed.
20a may be opened by the pressure of the cooling air.

The detection switch 15 for detecting the degree of opening / closing of the opening / closing means 13 is provided so that the actuator 15a contacts the plate-like piece 18. The detection switch 15 is provided between the fan 14 and the fan power supply 23 as shown in the circuit block diagram of FIG. 6, and when the air volume from the underfloor 6 increases as shown in the drawing of FIG. At the point A, the detection switch 15 is turned on when the plate-like piece 18 is fully opened and the actuator 15a is pressed, the power is turned off, and the fan 14 stops rotating.

On the other hand, when the air volume from under the floor 6 decreases, the detection switch 15 is turned off at the point A due to the decrease in the opening / closing angle of the plate-like piece 18, and the power supply is connected and the fan 14 starts rotating. I do.

In the case of the indoor air conditioning method, the cooling air is supplied to the device 5.
Is taken in from the gap between the lower part of the floor and the floor surface 27, that is, the gap corresponding to the height of the foot 24. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 25 denotes a dust filter, which removes dust contained in the cooling air to prevent the dust from flowing into the apparatus.

With this configuration, the cooling air is effectively used, and the fan 14 is also used properly, so that the cooling air for underfloor air conditioning is effectively used.

[0036]

According to the present invention, an appropriate amount of cooling air can be taken into each device regardless of whether it is indoor air conditioning or under-floor air conditioning, without increasing the number of air conditioners or improving the capacity. This has great economic and industrial effects, such as effective use of cooling air.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of a cooling structure of an electronic device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the opening / closing means used in the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where an opening / closing means used in the present invention is opened;

FIG. 4 is a side view in which an opening / closing bar is provided in the opening / closing means used in the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing another embodiment of the opening / closing means used in the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of an opening / closing unit, a detection switch, and a fan;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the rotation of the fan, the opening / closing means, and the air volume from under the floor,

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of an indoor air conditioning method to which the present invention is applied;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an underfloor air conditioning method to which the present invention is applied;

[Explanation of symbols] 5 equipment, 6 under floor, 7
Cooling air intake, 10 first path, 11 first opening, 12 second path, 13 second opening, 14 fan, 15 detection switch, 15a actuator, 16 opening / closing means, 18 plate-shaped piece, 19 holes,
20 tongue pieces, 21 base floor, 22
Bar, power supply for 23 fans,
24 feet, 25 dustproof filter, 26 axes,
27 floor,

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-128499 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Showa 61-69893 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 54-99064 (JP, U) (58) Investigation Field (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H05K 7/20

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A cooling air intake (7) for taking in cooling air at a lower portion of the device (5), and a first path for passing the cooling air into the first path.
(10) and the first opening (11) or the second path (1
2) and two paths which flow into the device (5) through the second opening (13) and two paths, and the first path (10) has an underfloor (6). Opening and closing means (16) for opening and closing in response to the pressure of cooling air flowing from the second path (12)
A cooling structure for an electronic device, comprising: a fan (14) through which cooling air flows. 2. The opening / closing means (16) according to claim 1, further comprising a detection switch (15) for detecting a degree of opening and closing, wherein said detection switch is provided.
According to (15), the rotation of the fan (14) is stopped when it is detected that the opening / closing means (16) is opened by a predetermined value or more, and the fan (14) is started when it is detected that it is less than a predetermined value. A cooling structure for an electronic device, characterized in that: 3. The cooling structure for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said opening / closing means (16) is configured such that each of said plurality of plate-like pieces (18) is rotatable. 4. The cooling structure of a cooling device according to claim 1, wherein said opening / closing means (16) is configured to close said hole (19) with an elastic tongue (20).