Air duct for cooling a rear-mounted switch in a rack

An apparatus for providing cooling air to a first air inlet of a first electronic device installed on a rack, the first air inlet being disposed on a first side of the first electronic device and the first electronic device directing an exhaust toward a first face of the rack, the apparatus comprising:

• a first duct section provided with a first port and a second port, the first duct section configured to position the first port with access to the cooling air at the first face of the rack and the first duct section configured to position the second port in proximity to the first side of the first electronic device such that the first air inlet of the first electronic device has access to the cooling air from the second port;
• a second duct section provided with a third port and a fourth port, the second duct section configured to position the third port with access to the cooling air at the first face of the rack and configured to position the fourth port at a second side of the first electronic device, a second air inlet of the first electronic device being disposed on the second side of the first electronic device;
• a first shield configured to conduct the cooling air from the second port to the first air inlet and including a lower shield element supporting the first side of the first electronic device from below and an upper shield element, the upper and lower shield elements receiving the first side of the first electronic device between the upper and lower shield elements;
• a second shield configured to conduct the cooling air from the fourth port to the second air inlet and including a lower shield element supporting the first side of the first electronic device from below and an upper shield element, the upper and lower shield elements receiving the first side of the first electronic device between the upper and lower shield elements;
• a face plate positioned between the first electronic device and the first face and between the first port and the third port such that the face plate hinders the exhaust from reaching the first face and such that a space is defined by the first duct section, the face plate, the second duct section, the first electronic device, a second electronic device, and a third electronic device, the first electronic device being disposed between the second electronic device and the third electronic device, the exhaust from the first electronic device being directed into the space;
• and at least one of:
• the first duct section further configured to hinder movement of the exhaust through the plane of the first side less than the face plate hinders movement of the exhaust through the plane of the first face;
• or
• the second duct section further configured to hinder movement of the exhaust through the plane of the second side less than the face plate hinders movement of the exhaust through the plane of the first face.