US 10,455,727 B1Granted

Apparatus, system, and method for cooling network devices via unused power supply slots

AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.

InventorsTravis S. Mikjaniec, Susheela Nanjunda Rao Narasimhan, Gauri R. Khanolkar, Katsuhiro Okamura

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Abstract

The disclosed apparatus may include may include (1) an active power supply blank that (A) fits within a power supply slot of a network device that forwards network traffic and (B) generates airflow that cools the network device and (2) a power interface that electrically couples the active power supply blank to the network device, wherein the power interface enables the active power supply blank to (A) draw electrical power from the network device and (B) generate the airflow that cools the network device using the electrical power drawn from the network device. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

an active power supply blank that:
fits within a power supply slot of a network device that forwards network traffic;
and
generates airflow that cools the network device;
and
a power interface that electrically couples the active power supply blank to the network device, wherein the power interface enables the active power supply blank to:
draw electrical power from the network device;
and generate the airflow that cools the network device using the electrical power drawn from the network device;
a communication interface that communicatively couples the active power supply blank to the network device;
and
wherein the active power supply blank:
receives, via the communication interface, information that identifies at least one power-loading metric for at least one power supply installed in at least one additional power supply slot of the network device, the power-loading metric comprising at least one of:
rotations per minute of at least one cooling fan installed with the power supply in the additional power supply slot;
and
an amount of electrical power drawn by the network device from the power supply installed in the additional power supply slot;
and
modifies, based at least in part on the power-loading metric identified in the information, the airflow to coincide with additional airflow generated by the power supply installed in the additional power supply slot.

14 more elements

An active power supply blank comprising:

a cooling fan that:
fits within a power supply slot of a network device that forwards network traffic;
and
generates airflow that cools the network device;
and
a power interface that electrically couples the cooling fan to the network device, wherein the power interface enables the cooling fan to:
draw electrical power from the network device;
and
generate the airflow that cools the network device using the electrical power drawn from the network device;
a communication interface that communicatively couples the active power supply blank to the network device;
and
wherein the active power supply blank:
receives, via the communication interface, information that identifies at least one power-loading metric for at least one power supply installed in at least one additional power supply slot of the network device, the power-loading metric comprising at least one of:
rotations per minute of at least one cooling fan installed with the power supply in the additional power supply slot;
and
an amount of electrical power drawn by the network device from the power supply installed in the additional power supply slot;
and
modifies, based at least in part on the power-loading metric identified in the information, the airflow to coincide with additional airflow generated by the power supply installed in the additional power supply slot.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/985,277Filed 21 May 2018
Granted: 22 Oct 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H05K 7/20136
Using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures: forced ventilation, e.g. by fans
G06F 1/181
Packaging or power distribution: enclosures
G06F 1/185
Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards: mounting of expansion boards
G06F 1/188
Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards: mounting of power supply units

Family

No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.

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