US 12,326,765 B1Granted

Submersible networking enclosure

AssigneeFrontier Communications Holdings, LLC

InventorsJohn Valdez, Erwin Wardojo

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Abstract

An subterranean enclosure for retaining at least one networking component may include a shell forming a first chamber and a second chamber, a dielectric fluid adapted to be disposed in the first chamber, a mounting mechanism at least partially disposed within the first chamber, a coolant distribution line at least partially disposed within the first chamber, a coolant circulator at least partially disposed within the shell, and a heat exchanger operably coupled with the shell. The shell includes a plurality of sidewalls and is disposed in a subterranean environment. The heat exchanger is adapted to dissipate thermal energy from the dielectric fluid exiting the coolant circulator prior to the dielectric fluid entering the coolant distribution line, and extends outwardly from the shell.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A subterranean enclosure for retaining at least one networking component, the subterranean enclosure comprising:

a shell forming a first chamber and a second chamber, the shell including a plurality of sidewalls, wherein the first chamber is positioned adjacent to the second chamber and being separated by a partition and being disposed in a subterranean environment;
a dielectric fluid adapted to be disposed in the first chamber;
a mounting mechanism at least partially disposed within the first chamber, the mounting mechanism including at least one coupling member adapted to retain at least one active networking component;
a coolant distribution line at least partially disposed within the first chamber of the shell, the coolant distribution line including an elongated member having at least one opening formed on a portion thereof;
a coolant circulator at least partially disposed within the second chamber of the shell, the coolant circulator being fluidly coupled with the first chamber via at least one fluid line extending through the partition, the coolant circulator adapted to circulate the dielectric fluid within the first chamber of the shell via the coolant distribution line;
and
a heat exchanger operably coupled with the shell, the heat exchanger positioned near an exterior portion of the shell and being adapted to dissipate thermal energy from the dielectric fluid exiting the coolant circulator prior to the dielectric fluid entering the coolant distribution line, wherein the heat exchanger extends outwardly from the shell.

4 more elements

A method of assembling a subterranean enclosure for retaining at least one networking component, the method comprising:

providing a shell forming a first chamber and a second chamber, the shell including a plurality of sidewalls, wherein the first chamber is positioned adjacent to the second chamber and being separated by a partition;
coupling a mounting mechanism with the first chamber of the shell, the mounting mechanism including at least one coupling member;
disposing a coolant distribution line within the first chamber of the shell, the coolant distribution line including an elongated member having at least one opening formed on a portion thereof;
coupling at least one active networking component with the mounting mechanism via the at least one coupling member;
coupling a coolant circulator within the second chamber of the shell;
fluidly coupling the first chamber and the coolant circulator disposed within the second chamber via at least one fluid line extending through the partition;
coupling a heat exchanger with an exterior portion of the shell such that a gap is defined between the heat exchanger and at least one of the plurality of sidewalls, the heat exchanger being adapted to dissipate thermal energy from a dielectric fluid exiting the coolant circulator prior to the dielectric fluid entering the coolant distribution line;
disposing the subterranean enclosure in a subterranean environment;
and
disposing a dielectric fluid within the first chamber of the shell such that the at least one active networking component is submerged by the dielectric fluid.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.