# US 2020/0288605 A1 · Electronic equipment enclosure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0288605 A1 - Document ID: US20200288605A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/880,086 - Filed: 2020-05-21 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-17 - Assignees: Chatsworth Products, Inc. - Applicants: Chatsworth Products, Inc. - Inventors: Richard Evans LEWIS, II; William Drew KRIETZMAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200288605A1 ## CPC - H05K 7/20736: {within cabinets for removing heat from server blades} - B21D 53/02: heat exchangers {or parts thereof}, e.g. radiators, condensers {fins, headers}(making finned or ribbed tubes by fixing strip material or the like to tubes B21C37/22) - H05K 5/0217: {Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03)} - H05K 5/10: comprising several parts forming a closed casing - H05K 7/1488: {Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures} - H05K 7/183: {support rails therefor} - H05K 7/20709: {for server racks or cabinets; for data centers, e.g. 19-inch computer racks} - H05K 7/20745: {within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device} - H05K 7/20754: {Air circulating in closed loop within cabinets} - H05K 7/20836: {Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control} - Y10T 29/49947: by applying separate fastener - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electronic equipment enclosure includes a frame structure and a customizable side air dam kit. The frame structure includes a front frame, a rear frame, front-to-back frame members connecting corners of the front and rear frames together, reinforced bracket structures located near ends of the cross members, and extruded horizontal mounting rails parallel to, but inward from, the front-to-back frame members. The ends of the horizontal mounting rails are connected to the reinforced bracket structures. Panels are installed in longitudinal slots in the front-to-back frame members and horizontal mounting rails, each of which is extruded. The customizable side air dam kit includes a framework of horizontal and vertical frame pieces, adapted to connect to the frame structure, and a customizable air dam panel supported by the framework. A plurality of the frame pieces are provided to an installer for use in constructing the framework to fit the specific frame structure. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1: A method of forming a side air dam for an electronic equipment installation, comprising: (a) providing an electronic equipment enclosure comprising a four-post frame structure and a plurality of panels supported by the frame structure so as to define an interior, wherein, (i) the four-post frame structure includes a front frame, a rear frame, and at least four front-to-back horizontal frame members, the front frame and rear frame each including a pair of vertical frame members and two side-to-side cross members, and the front-to-back horizontal frame members connecting the front and rear frames together, (ii) the plurality of panels includes side panels, each side panel being disposed on a side of the electronic equipment enclosure, and (iii) at least one unit of side-breathing electronic equipment is installed in the electronic equipment enclosure, the at least one unit of side-breathing electronic equipment having a duct opening facing a side of the electronic equipment enclosure; (b) framing the duct opening with a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical frame pieces, thereby forming a side air dam framework supported by the frame structure; and (c) mounting one or more customizable air dam panels to the side air dam framework such that a top-to-bottom partition is created immediately adjacent the side-breathing electronic equipment except for the framed duct opening, wherein the top-to-bottom partition is parallel to, but inwardly offset from, the adjacent side panel of the electronic equipment enclosure such that a side plenum is created between the top-to-bottom partition and the adjacent side panel, and wherein the top-to-bottom partition blocks air from flowing over or under the side-breathing electronic equipment and then into the side plenum or air from flowing out of the side plenum and then over or under the side-breathing electronic equipment. ### Claim at position 2 (depends on 1) 2: The method of claim 1, wherein the horizontal and vertical frame pieces are partially cut or scored. ### Claim at position 3 (depends on 2) 3: The method of claim 2, wherein the horizontal and vertical frame pieces are cut or scored at uniform incremental locations along the horizontal and vertical frame pieces. ### Claim at position 4 (depends on 3) 4: The method of claim 3, further comprising cutting or breaking the horizontal and vertical frame pieces at one or more of the uniform incremental locations to desired lengths. ### Claim at position 5 (depends on 3) 5: The method of claim 3, wherein the vertical frame pieces are cut or scored at 1 RMU increments. ### Claim at position 6 (depends on 3) 6: The method of claim 3, wherein the horizontal frame pieces are cut or scored at 25 mm increments. ### Claim at position 7 (depends on 1) 7: The method of claim 1, wherein each customizable air dam panel is partially cut or scored at locations. ### Claim at position 8 (depends on 7) 8: The method of claim 7, further comprising cutting or breaking each customizable air dam panel at one or more of the locations to desired sizes. ### Claim at position 9 (depends on 7) 9: The method of claim 7, wherein each customizable air dam panel is a single flat sheet of material. ### Claim at position 10 (depends on 1) 10: The method of claim 1, wherein each customizable air dam panel includes pre-cut apertures that may be punched out at desired locations. ### Claim at position 11 (depends on 10) 11: The method of claim 10, wherein the pre-cut apertures are provided at uniform spacings. ### Claim at position 12 (depends on 10) 12: The method of claim 10, wherein each customizable air dam panel is a single flat sheet of material. ### Claim at position 13 (depends on 1) 13: The method of claim 1, wherein each of the horizontal and vertical frame pieces has a substantially uniform cross-section other than at locations where each is cut or scored. ### Claim at position 14 (depends on 13) 14: The method of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the cross-section of each of the horizontal and vertical frame pieces is U-shaped. ### Claim at position 15 15: A method of forming a side air dam for an electronic equipment installation, comprising: (a) providing an electronic equipment enclosure comprising a four-post frame structure and a plurality of panels supported by the frame structure so as to define an interior, wherein, (i) the four-post frame structure includes a front frame, a rear frame, and at least four front-to-back horizontal frame members, the front frame and rear frame each including a pair of vertical frame members and two side-to-side cross members, and the front-to-back horizontal frame members connecting the front and rear frames together, (ii) the plurality of panels includes side panels, each side panel being disposed on a side of the electronic equipment enclosure, and (iii) at least one unit of side-breathing electronic equipment is installed in the electronic equipment enclosure, the at least one unit of side-breathing electronic equipment having a duct opening facing a side of the electronic equipment enclosure; (b) framing the duct opening with a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical frame pieces, thereby forming a side air dam framework supported by the frame structure, wherein at least a portion of the side air dam framework frames the duct opening; and (c) mounting one or more customizable air dam panels to the side air dam framework such that a top-to-bottom partition is created immediately adjacent the side-breathing electronic equipment except for the framed duct opening, wherein the top-to-bottom partition is parallel to, but inwardly offset from, the adjacent side panel of the electronic equipment enclosure such that a side plenum is created between the top-to-bottom partition and the adjacent side panel. ### Claim at position 16 (depends on 15) 16: The method of claim 15, wherein the horizontal and vertical frame pieces are cut or scored at uniform incremental locations along the horizontal and vertical frame pieces. ### Claim at position 17 (depends on 16) 17: The method of claim 16, further comprising cutting or breaking the horizontal and vertical frame pieces at one or more of the uniform incremental locations to desired lengths. ### Claim at position 18 (depends on 15) 18: The method of claim 15, wherein each customizable air dam panel is partially cut or scored at locations. ### Claim at position 19 (depends on 18) 19: The method of claim 18, further comprising cutting or breaking each customizable air dam panel at one or more of the locations to desired sizes. ### Claim at position 20 20: A method of forming a side air dam for an electronic equipment installation, comprising: (a) providing an electronic equipment enclosure comprising a four-post frame structure and a plurality of panels supported by the frame structure so as to define an interior, wherein, (i) the four-post frame structure includes a front frame, a rear frame, and at least four front-to-back horizontal frame members, the front frame and rear frame each including a pair of vertical frame members and two side-to-side cross members, and the front-to-back horizontal frame members connecting the front and rear frames together, (ii) the plurality of panels includes side panels, each side panel being disposed on a side of the electronic equipment enclosure, and (iii) at least one unit of side-breathing electronic equipment is installed in the electronic equipment enclosure, the at least one unit of side-breathing electronic equipment having a duct opening facing a side of the electronic equipment enclosure; (b) framing the duct opening with a plurality of interconnected horizontal and vertical frame pieces, thereby forming a side air dam framework supported by the frame structure, the horizontal and vertical frame pieces being cut or scored at uniform incremental locations; (c) cutting or breaking the horizontal and vertical frame pieces at one or more of the uniform incremental locations to desired lengths; and (d) mounting one or more customizable air dam panels to the side air dam framework such that a top-to-bottom partition is created immediately adjacent the side-breathing electronic equipment except for the framed duct opening.