Active ventilation of a packaged electronic device during operation

A shipping container for actively ventilating a computer while the computer is operating inside the shipping container, the computer having a power connector and a network connector, the shipping container comprising:

• a plurality of sidewalls;
• a loading opening in one of the sidewalls for placing the computer in and out of the shipping container;
• an access panel formed in another one of the sidewalls and adapted to be located adjacent to the power and network connectors of the computer, the access panel defining an access port and being movable relative thereto between an open position wherein the power and network connectors of the computer are accessible, and a closed position wherein the access port is sealed and the access panel is substantially flush with said another one of the sidewalls;
• a ventilation intake panel formed in a selected one of the sidewalls, the intake panel defining an intake port and being movable relative thereto between an open position wherein air may be forced into the container, and a closed position wherein the intake port is sealed and the intake panel is substantially flush with said selected one of the sidewalls, the intake port being adapted to be connected to a ventilation conduit;
• a ventilation exhaust panel formed in another selected one of the sidewalls, the exhaust panel defining an exhaust port and being movable relative thereto between an open position wherein air may be evacuated from the container, and a closed position wherein the exhaust port is sealed and the exhaust panel is substantially flush with said another selected one of the sidewalls;
• and wherein
• the container is adapted to ventilate an operational computer located therein and maintain the computer within an acceptable operating temperature range when the computer is electronically accessed through the access port and air is circulated from the intake port, through the shipping container, and out the exhaust port.

A method of actively ventilating an operational electronic device located inside a container, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrical device inside a sealed shipping container, the electrical device having electrical connectors;
• interconnecting electrical cables to the electrical connectors of the electrical device through an access port in the container;
• attaching one end of a ventilation conduit to a ventilation port in the container and the other end of the ventilation conduit to an air movement device;
• operating the electrical device while simultaneously ventilating the container via the ventilation conduit to maintain the electrical device within an acceptable operating temperature range.