Method and apparatus for controlling airflow

A device for altering the flow of air from a fan having a fan hub comprising:

• a flat sheet positioned in the flow of air from the fan said flat sheet comprising:
• a substantially solid circular plate centrally disposed in the flat sheets the circular plate positioned in the area of the fan hub;
• and
• a plurality of substantially rectangular directing vanes angularly disposed relative to the flat sheet and extending radially from the circular plate of said flat sheet, said plurality of directing vanes configured to reduce undesired flow patterns normally associated with an axial flow fan.

A method to distribute airflow to create a substantially balanced airflow within the slots of a cardcage for controlling the temperatures of circuit cards arranged in the cardcage comprising:

• passing a stream of coolant gas past and between the circuit boards in the cage;
• ascertaining the temperatures and flow rates of the gas at a three-dimensional matrix of locations generally throughout the cage;
• and
• modifying the flow pattern of the stream of gas entering the cage to minimize variations in such temperature.

A system for distributing airflow to create substantially balanced flow within the slots of a cardcage supporting one or more circuit cards, comprising:

• an electronic enclosure;
• a cardcage mounted at one end of the electronic enclosure, the cardcage supporting one or more circuit cards;
• a fan mounted in the electronic enclosure and creating an airflow in the direction of the cardcage;
• and
• one or more airflow diverters positioned between the fan and the cardcage in the airflow, the one or more airflow diverters having a flow distribution pattern to create substantially balanced flow within the cardcage without a substantial increase in airflow resistance and distribute the airflow substantially uniformly past each of the one or more circuit cards.

A method for distributing airflow to create substantially balanced flow within the slots of a cardcage supporting one or more circuit cards, comprising:

• providing an airflow directed to the one or more circuit cards supported in the cardcage;
• altering the pattern of the airflow prior to entering the cardcage to form an airflow distribution pattern to create substantially balanced flow within the slots of a cardcage passing each of the one or more circuit cards supported in the cardcage;
• and
• passing the altered pattern of airflow between each of the one or more circuit cards in a uniform direction to provide substantially balanced airflow having uniform airflow direction and magnitude between each of the one or more circuit cards supported in the cardcage.