Central forced air cooling of a gaming machine
AssigneeInternational Game Technology
InventorsCynthia Rae Criss-Puszkiewicz, John Leagh Beadel, Paul Scott Haefeli, Gregory Hopkins Parrott, Kirk Arnim Tedsen
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Abstract
A system and method is provided for cooling a gaming machine. The cooling system includes an air flow assembly which draws fresh air from outside the gaming machine. The air flow assembly provides the fresh air to a set of ducts. The set of ducts channel the fresh air to one or more internal components of the gaming machine. The cooling system may also include an inlet duct to channel air from outside the machine to the air flow assembly and filters for cleaning the air entering the gaming machine.
Claims39
A cooling system for use with a gaming machine having a housing to enclose internal components therein, said cooling system comprising:
- an air flow assembly adapted to drive air through a manifold thereof;
- a duct system defining an air flow passage in flow communication with said manifold, said passage having an intake port positioned to draw coolant therein and an exhaust port terminating at at least one internal component of the gaming machine for direct cooling thereof by the coolant air;
- and
- a feedback system coupled to the airflow assembly to actively control the air flow through the air flow passage based upon the operational temperature of one or more of the internal components.
A gaming machine having a housing to enclose internal components therein, the gaming machine comprising:
- a display capable of presenting the outcome of a game play on the gaming machine;
- a cooling system including an air flow assembly adapted to drive air through a manifold thereof, and a duct system defining an air flow passage in flow communication with said manifold, said passage having an intake port positioned to draw ambient air from outside the gaming machine housing and an exhaust port terminating at least one internal component of the gaming machine for direct cooling thereof by the outside ambient air;
- and
- a feedback system coupled to the airflow assembly to actively control the air flow through the air flow passage based upon the operational temperature of the one internal component.
A method of cooling the internal components of a gaming machine enclosed in a housing thereof, said method comprising:
- channeling coolant air through an air flow passage having an exhaust port terminating at at least one internal component of the gaming machine;
- driving the coolant air through said passage by an air flow assembly having a manifold in fluid communication with said passage for direct cooling thereof by the coolant air;
- and
- actively controlling the air flow through the air flow passage based upon the operational temperature of the one internal component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.