US 7,804,684 B1Granted

Cooling system for a data processing unit

AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.

InventorsGunes Aybay, David J. Lima, Olaf Moeller

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Abstract

A data processing unit includes a chassis configured to contain a line card. The chassis defines, at least in part, a portion of a first flow pathway and a portion of a second flow pathway. The chassis is configured such that a first portion of a gas can flow within the first flow pathway between an intake region and the first end portion of the line card such that the first portion of the gas flows across a first end portion of the line card in a first direction. The chassis is configured such that a second portion of the gas can flow within the second flow pathway between the intake region and a second end portion of the line card such that the second portion of the gas flows across the second end portion of the line card in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of line cards, each line card from the plurality of line cards defining an opening and having a surface, a first end portion and a second end portion;
and
a chassis defining, at least in part, a portion of a first intake flow pathway and a portion of a second intake flow pathway, an interior region of the chassis configured to contain the plurality of line cards such that the opening of each line card from the plurality of line cards collectively defines, at least in part, a portion of an exhaust flow pathway,
the chassis configured such that a first gas can flow within the first intake flow pathway between an intake region outside of the chassis and the first end portion of each line card from the plurality of line cards such that a portion of the first gas flows across the surface of each line card from the plurality of line cards in a first direction,
the chassis configured such that a second gas can flow within the second intake flow pathway between the intake region outside of the chassis and the second end portion of each line card from the plurality of line cards such that a portion of the second gas flows across the surface of each line card from the plurality of line cards in a second direction, the second direction opposite the first direction,
the chassis and the plurality of line cards collectively configured such that a mixture of the first gas and the second gas can flow within the exhaust flow pathway from the interior region of the chassis to an exhaust region outside of the chassis such that a first portion of the mixture of the first gas and the second gas flows in a third direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction and a second portion of the mixture of the first gas and the second gas flows in a fourth direction, the fourth direction opposite the third direction.

3 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a chassis defining, at least in part, a portion of a first intake flow pathway and a portion of a second intake flow pathway;
a midplane disposed within the chassis such that the midplane divides the chassis into a front portion and a rear portion;
a first line card disposed within the rear portion of the chassis, the first line card having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion and the second end portion;
and
a second line card disposed within the rear portion of the chassis, the second line card having a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion between the first end portion of the second line card and the second end portion of the second line card,
the central portion of the first line card, the central portion of the second line card and the chassis collectively defining, at least in part, a portion of an exhaust flow pathway,
the chassis configured such that a first gas can flow within the first intake flow pathway from an intake region exterior to the chassis to the first end portion of the first line card and the first end portion of the second line card, the chassis configured such that a second gas can flow within the second intake flow pathway from the intake region to the second end portion of the first line card and the second end portion of the second line card,
the chassis and the first line card collectively configured such that a first portion of a mixture of the first gas and the second gas can flow in a first direction within the exhaust flow pathway from the rear portion of the chassis to an exhaust region exterior to the rear portion of the chassis,
the chassis and the second line card collectively configured such that a second portion of the mixture of the first gas and the second gas can flow in a second direction within the exhaust flow pathway from the rear portion of the chassis to the exhaust region, the second direction opposite the first direction.

6 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a chassis defining an interior region, the chassis defining, at least in part, a portion of an intake flow pathway;
a first fan disposed within the interior region;
a second fan disposed within the interior region;
and
a plurality of line cards disposed within the interior region of the chassis between the first fan and the second fan, each line card from the plurality of line cards having a surface and defining an opening,
the chassis configured such that a gas can flow within the intake flow pathway between an intake region exterior to the chassis and the interior region of the chassis, and across the surface of each line card from the plurality of line cards in a first direction, the first direction substantially parallel to the surface of each line card,
the chassis and the plurality of line cards collectively defining a portion of an exhaust flow pathway substantially aligned with the opening of each line card from the plurality of line cards, the chassis and the plurality of line cards collectively configured such that (1) a first portion of the gas can flow within the portion of the exhaust flow pathway in a second direction from the interior region of the chassis, through the first fan and to an exhaust region exterior to the chassis, (2) the second direction substantially orthogonal to the surface of each line card from the plurality of line cards, and (3) a second portion of the gas can flow within the portion of the exhaust flow pathway in a third direction from the interior region of the chassis, through the second fan and to the exhaust region, the third direction opposite the second direction.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.