Systems and methods for cleaning filters of an electrical device
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorKirk P. Gipson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a filter cleaning system and method pertain to, during a filter cleaning operation, reversing a flow direction of an inlet fan associated with a filter of the electrical device, the inlet fan being adapted to force air into a housing of the electrical device during normal operation of the electrical device, and reversing a flow direction of an outlet fan adapted to draw air out from the electrical device housing during normal operation of the electrical device so as to increase pressure within the electrical device housing during the filter cleaning operation, wherein the combined action of the reversed inlet fan and the reversed outlet fan purges particulate matter from the filter.
Claims11
A method for cleaning at least one filter of an electrical device, wherein the electrical device comprises a plurality of inlet fans each having a normal-operation flow direction adapted to force air into a housing of the electrical device during normal operation of the electrical device and a plurality of outlet fans each having a normal-operation flow direction adapted to draw air out of the housing of the electrical device during the normal operation of the electrical device, the method comprising:
- during a filter cleaning operation, reversing the normal-operation flow direction of a first inlet fan of the plurality of inlet fans and maintaining the normal-operation flow direction of other inlet fans of the plurality of inlet fans, wherein the first inlet fan is associated with a first filter of the electrical device;
- and
- during the filter cleaning operation, reversing the normal-operation flow direction of each of the plurality of outlet fans to cause all of the plurality of outlet fans to force air into the housing so as to increase pressure within the electrical device housing during the filter cleaning operation to purge particulate matter from the first filter.
A method for cleaning air filters of an electrical device, the electrical device including multiple inlet fans each having a normal-operation flow direction that forces air into an interior space of the electrical device during normal operation of the electrical device, an air filter associated with each of the inlet fans that is configured to prevent particulate matter from entering the interior space, and multiple outlet fans each having a normal-operation flow direction that draws air out from the interior space during normal operation of the electrical device, the method comprising:
- during a filter cleaning operation, sequentially cleaning each of the air filters by sequentially reversing the normal-operation flow direction of a single inlet fan and maintaining the normal-operation flow direction of other inlet fans such that the single inlet fan purges particulate matter from its associated air filter;
- and
- during the filter cleaning operation, reversing the normal-operation flow direction of each of the outlet fans so as to increase the pressure within the interior space and thereby assist the single inlet fan in purging particulate matter from its associated air filter.
A method for cleaning air filters of an electrical device, the electrical device including a plurality of inlet fans each having a normal-operation rotation direction that forces air into an interior space of the electrical device during normal operation of the electrical device, each of the plurality of inlet fans associated with one of the air filters, and a plurality of outlet fans each having a normal-operation rotation direction that draws air out from the interior space during normal operation of the electrical device, the method for cleaning the air filters comprising:
- selecting a first one of the air filters to be cleaned;
- reversing the normal-operation rotation direction of a first inlet fan of the plurality of inlet fans associated with the selected first one of the air filters, and maintaining the normal-operation rotation direction of other inlet fans of the plurality of inlet fans;
- reversing the normal-operation rotation direction of each of the plurality of outlet fans to cause all of the plurality of outlet fans to force air into the interior space of the electrical device;
- returning the first inlet fan to the normal-operation rotation direction after a predetermined period of time has elapsed to cause the first inlet fan to force air into the interior space of the electrical device;
- determining whether each of the air filters has been cleaned;
- if each of the air filters has not been cleaned, selecting a second one of the air filters to be cleaned and repeating the reversing, returning, and determining steps above for cleaning the selected second one of the air filters;
- and
- if each of the filters has been cleaned, returning each of the plurality of outlet fans to the normal-operation rotation direction to cause the plurality of outlet fans to draw air out of the interior space of the electrical device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.