System and method for venting air from a computer casing

Abstract

A vent for a computer enclosure is envisioned. The vent system has a fan, operable to draw a flow of air from within the enclosure and direct it out through an outlet vent disposed in a wall of the enclosure. The outlet vent is made of an outlet path. The outlet path is defined by a first and a second side member. The first and second side members are attached to the enclosure and form an environmental seal. The outlet vent also has an outlet face oriented at a first angle relative to the wall. A plurality of slats are rotatably coupled to the outlet face. The plurality of slats maintain a first position when the fan is not operating. When the fan goes into an operational mode and produces an airflow, the plurality of slats swing radially outward to a second position. The plurality of slats return to the first position when the airflow is not present. The angle of the slats in the first position is nearer to parallel to the first angle than when in the second position.

1 . A computer enclosure comprising: 
 a housing comprising opposed side walls, opposed upper and bottom walls, and opposed vertical front and rear walls;    electronic components disposed within the housing:    an outlet vent structure disposed at the rear wall near said upper wall, comprising an outlet face, said outlet face oriented at a angle downward and outward relative to the rear wall;    a fan, operable to draw a flow of air from within the housing and direct it non-perpendicularly relative to the rear wall out through the outlet face;    said outlet face comprising a plurality of slats rotatably coupled to said outlet face, said plurality of slats being in a first position when said fan is not operational, said plurality of slats operable to swing radially from the first position when said fan produces an airflow in said outlet vent, said plurality of slats returning due to gravity to the first position when the airflow is not present.    
     
     
         2 . The computer enclosure of  claim 1 , wherein the computer enclosure comprises a plurality of the outlet vent structures, each with a said outlet face, and a plurality of the fans, each said fan operable to draw air from within the housing and direct it non-perpendicularly relative to the rear wall through a respective said outlet face of a respective said outlet vent structure.  
     
     
         3 . The computer enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the outlet vent structure is disposed on the exterior of the rear wall.  
     
     
         4 . The computer enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the outlet vent structure is disposed at least in part in the interior of the enclosure.  
     
     
         5 . The computer enclosure of  claim 1  wherein the outlet vent structure is disposed within the enclosure.  
     
     
         6 . A computer enclosure for containing electronic modules, the enclosure comprising: 
 a housing comprising a plurality of walls, including an upper, a lower, a rear wall, and a plurality of side walls, the housing enclosing the electronic modules;    a fan, operable to draw a flow of air from within the housing and direct it non-perpendicularly relative to the rear wall out through an outlet vent structure disposed about the rear wall;    said outlet vent comprising an outlet path defined by a first and second side member, attached to said one of said plurality of walls, an outlet face, attached to said side members, said outlet face oriented at a first angle non-perpendicular to the wall, and a plurality of slats, rotatably coupled to said outlet face.    
     
     
         7 . The computer enclosure of  claim 6  wherein the rear wall is vertical and the first angle is directed downwards and outwards.  
     
     
         8 . The computer enclosure of  claim 6  wherein the rear wall is vertical and the first angle is directed upwards and outwards.  
     
     
         9 . The computer enclosure of  claim 6  wherein said outlet vent is disposed on the exterior of the rear wall.  
     
     
         10 . The computer enclosure of  claim 6  wherein said outlet vent is disposed at least in part in the interior of the housing.  
     
     
         11 . The computer enclosure of  claim 6  wherein said outlet vent is disposed within the housing.  
     
     
         12 . A computer enclosure comprising: 
 a housing comprising a plurality of walls and enclosing electronic components of a computer;    a fan, disposed within the housing, operable to draw an airflow from within the enclosure and direct it outward through an adjacent outlet vent structure disposed about an upper portion of a rear wall of the enclosure;    said outlet vent structure comprising an outlet face oriented at an oblique angle relative to the rear wall of the enclosure;    said outlet vent structure comprising a plurality of slats at said outlet face, said plurality of slats being in a substantially closed position when said fan is not operating, said plurality of slats operable to swing radially to an open position due to the airflow when the fan is operating, and said plurality of slats returning by gravity to said substantially closed position when the airflow is not present.    
     
     
         13 . The computer enclosure of  claim 12  wherein airflow out the outlet face is obliquely downwards and outwards.  
     
     
         14 . The computer enclosure of  claim 12  wherein airflow out the outlet face is obliquely upwards and outwards.