Fan and cooling device

Abstract

A cooling device having a first fan, a second fan upstream of the first fan, and a flow conditioner element that includes a housing with a first side having a flow-conditioner plate, a second side opposite the first side that defines an opening, and a duct between the first side and the second side, wherein the flow-conditioner plate is attached to a side of the first fan proximal to the second fan and the second side of the housing is attached to a side of the second fan proximal to the first fan. A method for cooling electronic components and a fan assembly are also disclosed.

1 . A cooling device comprising:
 a first fan;   a second fan upstream of the first fan; and   a flow conditioner element located between the first and second fans, the flow conditioner element comprising:
 a housing having a first side that includes a flow-conditioning plate; 
 a second side opposite the first side that defines an opening; and 
 a duct between the first side and the second side, wherein the flow-conditioning plate is attached to a side of the first fan proximal to the second fan and the second side of the housing is attached to a side of the second fan proximal to the first fan. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second fans are axial fans. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow-conditioning plate has a thickness of approximately 4 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling device of  claim 3 , wherein the flow-conditioning plate is a perforated plate. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein the perforated plate has a plurality of circular openings, each having a diameter of approximately 5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the side of the first fan proximal to the second fan has a length and a width; and   the flow-conditioning plate has a length that is equal to the length of the side of the first fan and a width that is equal to the width of said side.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the duct between the flow-conditioning plate and the second side is an elongated duct having a length of at least 13 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the flow conditioner is manufactured from a rigid plastic or like material. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein an air gap exists between the flow-conditioning plate and the second fan. 
     
     
         10 . A method of cooling electronic components within an enclosure, the method comprising:
 generating an air flow from a second fan;   drawing the air flow from the second fan through an opening in a housing positioned downstream of the second fan;   pulling the air flow through a flow-conditioner plate on a side of the housing distal to the second fan into a first fan attached to the flow-conditioner plate; and   generating the air flow downstream from the first fan.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising providing the flow-conditioner plate with a plurality of perforations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising locating the flow-conditioner plate adjacent the first fan. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising providing the flow-conditioner plate having a thickness of approximately 4 mm. 
     
     
         14 . A fan assembly for cooling electronic components, the fan assembly comprising:
 a fan;   an inlet duct having:
 a first end upstream of the fan, said first end defining a first opening having a first diameter; and 
 a second end downstream of the first end, said second end attached to a first side of the fan and defining a second opening having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter; 
   an outlet duct having:
 a first end attached to a second side of the fan opposite the first side, said first end of the outlet duct defining an opening having a first diameter, and 
 a second end downstream of the first end, said second end defining a second opening having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter. 
   
     
     
         15 . The fan assembly of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the diameter of the first end of the inlet duct is equal to the diameter of the second end of the outlet duct; and   the diameter of the second end of the inlet duct is equal to the diameter of the first end of the outlet duct.   
     
     
         16 . The fan assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the second end of the outlet duct is attached to a flow conditioner element, the flow conditioner element comprising:
 a housing having a first side that includes a flow-conditioning plate;   a second side opposite the first side that defines an opening; and   a duct between the first side and the second side, wherein the flow-conditioning plate is attached to a side of the first fan proximal to the second fan and the second side of the housing is attached to a side of the second fan proximal to the first fan.   
     
     
         17 . The fan assembly of  claim 14  wherein the fan is an axial fan.