Cooling Module with Multiple Parallel Blowers

Abstract

A cooling fan module for motivating air flow through an electronics chassis includes an enclosure having an air inlet through which cooling air flow is motivated by at least two centrifugal blowers disposed within the enclosure. The centrifugal blowers operate in parallel to motivate the cooling air flow along a first direction vector, while the respective axes of rotation of the centrifugal blower impellers are in substantial axial alignment with one another, and parallel to the first direction vector.

1 . A cooling fan module for motivating air flow through an electronics chassis, said module comprising:
 an enclosure having an air inlet through which the air flow is drawn from said electronics chassis;   at least two centrifugal blowers disposed within said enclosure and in parallel motivating the air flow along a first direction vector through said air inlet, each of said centrifugal blowers comprising:   (i) a scroll housing defining an air inlet and an air discharge;   (ii) a forward-curved impeller having a diameter dimension, and defining an axis of rotation, said axis extending through said housing air inlet and substantially parallel to said first direction vector; and   (iii) a motor for rotation of said impeller about said axis, wherein said respective axes of rotation of said centrifugal blower impellers are in substantial axial alignment with one another.   
     
     
         2 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes first and second ends separated by one or more side walls, and said air inlet being disposed at said first end. 
     
     
         3 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 1  wherein said centrifugal blowers are all disposed on a first side of a mid-plane of the electronics chassis. 
     
     
         4 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 1  wherein said air inlets of each of said centrifugal blowers are arranged in said enclosure in facing relationship with said enclosure air inlet. 
     
     
         5 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 1  wherein said motor of said centrifugal blowers is variable speed. 
     
     
         6 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 5  wherein said motor of each of said centrifugal blowers is independently controlled. 
     
     
         7 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 1  wherein said air discharges of said centrifugal blowers are arranged to emit air along a second direction vector which is substantially perpendicular to said first direction vector. 
     
     
         8 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 1  wherein said scroll housing of each of said centrifugal blowers includes a single air inlet. 
     
     
         9 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 1  wherein said scroll housing of each of said centrifugal blowers expands both radially and axially from proximate to a cutoff to said air discharge. 
     
     
         10 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 1  wherein said centrifugal blowers are axially spaced apart along said axis by a first distance of about one half of said impeller diameter dimension. 
     
     
         11 . A cooling fan module for pulling air flow through an electronics chassis, said module comprising:
 an enclosure having an air inlet through which the air flow is drawn from said electronics chassis;   a first set of a plurality of centrifugal blowers disposed within said enclosure and in parallel motivating the air flow along a first direction vector into said enclosure, each of said centrifugal blowers of said first set comprising;   (i) a scroll housing defining an air inlet and an air discharge;   (ii) a forward-curved impeller having a diameter dimension, and defining an axis of rotation, said axis extending through said housing air inlet and substantially parallel to said first direction vector; and   (iii) a motor for rotation of said impeller about said axis,
 wherein said respective axes of rotation of said centrifugal blower impellers are in substantial axial alignment with one another; 
   a second set of one or more blowers disposed within said enclosure and motivating the air flow along a second direction vector into said enclosure, said second direction vector being substantially perpendicular to said first direction vector.   
     
     
         12 . A cooling fan module as in  claim 11  wherein said second set of one or more blowers is disposed proximate to said enclosure air inlet.