Ducted exhaust equipment enclosure

Abstract

An electronic equipment enclosure includes a frame structure at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels defining a compartment in which one or more electronic components are mounted and an exhaust air duct that is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the compartment from cool air entering the compartment, thereby improving thermal management of the enclosure. The exhaust duct includes a lower duct section extending upward from the top panel of the compartment and an upper duct section telescoping upward from an upper end of the lower duct section. Each duct section includes four panels connected together by hinged corner fittings such that the section is collapsible. The upper duct section includes an outwardly flared portion.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An exhaust duct, for an electronic equipment enclosure having a frame structure at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels, comprising:
 (a) at least one duct section having four side panels connected together along side edges thereof, the duct section being adapted to extend upward from a top panel of the enclosure; and   (b) a seal arranged at an upper edge of the at least one duct section to limit air escaping from between an upper end of the at least one duct section and a ceiling structure;   (c) wherein the at least one duct section is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the enclosure from cool air entering the enclosure, thereby improving thermal management thereof.   
     
     
         23 . The exhaust duct of  claim 22 , wherein the seal is at least partially flexible so as to permit abutment against an uneven surface of the ceiling structure. 
     
     
         24 . The exhaust duct of  claim 22 , wherein the seal includes two fingers that jointly define a channel for accommodating the upper edge of the at least one duct section. 
     
     
         25 . The exhaust duct of  claim 24 , wherein one of the fingers has a hooked end to engage one or more tabs on the at least one duct section. 
     
     
         26 . The exhaust duct of  claim 22 , wherein the upper edge of the at least one duct section is flared outward. 
     
     
         27 . The exhaust duct of  claim 22 , wherein the four side panels are connected together by four corner fittings, each corner fitting extending substantially along the length of each of a side edge of a respective panel and a side edge of a respective adjacent panel. 
     
     
         28 . The exhaust duct of  claim 27 , wherein each corner fitting includes a hinge, thereby facilitating the collapse of the at least one duct section from a use state to a flattened state. 
     
     
         29 . The exhaust duct of  claim 28 , wherein a corner lock is coupled to one of the corner fittings and adapted to maintain the at least one duct section in the use state. 
     
     
         30 . The exhaust duct of  claim 29 , wherein each corner lock includes a main body, a lock plate, and a lock screw. 
     
     
         31 . The exhaust duct of  claim 27 , wherein each corner fitting includes a pair of fingers defining a panel channel in which a side edge of a side panel is inserted and retained. 
     
     
         32 . The exhaust duct of  claim 31 , wherein each side panel includes a plurality of raised structures near the side edges, and wherein the structures are engaged within the panel channel. 
     
     
         33 . An electronic equipment enclosure for mounting one or more electronic components, comprising:
 (a) a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels, the panels including at least side, top and back panels defining a compartment in which the one or more electronic components are mounted, wherein:
 (i) the compartment has a top, a bottom and a rear, and 
 (ii) the top panel includes an opening therethrough that is rectangular in shape; and 
   (b) an exhaust duct extending upward from the top panel of the compartment and disposed in surrounding relation to, and in fluid communication with, the top panel opening;   (c) wherein the exhaust duct is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the compartment from cool air entering the compartment, thereby improving thermal management; and   (d) wherein the exhaust duct includes a seal arranged at an upper edge thereof to limit air escaping from between an upper end of the exhaust duct and a ceiling structure.   
     
     
         34 . The exhaust duct of  claim 33 , wherein the seal is at least partially flexible so as to permit abutment against an uneven surface of the ceiling structure. 
     
     
         35 . The exhaust duct of  claim 33 , wherein the seal includes two fingers that jointly define a channel for accommodating the upper edge of the exhaust duct. 
     
     
         36 . The exhaust duct of  claim 35 , wherein one of the fingers has a hooked end to engage one or more tabs on the exhaust duct. 
     
     
         37 . The exhaust duct of  claim 33 , wherein the upper edge of the exhaust duct is flared outward. 
     
     
         38 . The exhaust duct of  claim 33 , wherein the exhaust duct is comprised of four side panels connected together by four corner fittings, each corner fitting extending substantially along the length of each of a side edge of a respective panel and a side edge of a respective adjacent panel. 
     
     
         39 . The exhaust duct of  claim 38 , wherein the corner fittings include hinges, thereby facilitating the collapse of the exhaust duct from a use state to a flattened state. 
     
     
         40 . The exhaust duct of  claim 39 , wherein a corner lock is coupled to one of the corner fittings and adapted to maintain the exhaust duct in the use state. 
     
     
         41 . The exhaust duct of  claim 33 , wherein the exhaust duct is rectangular in cross-section.