Resilient deformable air valve

Abstract

An air valve may include a sheet on a panel that serves as a portion of one wall of an air-cooled enclosure. The panel has a first aperture, having a first radius. The sheet may be deformable and resilient, and have a conductive film on one surface and a second aperture. A plurality of leaves lie in a plane parallel to the panel and extend inwardly a particular distance from a perimeter define the second aperture. The perimeter has a second radius equal to the first radius. The particular distance is less than the second radius. The leaves may deform in response to air flow. The second aperture has a first diameter and first depth in an un-deformed state, and a second diameter and second depth in a deformed state. The second diameter and second depth are greater than the first diameter and first depth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air valve for an air-cooled enclosure for an apparatus that generates heat and electromagnetic radiation, the enclosure having a plurality of walls, comprising:
 a panel to serve as at least a portion of one wall of the enclosure, the panel having at least one substantially circular first aperture, the first aperture having a first radius;   a sheet on the panel, the sheet being deformable and resilient, and having a conductive film on one surface;   the sheet having a second aperture, the second aperture being defined by a plurality of leaves extending inwardly a particular distance from a substantially circular perimeter, the perimeter having a second radius substantially equal to the first radius, the particular distance being less than the second radius;   wherein the leaves lie in a plane parallel to the panel and the second aperture has a first diameter and a first depth in an un-deformed state; and   wherein the leaves deform in response to air flow, flexing out of the plane, the second aperture having a second diameter and a second depth in a deformed state, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter and the second depth being greater than the first depth.   
     
     
         2 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein the second depth is approximately fifty percent of the second diameter of the second aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first diameter is approximately one percent of the second radius of the perimeter. 
     
     
         4 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first diameter is approximately ten percent of the second radius of the perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein the second diameter of the second aperture is approximately sixty percent of the second radius of the perimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of leaves includes a base end at the perimeter and an opposite, inner end, the inner end being axially deformable. 
     
     
         7 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of leaves includes a base end at the perimeter and an opposite, inner end, the inner end being narrower than the base end, and wherein the plurality of leaves define a corresponding plurality of openings between the leaves. 
     
     
         8 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         9 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet has a thickness of approximately 0.2 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive film is aluminum. 
     
     
         11 . The air valve of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive film is nickel. 
     
     
         12 . An air valve for an air-cooled enclosure for an apparatus that generates heat and electromagnetic radiation, the enclosure having a plurality of walls, comprising:
 a panel to serve as at least a portion of one wall of the enclosure, the panel having at least one substantially circular first aperture, the first aperture having a first radius;   first and second sheets on the panel, the first sheet overlying the second sheet, the first and second sheets each being deformable and resilient, and each having a conductive film on one surface;   the first sheet having a second aperture, the second aperture being defined by a plurality of first leaves extending inwardly a first distance from a substantially circular first perimeter, the first perimeter having a second radius substantially equal to the first radius, the first distance being less than the second radius;   the second sheet having a third aperture, the third aperture being defined by a plurality of second leaves extending inwardly by the second distance from a substantially circular second perimeter, the second perimeter having a third radius substantially equal to the second radius, the second distance being less than the second radius;   wherein the first leaves and second leaves lie in a plane parallel to the panel and the second and third apertures have a first diameter and a first depth in an un-deformed state; and   wherein the first leaves and second leaves deform in response to air flow, flexing out of the plane, the second and third apertures having a second diameter and a second depth in a deformed state, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter and the second depth being greater than the first depth; and   wherein the first leaves are circumferentially offset from the second leaves.   
     
     
         13 . The air valve of  claim 12 , wherein the second depth is approximately fifty percent of the second diameter of the second aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The air valve of  claim 12 , wherein the first diameter is approximately one percent of the second radius of the perimeter. 
     
     
         15 . The air valve of  claim 12 , wherein the first diameter is approximately ten percent of the second radius of the perimeter. 
     
     
         16 . The air valve of  claim 12 , wherein the second diameter of the second aperture is approximately sixty percent of the second radius of the perimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The air valve of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second leaves includes a base end at the perimeter and an opposite, inner end, the inner end being axially deformable. 
     
     
         18 . The air valve of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second leaves includes a base end at the perimeter and an opposite, inner end, the inner end being narrower than the base end, and wherein the plurality of leaves define a corresponding plurality of openings between the leaves. 
     
     
         19 . The air valve of  claim 12 , wherein the conductive film is biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         20 . The air valve of  claim 12 , wherein the conductive film is nickel.