Outdoor electronic equipment enclosures and related methods

Abstract

An electronic equipment enclosure for outdoor deployment includes a housing defining an interior and having an intake port, an exhaust port, an airflow path extending from the intake port to the exhaust port, and an equipment bay for receiving the electronic equipment. The equipment bay is positioned in the airflow path. The equipment enclosure further includes an intake fan for creating positive pressure within the interior of the housing and a pressure-activated damper having an open position for allowing air to exit the enclosure through the exhaust port in response to positive pressure within the interior of the housing and a closed position for preventing external air and/or water from entering the enclosure through the exhaust port when the intake fan is not operating. Other example equipment enclosures and methods are also disclosed.

1 . An outdoor electronic equipment enclosure, comprising:
 a housing defining an interior and having an intake port, an exhaust port, an airflow path extending from the intake port to the exhaust port, and an equipment bay for receiving electronic equipment, the equipment bay positioned in the airflow path between the intake port and the exhaust port;   an intake fan for creating positive pressure within the interior of the housing when the intake fan is operating; and   a pressure-activated damper having an open position for allowing air to exit the enclosure through the exhaust port in response to positive pressure within the interior of the housing and a closed position for preventing external air and/or water from entering the enclosure through the exhaust port when the intake fan is not operating.   
     
     
         2 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 1  further comprising a filter positioned in the airflow path between the intake port and the equipment bay. 
     
     
         3 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 2  wherein the filter is a hydrophobic filter. 
     
     
         4 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 3  wherein there is no exhaust fan associated with the exhaust port. 
     
     
         5 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 4  wherein there is no hydrophobic filter associated with the exhaust port. 
     
     
         6 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 3  further comprising a particle filter positioned in the airflow path upstream of the hydrophobic filter. 
     
     
         7 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 3  wherein the housing includes a door having an opening extending therethrough, wherein the airflow path extends through the door opening and wherein the intake fan is mounted to the door over the door opening. 
     
     
         8 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 3  further comprising a controller configured to selectively operate the intake fan to maintain a defined temperature within the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 8  wherein the defined temperature is a function of an ambient air temperature on an external side of the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 8  wherein the defined temperature is a fixed temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 3  wherein the equipment enclosure is deployed in an outdoor environment and includes at least one item of outside plant equipment positioned in the equipment bay. 
     
     
         12 . The equipment enclosure of  claim 3  further comprising a heater. 
     
     
         13 - 23 . (canceled)