Patent Application
20120147551
1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates to server cabinets and more particularly to a server cabinet facilitating heat dissipation.
2. Description of Related Art
Nowadays, many server systems are used for data storage and data operation. A server system generally includes a server cabinet, and a number of standard servers stacked in the server cabinet, one on top of the other, from the bottom to the top of the server cabinet. The servers generate considerable heat during operation, and may if the heat is not efficiently removed the servers may malfunction or even become damaged.
What is needed, therefore, is a server cabinet for use in a server system which can overcome the limitations described.
Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring to
The server cabinet 10 is a rectangular cuboid, and includes a top plate 11, a bottom plate 12 opposite to and parallel to the top plate 11. As well as the left and right side plates 13 respectively connecting the left and right edges of the top and bottom plates 11, 12, a front side plate 14 is installed at the front sides of the top and bottom plates 11, 12. A rear side plate 15 is installed at the rear sides of the top and bottom plates 11, 12. The top and bottom plates 11, 12, the left and right side plates 13, and the front and rear plates 14, 15 cooperatively define a receiving space 16. In this embodiment, the front side plate 14 and the rear side plate 15 pivotably connect front and rear edges of the left side plate 13, respectively. The front side plate 14 and the rear side plate 15 can rotate relative to the left side plate 14 to open or close the receiving space 16. Alternatively, the front side plate 14 and the rear side plate 15 can both be pivotably connected to the right side 13 or be pivotably connected to the left and right side plates 13, respectively. The top side plate 11 defines an inlet port 170 and an outlet port 190 thereon. The inlet port 170 and the outlet port 190 both communicate with the receiving space 16.
The servers 20 are received in the receiving space 16 of the server cabinet 10 and stacked one on top of the other. Each of the servers 20 has left and right sides respectively engaging with the left and right side plates 13 of the server cabinet 10, a front side spaced from the front side plate 14, and a rear side spaced from the rear side plate 15. Therefore, the servers 20 divide the receiving space 16 into a vertical first channel 181 and a vertical second channel 182. The first channel 181 is defined between the front sides of the servers 20 and the front side plate 14 and is aligned with the inlet port 170, and the second channel 182 is defined between the rear sides of the servers 20 and the rear side plate 15 and aligned with the outlet port 190. Each server 20 defines a plurality of through holes 200 respectively in the front and rear sides thereof. A plurality of fans 202 for generating air flow is installed in each server 20. The through holes 200 of each server 20 horizontally communicate with the first channel 181 and the second channel 182.
The server cabinet 10 includes an inlet connector 172 at a front side of the top plate 11 and an outer connector 192 at a rear side of the top plate 11. In this embodiment, the inlet connector 172 extends up from the top plate 11 at a periphery of the inlet port 170, and communicates with the first channel 181 of the server cabinet 10 via the inlet port 170. The outlet connector 192 extends up from the top plate 11 at a periphery of the outlet port 190, and communicates with the second channel 182 of the server cabinet 10 via the outlet port 190. The inlet connector 172 is adapted for guiding air of the airflow generating device 40 into the server cabinet 10 to exchange heat with the servers 20, and the outlet connector 192 is adapted for guiding the heated air out of the server cabinet. Two ducts 30 can be provided to connect the inlet connector 172 and the outlet connector 192 of the server cabinet 10 to the airflow generating device 40 when the airflow generating device 40 is remotely located.
In use, cold (or cooler) air generated by the airflow generating device 40 blows downwards from the inlet port 170 into the first channel 181 of the server cabinet 10. The fans 202 of each server 20 draw the cold air through the through holes 200 in the front sides of the servers 20 and expel hot air to the second channel 182 of the servers 20 via the through holes 200 in the rear sides of the servers 20, to dissipate heat from the servers 20. The hot air in the second channel 182 then flows upward and out from the outlet port 190 and is drawn by the airflow generating device 40 via the outlet connector 192 and the duct 30. The airflow generating device 40 draws the hot air and generates cold air and allows the cold air to circulate in the server cabinet.
Since air flows in the airflow generating device 40, the server cabinet 10 and the servers 20 flows in a substantially hermetic system, much more air can directly flow through to the servers 20 and dissipate more heat generated by the servers 20 from the server cabinet 10. This improves a heat dissipation efficiency of the server system 100.
It is believed that the disclosure and its advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99142792 | Dec 2010 | TW | national |
