Fire resistant and water resistant enclosure for operable computer digital data storage device
View Patent ↗A fire resistant and water resistant enclosure for an operable computer digital data storage device is provided. The enclosure has walls made of gypsum or concrete and, in one embodiment, has two small ventilation openings which remain open during normal operation of the digital data storage device and during the presence of fire. This embodiment has no moving parts. In the presence of fire, air and superheated steam from inside the enclosure expand and flow outwardly through the ventilation passageways. As those gases flow outwardly, they simultaneously block or prevent the transfer of heat from the exterior fire inwardly through those passageways. A water resistant pouch or coating surrounding the storage device prevents damage from flood, water, steam generated by the insulation or smoke from passing through said passageways and damaging the storage device. Another embodiment is provided utilizing one or more movable hatches which, in the presence of fire, cannot completely close, allowing superheated steam to escape from the enclosure yet during normal operation allow for better ventilation and cooling. A method is also provided for protecting the data storage device wherein the walls of the enclosure are supersaturated with water. The walls are coated with a vapor barrier such as plastic skin, plastic container or wax to prevent evaporation of water. In the presence of fire, the vapor barrier melts and the excess water stored in the walls absorbs latent heat of vaporization and extends the amount of time over which the enclosure is able to protect the storage device from damage.
1. Apparatus for protecting an operable computer digital data storage device from damage or loss of data caused by fire and/or water, comprising:
an operable digital data storage device,
a fire resistant enclosure for said operable digital data storage device,
said enclosure being made of water based fire resistant insulation such as gypsum or concrete,
one or more small ventilation openings which never completely close and seal the said enclosure, said openings being of a relatively small size, approximately 1% or less of said enclosure's exterior surface area, to allow for sufficient cooling during normal operation but allow heated air and steam from inside said enclosure to escape and simultaneously prevent the transfer of heat inwardly therethrough during a fire,
and a water resistant pouch or coating enclosing said digital data storage device contained in said enclosure.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a device used to force airflow, such as a fan, as a means for actively driving ambient air through said opening in said enclosure to cool said data storage device during normal operation.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the said relatively small openings and said data storage device (under 10 watts) are sized to provide sufficient cooling from the free convection of airflow yet allow for proper escape (1% or less than the total enclosure exterior surface area) for the steam and blockage from damaging heat during a fire.
4. Apparatus for protecting an operable computer digital data storage device from damage or loss of data caused by fire and water, comprising:
an operable digital data storage device,
a fire resistant enclosure for said operable digital data storage device,
said enclosure being made of water based fire resistant insulation such as gypsum or concrete,
a movable fire resistant hatch positioned adjacent said opening which is never allowed to completely close, said hatch of relatively large size (2% or more of total enclosure exterior surface area) and movable between an open position wherein a relatively high amount of ambient air may pass through said opening, and a partially closed position (closing to 1% or less than the total enclosure external surface area) wherein superheated steam inside said enclosure may escape through said opening,
hatch closure means for moving said hatch from its open to its partially closed position in the presence of fire, and
a water resistant pouch or coating enclosing said digital data storage device contained in said enclosure.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein a device used to force airflow, such as a fan, as a means for actively driving ambient air through said opening in said enclosure to cool said data storage device during normal operation.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the said relatively large openings and said higher powered data storage device (over 20 watts) is sized to provide sufficient cooling from the free convection of airflow during normal operation yet partially close during a fire to allow for proper escape (1% or less than the total enclosure exterior surface area) for the super heated steam and blockage from damaging exterior heat.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said opening is partially closed with a hatch closure that consists of a thermo-sensitive tube that partially closes the ventilation opening upon sensing a fire.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said hatch closure means includes a stop which prevents said hatch from completely sealing said opening.