Flexible service air baffle
A baffle is provided that is usable in an information handling system. The information handling system may have a first compartment at a first elevated pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure and a second compartment at a second elevated pressure that is higher than the ambient pressure. Further, a region adjacent to the first and second compartments and in fluid communication therewith may be operable to receive a removable baffle therein. When the baffle is inserted into the region, it may be operable to maintain the region at a third elevated pressure that is higher than the ambient pressure. However, when not inserted into the region, the baffle may be foldable into a substantially flat shape.
1. An information handling system comprising:
a first compartment at a first elevated pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure;
a second compartment at a second elevated pressure that is higher than the ambient pressure; and
a region adjacent to the first and second compartments and in fluid communication therewith, wherein the region is operable to receive a removable baffle therein;
wherein the baffle, when inserted into the region, is shaped as a rectangular prism with a first open end disposed at the first compartment and a second open end at the second compartment, such that the first compartment is in fluid communication with the second compartment via an interior of the baffle, and such that the baffle is operable to maintain the region at a third elevated pressure that is higher than the ambient pressure;
wherein the baffle, when not inserted into the region, is foldable into a substantially flat shape; and
wherein the baffle includes first and second tabs disposed respectively at the first and second open ends thereof, wherein the first and second tabs are foldable, such that when the baffle is shaped as a rectangular prism, the first and second tabs are folded inward into the rectangular prism and provide structural rigidity to the baffle to maintain the baffle in the rectangular prism shape, and such that when the baffle is folded into the substantially flat shape, the first and second tabs are substantially coplanar with the substantially flat shape.
2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein:
when the baffle is not inserted into the region, an escape of gas through the region is configured to decrease the first elevated pressure of the first compartment and the second elevated pressure of the second compartment.
3. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein:
when the baffle is not inserted into the region, the region is operable to receive an information handling resource.
4. The information handling system of claim 3 , wherein the baffle is usable to maintain the first and second elevated pressures during maintenance of the information handling resource.
5. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second elevated pressures are based on air movers disposed in the first and second compartments.
6. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second compartments further contain respective information handling resources.
7. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the first elevated pressure and the second elevated pressure are equal.
8. A baffle comprising:
a plurality of airflow-directing surfaces;
wherein the baffle, when inserted into a region of an information handling system that is adjacent to first and second compartments of the information handling system and in fluid communication therewith, is shaped as a rectangular prism with a first open end disposed at the first compartment and a second open end disposed at the second compartment, such that the first compartment is in fluid communication with the second compartment via an interior of the baffle, and the baffle is operable to maintain the first and second compartments at at least one elevated pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure;
wherein the baffle, when not inserted into the region of the information handling system, is foldable into a substantially flat shape; and
wherein the baffle includes first and second tabs disposed respectively at the first and second open ends thereof, wherein the first and second tabs are foldable, such that when the baffle is shaped as a rectangular prism, the first and second tabs are folded inward into the rectangular prism and provide structural rigidity to the baffle to maintain the baffle in the rectangular prism shape, and such that when the baffle is folded into the substantially flat shape, the first and second tabs are substantially coplanar with the substantially flat shape.
9. The baffle of claim 8 , further comprising one or more locating features configured to engage with one or more components of the information handling system to mechanically maintain a location of the baffle within the region.
10. The baffle of claim 8 , further comprising a handle to facilitate insertion or removal of the baffle into the region.
11. The baffle of claim 8 , wherein the baffle is formed from a single piece of material.
12. The baffle of claim 11 , further comprising a seam along which two portions of the single piece of material are joined together.
13. The baffle of claim 8 , wherein the baffle is made of a plastic material.
14. The baffle of claim 8 , wherein when the baffle is not inserted into the region, the region is operable to receive an information handling resource.
15. The baffle of claim 14 , wherein the information handling resource is another information handling system.
16. A method for forming a baffle for directing an airflow in an information handling system, the method comprising:
forming a baffle having a plurality of airflow-directing surfaces from a baffle material; and
shaping and sizing the baffle such that:
when inserted into a region of an information handling system that is adjacent to first and second compartments of the information handling system and in fluid communication therewith, the baffle is shaped as a rectangular prism with a first open end disposed at the first compartment and a second open end disposed at the second compartment, such that the first compartment is in fluid communication with the second compartment via an interior of the baffle, and the baffle is operable to maintain the first and second compartments at at least one elevated pressure that is higher than an ambient pressure;
when not inserted into the region of the information handling system, the baffle is foldable into a substantially flat shape; and
wherein the baffle includes first and second tabs disposed respectively at the first and second open ends thereof, wherein the first and second tabs are foldable, such that when the baffle is shaped as a rectangular prism, the first and second tabs are folded inward into the rectangular prism and provide structural rigidity to the baffle to maintain the baffle in the rectangular prism shape, and such that when the baffle is folded into the substantially flat shape, the first and second tabs are substantially coplanar with the substantially flat shape.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the baffle is formed from a single piece of material.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising joining a first portion of the single piece of material to a second portion of the single piece of material to form a seam of the baffle.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising forming a locating feature of the baffle, the locating feature being configured to engage with one or more components of the information handling system to mechanically maintain a location of the baffle within the region.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the baffle material is a plastic material.