Systems and methods for redirection of airflow in an information handling system after an air mover fault
A vane assembly may be configured to mechanically couple to a first air mover and a second air mover, and the vane assembly may include a first set of one or more vanes configured to be proximate to the first air mover when the vane assembly is mechanically coupled to the first air mover and the second air mover and a second set of one or more vanes configured to be proximate to the second air mover when the vane assembly is mechanically coupled to the first air mover and the second air mover. The first set of one or more vanes and the second set of one or more vanes may be configured to be arranged relative to the first air mover and the second air mover such that when the first air mover and the second air mover are operational, the first set of one or more vanes and the second set of one or more vanes each assume a respective first position allowing air to flow from the first air mover and the second air mover and when the first air mover is failed and the second air mover is operational the first set of one or more vanes assumes a second position to prevent recirculation of air through the first air mover and at least one of the second set of one or more vanes assumes a third position to redirect air flow of the second air mover to compensate for failure of the first air mover.
1. A system comprising:
a first air mover;
a second air mover; and
a vane assembly mechanically coupled to the first air mover and the second air mover, the vane assembly comprising:
a first set of one or more vanes proximate to the first air mover; and
a second set of one or more vanes proximate to the second air mover;
wherein the first set of one or more vanes and the second set of one or more vanes are arranged relative to the first air mover and the second air mover such that:
when the first air mover and the second air mover are operational, the first set of one or more vanes and the second set of one or more vanes each assume a respective first position allowing air to flow from the first air mover and the second air mover; and
when the first air mover is failed and the second air mover is operational:
the first set of one or more vanes assumes a second position to prevent recirculation of air through the first air mover; and
at least one of the second set of one or more vanes assumes a third position to redirect air flow of the second air mover to compensate for failure of the first air mover.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first air mover and the second air mover each comprise a fan.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first air mover and the second air mover each comprise a blower.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vane assembly further comprises:
a bulkhead having a first bulkhead opening proximate to the first air mover through which air driven by the first air mover flows and a second bulkhead opening proximate to the second air mover through which air driven by the second air mover flows; and
a rocker rotatably coupled to the bulkhead about a first axis, the rocker comprising:
a first wing proximate to the first bulkhead opening, wherein the first set of one or more vanes is rotatably coupled to the first wing about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis and at an end of the first wing opposite the first axis; and
a second wing proximate to the second bulkhead opening, wherein the second set of one or more vanes is rotatably coupled to the second wing about a third axis substantially parallel to the first axis and at an end of the second wing opposite the first axis.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein when the first air mover is failed and the second air mover is operational, the first set of one or more vanes is configured to cover the first bulkhead opening to prevent recirculation of air through the first air mover.
6. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the first set of one or more vanes is mechanically coupled to the first wing at a first axis and in a manner configured to bias the first set of one or more vanes to cover the first bulkhead opening when the first air mover is failed; and
the second set of one or more vanes is mechanically coupled to the second wing at a second axis and in a manner configured to bias the second set of one or more vanes to cover the second bulkhead opening when the second air mover is failed.
7. The system of claim 4 , wherein:
the first set of one or more vanes is mechanically coupled to the first wing by at least one mechanical stop that limits rotation of the first set of one or more vanes relative to the first wing; and
the second set of one or more vanes is mechanically coupled to the second wing by at least one mechanical stop that limits rotation of the second set of vanes relative to the second wing.
8. A vane assembly configured to mechanically couple to a first air mover and a second air mover, the vane assembly comprising:
a first set of one or more vanes configured to be proximate to the first air mover when the vane assembly is mechanically coupled to the first air mover and the second air mover; and
a second set of one or more vanes configured to be proximate to the second air mover when the vane assembly is mechanically coupled to the first air mover and the second air mover;
wherein the first set of one or more vanes and the second set of one or more vanes are configured to be arranged relative to the first air mover and the second air mover such that:
when the first air mover and the second air mover are operational, the first set of one or more vanes and the second set of one or more vanes each assume a respective first position allowing air to flow from the first air mover and the second air mover; and
when the first air mover is failed and the second air mover is operational:
the first set of one or more vanes assumes a second position to prevent recirculation of air through the first air mover; and
at least one of the second set of one or more vanes assumes a third position to redirect air flow of the second air mover to compensate for failure of the first air mover.
9. The vane assembly of claim 8 , wherein the vane assembly further comprises:
a bulkhead having a first bulkhead opening proximate to the first air mover through which air driven by the first air mover flows and a second bulkhead opening proximate to the second air mover through which air driven by the second air mover flows; and
a rocker rotatably coupled to the bulkhead about a first axis, the rocker comprising:
a first wing proximate to the first bulkhead opening, wherein the first set of one or more vanes is rotatably coupled to the first wing about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis and at an end of the first wing opposite the first axis; and
a second wing proximate to the second bulkhead opening, wherein the second set of one or more vanes is rotatably coupled to the second wing about a third axis substantially parallel to the first axis and at an end of the second wing opposite the first axis.
10. The vane assembly of claim 9 , wherein when the first air mover is failed and the second air mover is operational, the first set of one or more vanes is configured to cover the first bulkhead opening to prevent recirculation of air through the first air mover.
11. The vane assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first set of one or more vanes is mechanically coupled to the first wing at a first axis and in a manner configured to bias the first set of one or more vanes to cover the first bulkhead opening when the first air mover is failed; and
the second set of one or more vanes is mechanically coupled to the second wing at a second axis and in a manner configured to bias the second set of one or more vanes to cover the second bulkhead opening when the second air mover is failed.
12. The vane assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the first set of one or more vanes is mechanically coupled to the first wing by at least one mechanical stop that limits rotation of the first set of one or more vanes relative to the first wing; and
the second set of one or more vanes is mechanically coupled to the second wing by at least one mechanical stop that limits rotation of the second set of one or more vanes relative to the second wing.
13. A method comprising:
mechanically coupling, to a vane assembly configured to mechanically couple to a first air mover and a second air mover, a first set of one or more vanes configured to be proximate to the first air mover when the vane assembly is mechanically coupled to the first air mover and the second air mover;
mechanically coupling, to the vane assembly, a second set of one or more vanes configured to be proximate to the second air mover when the vane assembly is mechanically coupled to the first air mover and the second air mover; and
arranging the first set of one or more vanes and the second set of one or more vanes such that:
when the first air mover and the second air mover are operational, the first set of one or more vanes and the second set of one or more vanes each assume a respective first position allowing air to flow from the first air mover and the second air mover; and
when the first air mover is failed and the second air mover is operational:
the first set of one or more vanes assumes a second position to prevent recirculation of air through the first air mover; and
at least one of the second set of one or more vanes assumes a third position to redirect air flow of the second air mover to compensate for failure of the first air mover.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
rotatably coupling about a first axis a rocker to a bulkhead having a first bulkhead opening proximate to the first air mover through which air driven by the first air mover flows and a second bulkhead opening proximate to the second air mover through which air driven by the second air mover flows, wherein the rocker comprises:
a first wing proximate to the first bulkhead opening, wherein the first set of one or more vanes is rotatably coupled to the first wing about a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis and at an end of the first wing opposite the first axis; and
a second wing proximate to the second bulkhead opening, wherein the second set of one or more vanes is rotatably coupled to the second wing about a third axis substantially parallel to the first axis and at an end of the second wing opposite the first axis.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising coupling the first set of one or more vanes to the rocker such that when the first air mover is failed and the second air mover is operational, the first set of one or more vanes is configured to cover the first bulkhead opening to prevent recirculation of air through the first air mover.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
mechanically coupling the first set of one or more vanes to the first wing at a first axis and in a manner configured to bias the first set of one or more vanes to cover the first bulkhead opening when the first air mover is failed; and
mechanically coupling the second set of one or more vanes to the second wing at a second axis and in a manner configured to bias the second set of one or more vanes to cover the second bulkhead opening when the second air mover is failed.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
mechanically coupling the first set of one or more vanes to the first wing by at least one mechanical stop that limits rotation of the first set of one or more vanes relative to the first wing; and
mechanically coupling the second set of vanes to the second wing by at least one mechanical stop that limits rotation of the second set of one or more vanes relative to the second wing.
18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising mechanically coupling the vane assembly to the first air mover and the second air mover.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first air mover and the second air mover each comprise a fan.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first air mover and the second air mover each comprise a blower.