IP Library Granted Patent US 11,261,872
Granted Patent B2
US 11,261,872 · App. 16/843,149 · Granted Mar 1, 2022

Modular fan unit systems and assemblies

Inventor: Richard John Smailes (Pickering, GB)
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
F04D25/166F04D29/403F04D29/646F04D29/703
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,261,872
App. No.
16/843,149
Filed
Apr 8, 2020
Granted
Mar 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3745
USPC
415/151
Abstract

The present disclosure describes modular fan unit systems and assemblies. A modular fan unit system assembly may include a mounting structure; and a modular fan unit system. The system may include a plurality of modular fan units, each modular fan unit having an outer housing surrounding an internal fan, the modular fan units being configured to be individually separated from the system; a filter housing unit having a plurality of filter compartments, each filter compartment configured to hold an individual air filter, wherein each modular fan unit is mounted and secured to a back side of the filter housing unit such that each modular fan unit aligns with a respective filter compartment; a plurality of louvre units, each louvre unit removably mounted to a front side of the filter housing unit such that each louvre unit aligns with a respective filter compartment; and a controller communicatively coupled with each of the modular fan units, wherein the modular fan unit system is mounted to the mounting structure.

Claims (48)

1. A modular fan unit system, the system comprising:

a plurality of modular fan units, each modular fan unit having an outer housing that defines a cavity surrounding an internal fan, the modular fan units being configured to be individually separated from the system, wherein each modular fan unit comprises one or more vents positioned on opposing side walls of the outer housing configured to direct air flow from the internal fan;

a filter housing unit having a plurality of filter compartments, each filter compartment configured to hold an individual air filter, wherein each modular fan unit is mounted and secured to a back side of the filter housing unit such that each modular fan unit aligns with a respective filter compartment;

a plurality of louvre units, each louvre unit removably mounted to a front side of the filter housing unit such that each louvre unit aligns with a respective filter compartment; and

a controller communicatively coupled with each of the modular fan units.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to be mounted to a mounting structure.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the mounting structure is a telecommunications cabinet door.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more vents are configured to evenly distribute airflow within the mounting structure from both sides of the modular fan units.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the system is configured to remove about 10 kW to about 20 kW of heat from the mounting structure.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the alignment of the modular fan units, the filter compartments, and the louvre units creates air pathways configured to efficiently distribute airflow within the mounting structure.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the filter housing unit is secured to the mounting structure by a pair of attachment cleats, thereby securing the system to the mounting structure.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein each attachment cleat is configured to interlock with the filter housing unit such that the attachment cleats apply a clamping force to the mounting structure to secure the system to the mounting structure.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein each modular fan unit has rotational symmetry 180° about a rotational axis of the internal fan.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein each modular fan unit is configured to be stacked on top of another modular fan unit.

11. A modular fan unit system assembly, the assembly comprising:

a mounting structure; and

a modular fan unit system, the system comprising:

a plurality of modular fan units, each modular fan unit having an outer housing surrounding an internal fan, the modular fan units being configured to be individually separated from the system;

a filter housing unit having a plurality of filter compartments, each filter compartment configured to hold an individual air filter, wherein each modular fan unit is mounted and secured to a back side of the filter housing unit such that each modular fan unit aligns with a respective filter compartment;

a plurality of louvre units, each louvre unit removably mounted to a front side of the filter housing unit such that each louvre unit aligns with a respective filter compartment; and

a controller communicatively coupled with each of the modular fan units,

wherein the modular fan unit system is mounted to the mounting structure by a pair of attachment cleats, each attachment cleat being configured to interlock with the filter housing unit such that the attachment cleats apply a clamping force to the mounting structure, thereby securing the modular fan unit system to the mounting structure.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein each attachment cleat interlocks with the filter housing unit through a plurality of slots in the filter housing unit.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein each of the attachment cleats comprises a valley configured to receive one or more bolts such that tightening or loosening of the one or more bolts corresponds to the amount of clamping force applied to the mounting structure.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the mounting structure is a telecommunications cabinet door.

15. A modular fan unit system assembly, the assembly comprising:

a mounting structure; and

a modular fan unit system, the system comprising:

a plurality of modular fan units, each modular fan unit having an outer housing that defines a cavity surrounding an internal fan, the modular fan units being configured to be individually separated from the system, wherein each modular fan unit comprises one or more vents positioned on opposing side walls of the outer housing configured to direct air flow from the internal fan;

a filter housing unit having a plurality of filter compartments, each filter compartment configured to hold an individual air filter, wherein each modular fan unit is mounted and secured to a back side of the filter housing unit such that each modular fan unit aligns with a respective filter compartment;

a plurality of louvre units, each louvre unit removably mounted to a front side of the filter housing unit such that each louvre unit aligns with a respective filter compartment; and

a controller communicatively coupled with each of the modular fan units,

wherein the modular fan unit system is mounted to the mounting structure.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the filter housing unit is secured to the mounting structure by a pair of attachment cleats, thereby securing the system to the mounting structure.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein each louvre unit comprises:

at least two internal blade banks, each internal blade bank having a length and a width;

a plurality of blades extending the width of each internal blade bank, the ends of each blade being configured such that each end is received by and secured in a respective slot along the length of the internal blade bank;

an end cap at each end of the width of each internal blade bank; and

an outer housing configured to hold the at least two internal blade banks;

wherein the internal blade banks are layered such that the plurality of blades of the combined internal blade banks are aligned in a chevron pattern creating a labyrinth for air to pass through the louvre unit.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more vents are configured to evenly distribute airflow within the mounting structure from both sides of the modular fan units.

19. A modular fan unit system, the system comprising:

a plurality of modular fan units, each modular fan unit having an outer housing surrounding an internal fan, the modular fan units being configured to be individually separated from the system;

a filter housing unit having a plurality of filter compartments, each filter compartment configured to hold an individual air filter, wherein each modular fan unit is mounted and secured to a back side of the filter housing unit such that each modular fan unit aligns with a respective filter compartment;

a plurality of louvre units, each louvre unit removably mounted to a front side of the filter housing unit such that each louvre unit aligns with a respective filter compartment; and

a controller communicatively coupled with each of the modular fan units,

wherein each louvre unit comprises at least two internal blade banks, each internal blade bank comprising a plurality of blades, and

wherein the at least two internal blade banks are layered such that the plurality of blades of the combined internal blade banks are aligned in a chevron pattern creating a labyrinth for air to pass through the louvre unit.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 058843/0712 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA); COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 074591/0389 →
PARTIAL TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 7, 2025
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 070154/0183 →
PARTIAL TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT REEL 069889/FRAME 0114 Recorded Feb 7, 2025
From: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
To: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 070154/0341 →
RELEASE (REEL 068770 / FRAME 0460) Recorded Feb 7, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 070149/0432 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 058875/0449 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC (F/K/A ARRIS ENTERPRISES, INC.); COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 069743/0057 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 068770/0632 Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 069743/0264 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2024
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE INC., OF NORTH CAROLINA; OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC; RUCKUS IP HOLDINGS LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 069889/0114 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Aug 26, 2024
From: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068770/0460 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM) Recorded Aug 26, 2024
From: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068770/0632 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2024
From: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 068492/0826 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2021
From: ARRIS SOLUTIONS, INC.; ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA; RUCKUS WIRELESS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 060752/0001 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058843/0712 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058875/0449 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2020
From: SMAILES, RICHARD JOHN
To: COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 052355/0792 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62832470 · Apr 11, 2019
Related Publication 20200325905A1 · Oct 15, 2020