Adhesive layered backflow preventer
An adhesive layered backflow preventer laminate, for use in impeding airflow from flowing in a backflow direction through the backflow preventer and a corresponding cooling fan, includes a thin front support layer adhered to a thin backflow flap layer, having a plurality of backflow flaps, which is adhered to a thin rear support layer. Each of the structural layers is adhered to the adjacent structural layer using a respective double-sided adhesive layer, by way of a manufacturing process that avoids the use of costly injection molded parts and machined plastic parts and metal components such as springs and hinges.
1. A layered backflow preventer assembly comprising:
a front support layer having a proximal side and a distal side;
a first adhesive layer adhered to the distal side of the front support layer;
a backflow flap layer adhered to a distal side of the first adhesive layer and comprising one or more backflow flaps hinged to rotate in a proximal direction in a normal state;
a second adhesive layer adhered to a distal side of the backflow flap layer;
a rear support layer adhered to a distal side of the second adhesive layer; and
a third adhesive layer adhered to a distal side of the rear support layer;
wherein the front support layer and the first adhesive layer are shaped with a substantially same profile, each including one or more through-holes configured to permit proximal rotation of the backflow flaps through the through-holes of the front support layer and the first adhesive layer.
2. The backflow preventer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more backflow flaps are hinged to rotate in only the proximal direction in a normal state.
3. The backflow preventer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more backflow flaps are constrained from rotating in a distal direction.
4. The backflow preventer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear support layer comprises means for permitting airflow through the rear support layer while constraining rotation in a distal direction of the one or more backflow flaps.
5. The backflow preventer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer assembly is devoid of injection molded parts and machined plastic parts.
6. The backflow preventer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the backflow preventer assembly is devoid of metal parts.
7. The backflow preventer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more backflow flaps are positioned adjacently in pairs and circumferentially about a central support hub and are configured for hingedly rotating in a circumferential direction in a normal state of airflow.
8. The backflow preventer assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more backflow flaps are positioned adjacently and circumferentially about a central support hub, and are configured for hingedly rotating in a radial direction in a normal state of airflow.
9. A data storage system comprising:
a system enclosure; and
a backflow preventer laminate enclosed within the system enclosure and configured to prevent backflow air currents within the system enclosure, the backflow preventer laminate comprising:
a front support layer having a proximal side and a distal side,
a first adhesive layer adhered to the distal side of the front support layer,
a backflow flap layer adhered to a distal side of the first adhesive layer and comprising one or more backflow flaps hinged to rotate in a proximal direction in a normal state,
a second adhesive layer adhered to a distal side of the backflow flap layer,
a rear support layer adhered to a distal side of the second adhesive layer, and
a third adhesive layer adhered to a distal side of the rear support layer;
wherein the front support layer and the first adhesive layer are shaped with a substantially same profile, including one or more through-holes configured to permit proximal rotation of the backflow flaps through the through-holes of the front support layer and the first adhesive layer.
10. The data storage system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a cooling fan enclosed within the system enclosure and comprising a fan housing; and
wherein a distal side of the third adhesive layer of the backflow preventer laminate is further adhered to a proximal side of the fan housing.
11. The data storage system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a plurality of data storage devices enclosed within the system enclosure; and
a cooling fan enclosed within the system enclosure between the plurality of data storage devices and the backflow preventer laminate.
12. The data storage system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a plurality of data storage devices enclosed within the system enclosure;
a plurality of cooling fans enclosed within the system enclosure, each cooling fan comprising a fan housing; and
a plurality of the backflow preventer laminates;
wherein a distal side of the third adhesive layer of each of the plurality of backflow preventer laminates is adhered to a proximal side of a corresponding fan housing of a corresponding cooling fan of the plurality of cooling fans.
13. The data storage system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more backflow flaps of the backflow flap layer of the backflow preventer laminate are hinged to rotate in only the proximal direction in a normal state.
14. The data storage system of claim 9 , wherein each of the backflow flaps is constrained from rotating in a distal direction.
15. The data storage system of claim 9 , wherein the rear support layer of the backflow preventer laminate comprises a plurality of airflow through-holes separated by crossbars in a grate-like configuration to permit airflow through the through-holes of the rear support layer.
16. A method of manufacturing a backflow preventer laminate assembly, the method comprising:
adhering a distal side of a front support part to a proximal side of a backflow flap part with a double-sided first adhesive layer, wherein the backflow flap part comprises one or more backflow flaps hinged to rotate in a proximal direction in a normal state, and the front support part and the first adhesive layer are shaped with a substantially same profile including one or more through-holes configured to permit proximal rotation of the backflow flaps through the through-holes of the front support part and the first adhesive layer; and
adhering a distal side of the backflow flap part to a proximal side of a rear support part with a double-sided second adhesive layer.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
adhering a distal side of the rear support part to a proximal side of a cooling fan housing with a double-sided third adhesive layer.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein adhering with the third adhesive layer includes aligning airflow through-holes of the rear support part with one or more through-holes of the third adhesive layer to allow airflow through the through-holes of the rear support part.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein adhering with the first adhesive layer includes aligning the one or more through-holes of the front support part, the corresponding one or more through-holes of the first adhesive layer, and the corresponding backflow flaps to permit rotation of the aligned backflow flaps through the aligned through-holes of the front support part and the first adhesive layer.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the front support part, the backflow flap part, and the rear support part are composed of a plastic material.