Vertical exhaust duct
An electronic equipment enclosure comprises a frame structure formed from a plurality of support posts and at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels. The panels include at least side, top and back panels defining an enclosure having a top, a bottom and a rear thereof. The top panel includes an opening there through that is rectangular in shape. The equipment enclosure further comprises an exhaust air duct extending upward from the top panel of the enclosure. The exhaust air duct is rectangular in cross-section and is disposed in surrounding relation to, and in fluid communication with, the top panel opening. The exhaust air duct is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the enclosure from cool air entering the enclosure, thereby improving thermal management of the enclosure.
1. A vertical exhaust duct for an electronic equipment enclosure, the vertical exhaust duct comprising:
an inner duct section and an outer duct section, at least the outer duct section defining a closed cross-sectional shape;
wherein the inner duct section nests within the outer duct section and telescopes to adjust a vertical height of the vertical exhaust duct;
wherein, for securing the vertical height of the vertical exhaust duct, the outer duct section includes a first aperture disposed at a first side of the closed cross-sectional shape and includes a second aperture disposed at a second side of the closed cross-sectional shape; and
wherein the first and second sides of the outer duct section face one another.
2. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 1 , wherein the vertical exhaust duct is a self-supporting structure whereby the inner and outer duct sections are maintainable in an upright position without the aid of adjoining structures.
3. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 1 , wherein the inner duct section includes an aperture alignable with one of the first and second apertures of the outer duct section.
4. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 3 , further comprising a fastener received through one of the first and second apertures of the outer duct section and received through the aperture of the inner duct section.
5. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 4 , wherein the fastener includes a bolt.
6. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 4 , wherein the fastener includes a spring-loaded pin.
7. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 1 , wherein the inner duct section includes a top flange.
8. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 1 , further comprising a base for securing the outer duct section to the electronic equipment enclosure.
9. A vertical exhaust duct for an electronic equipment enclosure, the vertical exhaust duct comprising:
an inner duct section and an outer duct section,
wherein the inner duct section nests within the outer duct section and telescopes to adjust the height of the vertical exhaust duct,
wherein one of the duct sections includes a column of apertures, the apertures being selectively alignable with at least one aperture of the other of the duct sections so as to accommodate a fastener extending through both duct sections, thereby fixing the vertical height.
10. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 9 , wherein each of the inner duct section and the outer duct section has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
11. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 10 , wherein each of the inner duct section and the outer duct section is comprised of four separate panels.
12. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 10 , wherein the vertical exhaust duct is a self-supporting structure whereby the inner and outer duct sections are maintainable in an upright position without the aid of adjoining structures.
13. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 9 , wherein the inner duct section includes a top flange.
14. The vertical exhaust duct of claim 9 , further comprising a base for securing the outer duct section to the electronic equipment enclosure.
15. A method of adjusting a vertical height of a vertical exhaust duct, comprising:
providing an inner duct section and an outer duct section, wherein the inner duct section is nested within the outer duct section;
telescopically shifting the inner duct section vertically relative to the outer duct section to a selected position such that an aperture of the inner duct section is substantially aligned with an aperture of the outer duct section; and
positioning a fastener to extend through each of the aperture of the outer duct section and the aperture of the inner duct section, thereby fixing the vertical height.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the aperture of the outer duct section is one of a pair of apertures disposed at opposite sides thereof.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the aperture of the outer duct section is one of a plurality of apertures arranged in a vertical column such that the aperture of the inner duct section is selectively alignable with any of the plurality of apertures.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of the inner duct section and the outer duct section has a rectangular cross-sectional shape.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of positioning a fastener includes extending a bolt through each of the aperture of the outer duct section and the aperture of the inner duct section.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of positioning a fastener includes extending a pin portion of a spring-loaded pin through each of the aperture of the outer duct section and the aperture of the inner duct section.