IP Library Granted Patent US 11,754,079
Granted Patent B2
US 11,754,079 · App. 17/578,730 · Granted Sep 12, 2023

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 11,754,079
App. No.
17/578,730
Granted
Sep 12, 2023
Kind
B2
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 (32)

1. A louvre unit for a fan unit system, the louvre unit comprising:

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

an end cap at each end of the width of each internal blade bank,

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 for air to pass through the louvre unit.

2. The louvre unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades comprise aluminum.

3. The louvre unit of claim 1 , wherein each end of each blade is tapered having a pair of notches to be received by and secured in the respective slot along the length of the respective internal blade bank.

4. The louvre unit of claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of each blade is secured in place within the respective internal blade bank by a silicone sealant.

5. The louvre unit of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of hinges.

6. The louvre unit of claim 5 , wherein the pair of hinges is configured to allow the louvre unit to pivot and fully withdraw from a filter housing when mounted thereto.

7. The louvre unit of claim 1 , wherein a pair of the plurality of blades in adjacent internal blade banks are each angled at about 45 degrees to form a 90-degree chevron.

8. The louvre unit of claim 1 , wherein the louvre unit has a rotational symmetry 180 degrees about a rotational axis of the center of the louvre unit.

9. A louvre unit for a fan unit system, the louvre unit comprising:

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, ends of each blade being configured such that each end is received by and secured in a respective slot along the length of a respective internal blade bank, 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 for air to pass through the louvre unit;

an end cap at each end of the width of each internal blade bank,

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

a pair of hinges coupled to the outer housing and configured to allow the louvre unit to pivot and fully withdraw from a filter housing when mounted thereto.

10. The louvre unit of claim 9 , wherein a bottom edge of each blade is secured in place within the respective internal blade bank by a silicone sealant.

11. The louvre unit of claim 9 , wherein each hinge comprises a hook configured to be received by corresponding slots in a filter housing unit.

12. The louvre unit of claim 9 , wherein the louvre unit has a rotational symmetry 180 degrees about a rotational axis of the center of the louvre unit.

13. A method of installing a modular fan unit system for a telecommunications cabinet, the method comprising:

providing a telecommunications cabinet door;

providing a modular fan unit system including a plurality of modular fan units, a filter housing unit having a plurality of filter compartments, and a plurality of louvre units;

resting the filter housing unit within an opening of the telecommunications cabinet door;

securing the filter housing unit to the telecommunications cabinet door, wherein the filter housing unit is secured to the telecommunications cabinet door by a pair of attachment cleats, wherein each attachment cleat is configured to interlock with the filter housing unit such that attachment cleats apply a clamping force to the telecommunications cabinet door;

securing each modular fan unit to flanges on the filter housing unit;

inserting air filters into respective individual filter compartments of the filter housing unit; and

securing each louvre unit to the filter housing unit.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each attachment cleat interlocks with the filter housing unit through a plurality of slots in the filter housing unit.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein each of the attachment cleats comprises a valley extending a length of the attachment cleat, the 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 telecommunications cabinet door.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein each louvre unit is secured to the filter housing unit by a pair of hinges coupled to an outer housing of the louvre unit configured to allow the louvre unit to pivot and fully withdraw from the filter housing unit when mounted thereto.

Assignments (14)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0743 Recorded Jan 12, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074594/0156 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL/FRAME NO. 59710/0506 Recorded Jan 9, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE NORTH CAROLINA, LLC (F/K/A COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA)
Reel/Frame 074282/0522 →
RELEASE (REEL 068770 / FRAME 0460) Recorded Feb 7, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
Reel/Frame 070149/0432 →
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 OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 059350/0921 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 069743/0704 →
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 (TERM) Recorded Aug 26, 2024
From: OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068770/0632 →
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 →
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 Mar 9, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: WILMINGTON TRUST
Reel/Frame 059710/0506 →
ABL SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0743 →
TERM LOAN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 8, 2022
From: ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC; COMMSCOPE TECHNOLOGIES LLC; COMMSCOPE, INC. OF NORTH CAROLINA
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059350/0921 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16843149 · Apr 8, 2020
Provisional Application 62832470 · Apr 11, 2019
Related Publication 20220136514A1 · May 5, 2022