Cabinet having heat exchanger integrally installed between roof and solar shield

Abstract

A cabinet has an inner roof portion and an outer roof portion above the inner roof portion. A solar shield is above the outer roof portion. A heat exchanger has a first portion that absorbs heat. The first portion of the heat exchanger is located between the inner roof portion and the outer roof portion. The heat exchanger has a second portion that rejects heat. The second portion of the heat exchanger is located between the outer roof portion and the solar shield. The heat exchanger has a heat pipe for transferring heat between the first passage and the second passage. The heat pipe includes an evaporator that absorbs heat from the heated air and a condenser that rejects heat to the cooled air.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cabinet assembly comprising: 
 a cabinet having an inner housing nested within an outer housing;    a heat shield positioned outside said outer housing; and    a heat exchanger having a first portion that absorbs heat, said first portion of said heat exchanger being located between said inner housing and said outer housing, said heat exchanger having a second portion that rejects heat, said second portion of said heat exchanger being located between said outer housing and said heat shield.    
     
     
         2 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 1  further including an air circulation path within said cabinet that passes over said first portion of said heat exchanger, 
 wherein said air circulation path includes a space between said inner housing and said outer housing.  
 
     
     
         3 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger includes at least one heat pipe having an evaporator between said inner housing and said outer housing, and a condenser between said outer housing and said heat shield.  
     
     
         4 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat pipes, each having an evaporator between said inner housing and said outer housing, each having a condenser between said outer housing and said heat shield.  
     
     
         5 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 2  further comprising one or more racks, wherein said air circulation path passes through said one or more racks wherein at least one of said one or more racks has a fan that circulates air in a direction of said air circulation path.  
     
     
         6 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of equipment racks within said inner housing, and one or more fans located between pairs of said equipment racks.  
     
     
         7 . A cabinet assembly comprising: 
 a cabinet having an inner roof portion and an outer roof portion located above said inner roof portion;    a solar shield located above said outer roof portion;    a heat exchanger having a first portion that absorbs heat, said first portion of said heat exchanger being located between said inner roof portion and said outer roof portion, said heat exchanger having a second portion that rejects heat, said second portion of said heat exchanger being located between said outer roof portion and said solar shield; and    an air circulation path that passes over said first portion of said heat exchanger.    
     
     
         8 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said cabinet has an inner housing that includes said inner roof portion, said cabinet has an outer housing that includes said outer roof portion, and said air circulation path includes a space between said inner housing and said outer housing.  
     
     
         9 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said heat exchanger includes at least one heat pipe having an evaporator between said inner housing and said outer housing, and a condenser between said outer housing and said solar shield.  
     
     
         10 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat pipes, each having an evaporator between said inner housing and said outer housing, each having a condenser between said outer housing and said solar shield, and further comprising one or more racks, wherein said air circulation path passes through said one or more racks.  
     
     
         11 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 10  wherein at least one of said one or more racks has a fan that circulates air in a direction of said air circulation path.  
     
     
         12 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 11  comprising: 
 a plurality of equipment racks within said inner housing, and  
 one or more fans located between each of a consecutive pair of equipment racks in said plurality of equipment racks.  
 
     
     
         13 . A cabinet assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said heat exchanger includes at least one heat pipe having an evaporator between said inner roof portion and said outer roof portion, and a condenser between said outer roof portion and said solar shield; and wherein said heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat pipes, each having (i) an evaporator between said inner roof portion and said outer roof portion, and (ii) a condenser between said outer roof portion and said solar shield.  
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger, comprising: 
 first surfaces defining a first passage for transmitting heated air;    second surfaces defining a second passage for transmitting cooling air that has a lower temperature than said heated air; and    at least one means for transferring heat between said first passage and said second passage, said heat transferring means including an evaporator that absorbs heat from said heated air and a condenser that rejects heat to said cooling air; and    wherein said heat transferring means comprise at least one cylindrical heat pipe having an evaporator that projects into said first passage, and a condenser that projects into said second passage; a first plurality of fins located in said first passage and thermally coupled to said evaporator; and a second plurality of fins located in said second passage and thermally coupled to said condenser.    
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger according to  claim 14  wherein said first surfaces include an exterior surface of an outer wall of a cabinet; and said second surfaces include an interior surface of a solar shield outside of said cabinet.