Enclosure and method of cooling same using ambient air

Abstract

An enclosure houses heat-producing equipment and includes an air conditioner, a fan, and at least one controller for controlling the air conditioner and the fan. The controller runs the air conditioner when a temperature of the interior is greater than or equal to an on temperature and turns the air conditioner off when the temperature of the interior is less than or equal to an off temperature. If the ambient temperature outside the enclosure is less than the off temperature and the air conditioner is off, the controller turns the fan on until the temperature of the interior is less than the off temperature by a first amount and then turns the fan off. Also a method for controlling the temperature of an enclosure using an air conditioner and a fan.

1 . A method of regulating the temperature of an enclosure housing heat-producing equipment comprising:
 providing an air conditioner having a first state in which the air conditioner cools an interior of the enclosure and a second state in which the air conditioner does not cool the interior;   providing a fan having a first condition in which the fan draws air into the interior and a second condition in which the fan does not draw air into the interior;   providing at least one controller for controlling the air conditioner and the fan;   detecting a temperature of the interior of the enclosure;   placing the air conditioner in the first state and cooling the interior using the air conditioner when a temperature of the interior is greater than or equal to an on temperature and placing the air conditioner in the second state and ceasing to cool the interior using the air conditioner when the temperature of the interior is less than or equal to an off temperature, the off temperature being less than the on temperature by a predetermined value;   determining an ambient temperature outside the enclosure;   detecting a shift of the air conditioner from the first state to the second state;   based on the air conditioner shifting from the first state to the second state, if the ambient temperature is less than the off temperature, placing the fan in the first condition to draw air into the interior until the temperature of the interior is less than the off temperature by a first amount and, in response to the temperature of the interior becoming less than the off temperature by the first amount, placing the fan in the second condition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fan has a third condition in which the fan draws air into the interior at a second rate less than the first rate, the method including placing the fan in the third condition when the ambient temperature is less than the off temperature and when the temperature of the interior is less than the off temperature by a second amount, the second amount being less than the first amount. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , including determining an ambient humidity and maintaining the fan in the second condition without regard to the ambient temperature or the temperature of the interior as long as the ambient humidity is greater than a predetermined level. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , including heating the interior with the heat-producing communications equipment when the air conditioner is in the first state or when the fan is in the first condition. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller comprises an air conditioner controller and a separate fan controller. 
     
     
         6 . A method of supplementing the cooling of an air conditioned enclosure cooled by an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner has a controller for setting a maximum desired temperature for the enclosure, a first state in which the air conditioner cools an interior of the enclosure and a second state in which the air conditioner does not cool the interior, the method comprising:
 providing a fan having a first condition in which the fan draws air into the interior at a first rate and a second condition in which the fan does not draw air into the interior;   providing a fan controller for controlling the fan;   determining a temperature of the interior of the enclosure;   determining an ambient temperature outside the enclosure;   detecting a shift of the air conditioner from the first state to the second state;   in response to the air conditioner shifting from the first state to the second state, providing the fan controller with a value indicative of the temperature of the interior and setting a fan set temperature in the fan controller based on the value; and   if the ambient temperature is less than the fan set temperature, placing the fan in the first condition to draw air into the interior until the temperature of the interior is less than the fan set temperature by a first amount and, in response to the temperature of the interior becoming less than the fan set temperature by the first amount, placing the fan in the second condition.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fan has a third condition in which the fan draws air into the interior at a second rate less than the first rate, the method including placing the fan in the third condition when the ambient temperature is less than the fan set temperature and when the temperature of the interior is less than the fan set temperature by a second amount, the second amount being less than the first amount. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , including operating the fan at a rate lower than the first rate when the temperature of the interior is within a given amount of the fan off temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , including determining an ambient humidity and maintaining the fan in the second condition, without regard to the temperature of the interior or the ambient temperature, when the ambient humidity is greater than a predetermined level. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , including maintaining the fan in the second condition at all times when the ambient temperature is greater than the fan set temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  including cooling a subportion of the interior to a temperature less than the fan set temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the fan has a third condition in which the fan draws air into the interior at a second rate less than the first rate, and including:
 placing the fan in the third condition when the ambient temperature is less than the fan set temperature and when the temperature of the interior is less than the fan set temperature by a second amount, the second amount being less than the first amount;   determining an ambient humidity and maintaining the fan in the second condition at all times that when the ambient humidity is greater than a predetermined level;   maintaining the fan in the second condition whenever the air conditioner is in the first state; and   cooling a subportion of the interior to a temperature less than the fan set temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the enclosure houses heat-producing communications equipment and including heating the interior with the heat-producing communications equipment when the air conditioner is in the first state or when the fan is in the first condition. 
     
     
         14 . An enclosure housing heat-producing equipment and comprising:
 an air conditioner having a first state in which the air conditioner cools an interior of the enclosure and a second state in which the air conditioner does not cool the interior;   a fan having a first condition in which the fan draws air into the interior and a second condition in which the fan does not draw air into the interior;   at least one controller for controlling the air conditioner and the fan;   a first temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the interior of the enclosure; and   a second temperature sensor for determining an ambient temperature outside the enclosure;   wherein the at least one controller is configured to place the air conditioner in the first state when a temperature of the interior is greater than or equal to an on temperature and to place the air conditioner in the second state when the temperature of the interior is less than or equal to an off temperature, the off temperature being less than the on temperature by a predetermined number of degrees and, if the ambient temperature is less than the off temperature and the air conditioner is in the second state, place the fan in the first condition until the temperature of the interior is less than the off temperature by a first amount and, in response to the temperature of the interior becoming less than the off temperature by the first amount, place the fan in the second condition.   
     
     
         15 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the fan has a third condition in which the fan draws air into the interior at a second rate less than the first rate, and wherein the controller is configured to place the fan in the third condition when the ambient temperature is less than the off temperature and when the temperature of the interior is less than the off temperature by a second amount, the second amount being less than the first amount. 
     
     
         16 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , including a humidity detector in communication with the at least one controller for determining an ambient humidity and providing the at least one controller with a value indicative of the ambient humidity, wherein the controller is configured to maintain the fan in the second condition when the ambient humidity is greater than a predetermined level without regard to the ambient temperature or the temperature of the interior. 
     
     
         17 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the enclosure includes a subportion housing at least one battery and including a supplemental cooler for maintaining the subportion at a temperature below the off temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one controller comprises an air conditioner controller and a separate fan controller, wherein the fan controller determines the off temperature based on an output of the first temperature sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , wherein the enclosure has first and second opposing walls, the first wall including a fan opening associated with the fan and the second wall including a vent opening for venting air from the interior when the fan is in the first condition. 
     
     
         20 . The enclosure of  claim 14 , including a humidity detector in communication with the at least one controller for determining an ambient humidity and providing the at least one controller with a value indicative of the ambient humidity, wherein the at least one controller comprises an air conditioner controller and a separate fan controller, wherein the fan controller determines the off temperature based on an output of the first temperature sensor, wherein the fan controller is configured to maintain the fan in the second condition when the ambient humidity is greater than a predetermined level without regard to the ambient temperature or the temperature of the interior, wherein the fan has a third condition in which the fan draws air into the interior at a second rate less than the first rate, and wherein the fan controller is configured to place the fan in the third condition when the ambient temperature is less than the off temperature and when the temperature of the interior is less than the off temperature by a second amount, the second amount being less than the first amount, and wherein the enclosure includes a subportion housing at least one battery and including a supplemental cooler for maintaining the subportion at a temperature below the off temperature.