Fan Unit and Its Mounting

Abstract

In a method of mounting cooling air fans ( 2 ) in an electronic equipment unit ( 3 ) having a unit front ( 4 ) a unit rear ( 5 ) and unit sides ( 6, 7 ) and wherein the cooling air fan/fans produce cooling air flow (AF) directed from the unit front to the unit rear, cooling air fans are attached to a flexible cooling air fan carrier ( 8 ) that is introduced through a slot ( 3 A) in the unit front and is advanced along a non-linear path ( 9 ). The cooling air fan carrier is advanced along a first, generally straight path section ( 9 A) from the unit front and approximately to the unit rear, further through a second, bent path section ( 9 B) and through a third, generally straight path section ( 9 C) extending along the unit rear, thereby positioning the cooling air fans along the unit rear.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of mounting one or several cooling fans in an electronic equipment unit having a unit front, a unit rear, and unit sides, and wherein the one or several cooling fans produce cooling air flow directed generally from the unit front to the unit rear, the method comprising:
 attaching the one or more cooling fans to a flexible cooling air fan carrier, in a number that is appropriate for a specific electronic equipment unit application;   introducing the cooling air fan carrier with the attached cooling fans through a designated slot in the unit front;   advancing the cooling air fan carrier with the attached cooling fans along a non-linear path within the unit, by advancing the cooling air fan carrier along a first, generally straight path section from the unit front and approximately to the unit rear, advancing the cooling air fan carrier through a second bent path section, and advancing the flexible cooling air fan carrier along a third, generally straight path section extending along the unit rear; and   positioning the one or more cooling fans along the unit rear.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 connecting power, or control signals, or monitoring signals, or some combination thereof, to the cooling air fan carrier.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising forming the non-linear path between appropriately spaced, generally parallel walls inside the electronic equipment unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising replacing cooling air fans by withdrawing an existing cooling air fan carrier supporting said cooling air fans from the non-linear path and through the unit front slot and by introducing a new cooling air fan carrier with attached cooling air fans through the slot and into the non-linear path. 
     
     
         15 . A cooling air fan assembly for providing a cooling air flow in an electronic equipment unit, said cooling air fan assembly comprising:
 a flexible cooling air fan carrier having spaced attachments for receiving a plurality of cooling air fans.   
     
     
         16 . The cooling air fan assembly of  claim 15 , characterized in that the cooling air fan carrier has connectors for connecting each of the cooling air fans for controlling the cooling air fans, monitoring the cooling air fans, or powering the cooling air fans, or some combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling air fan assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling air fan carrier has articulated joints between each of the spaced attachments for the cooling air fans. 
     
     
         18 . The cooling air fan assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cooling air fan carrier is formed by a standard printed circuit board substrate. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic equipment unit having a unit front, a unit rear, and unit sides, and adapted for the flow of cooling air generally from the unit front to the unit rear, the electronic equipment unit comprising:
 an introduction slot in the unit front, said slot opening into a non-linear path for the introduction of a cooling air fan assembly, said path having a first, generally straight path section extending from the unit front and approximately to the unit rear, a second, bent path section and a third, generally straight path section extending along the unit rear.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic equipment unit of  claim 19 , wherein the non-linear path is formed between appropriately spaced, generally parallel walls provided inside the electronic equipment unit.