Duo-baffle air separator apparatus

Claim 1

An air separator apparatus for use in a frame of heat dissipating equipment separated into vertical sections being of a generally open construction at the front and sides and being of generally closed construction at the rear with the vertical sections being spaced apart one from the other, said air separator apparatus comprising: first baffle means located in the spacing between sections of the equipment, said first baffle means including a first substantially air impervious baffle being positioned at an inclined angle to the horizontal and extending from the front to the rear of the equipment frame; and second baffle means located in the spacing between sections of the equipment, said second baffle means including a second substantially air impervious baffle being positioned vertically below said first baffle and generally parallel to said first baffle, said second baffle being of a shorter dimension as measured from front to rear of the equipment relative to said first baffle, said second baffle extending from the rear of the equipment and terminating at a point before the front of the equipment frame; said air separator apparatus being effective to thermally isolate intermediate vertical sections of the equipment by separating rising heated air streams having different flow speeds due to the front of the equipment rack having a higher volume of replacement air than the rear of the equipment, the front rising air stream passing between said first and second baffles and out the rear of said equipment, the rear air stream deflecting along the lower surface of said second baffle and out the rear of the equipment.