Enclosures for heat producing devices

Abstract

The present invention is an enclosure with a cooling scheme for cooling heat producing devices, such as electronic components, contained within the enclosure. Specifically, the cooling scheme of the present invention shelters the enclosure from solar heat without significantly decreasing the efficiency of the convection process associated with heat sinks. In an embodiment of the present invention, the enclosure comprises a housing and a solar shield. The housing includes a plurality of heat sinks for absorbing and dissipating heat generated by the devices. Each heat sink has an interior side to which the devices are mounted and an exterior side with a plurality of fins that form first and second channels. The first channels are aligned longitudinally with the prevalent direction of airflow, and the second channels are aligned in a contrasting manner to the first channels to allow fresh air to be drawn into the first channels (through the second channels) during the convection process. Positioned over the heat sinks is the solar shield for sheltering the housing from solar heat. The solar shield includes ventilators which align with the first and second channels for allowing the passage of air into the heat sinks and heat absorbed by the heat sinks to be dissipated. To prevent overcooling, the solar shield may include regulating devices positioned over the ventilators to constrict airflow through the ventilators when the enclosure is below a particular temperature.