Air flow distribution provided by the air collimator 101 including air transfer diverters 206 and separately activated louver systems as described herein facilitates and maintains a linear flow of air across the heat sinks and/or components of cooled devices to reliably and consistently maintain the operating temperature of the device components at a preferred temperature—even after the failure or outage of any one of a multiple number of cooling fans in the air cooling system.

In embodiments, the air flow distribution system may be installed within or otherwise attached to a headend device such as a CMTS. The air flow distribution system described herein includes an air collimator 101 comprising a plurality of openings 211 and a plurality of air transfer diverter 206 that are operable to accept and redirect air from a plurality of fans 505, 605, 705. The air collimator 101 has a matrix of openings 211 and a shaped air transfer diverter 206 (e.g., cylindrical shaped, cone shaped, cup shaped, etc.) located in the air collimator 101 above each fan hub 505, 605, 705 to re-direct the swirling air flow pattern from individual fans 505, 605, 705 into a linear flow of air in the vertical direction above the fans, creating an improved optimal flow direction for cooling. The air collimator 101 increases the cross-sectional air flow distribution throughout the device while minimizing a low pressure area over any of the fan hubs 505, 605, 705 that would otherwise cause recirculation. The matrix of openings 211 converts angular and swirling flow into a linear flow.