U.S. patent application number 11/320275 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for mountings for rack mounted device.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Jimmy Grant SR. Foster, John Geoffrey Gundlach, Michael Sven Miller.
Application Number | 20070145220 11/320275 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38192487 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070145220 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Foster; Jimmy Grant SR. ; et
al. |
June 28, 2007 |
Mountings for rack mounted device
Abstract
A rack engaging member is provided having first and second
elements spaced apart one from the other at a predetermined
distance which is determined by a first distance at which two
openings in a standard rack for receiving electronic devices are
spaced apart one from the other. One of the first and second
elements is positionable to span the difference in spacing between
a pair of rack openings spaced at the first distance one from the
other and a different pair of rack openings in the standard rack
which are spaced at a second, different, distance one from the
other. As a result, devices may be mounted in manners which span
the differential spacings of holes between the sets of three
provided in the standard rack.
Inventors: |
Foster; Jimmy Grant SR.;
(Morrisville, NC) ; Gundlach; John Geoffrey;
(Cary, NC) ; Miller; Michael Sven; (Raleigh,
NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
IBM CORPORATION
PO BOX 12195
DEPT YXSA, BLDG 002
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK
NC
27709
US
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
ARMONK
NY
|
Family ID: |
38192487 |
Appl. No.: |
11/320275 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/309.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/184 20130101;
G06F 1/186 20130101; G06F 1/185 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/309.1 |
International
Class: |
A47F 5/00 20060101
A47F005/00 |
Claims
1. Apparatus comprising: a rack engaging member having first and
second elements spaced apart one from the other at a predetermined
distance which is determined by a first distance at which two
openings in a standard rack for receiving electronic devices are
spaced apart one from the other; one of said first and second
elements being positionable to span the difference in spacing
between a pair of rack openings spaced at the first distance one
from the other and a different pair of rack openings in the
standard rack which are spaced at a second, differing, distance one
from the other.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rack engaging member
comprises a carriage and said first and second elements are a pair
of pins mounted in said carriage, one of said pins being in fixed
position relative to said carriage and the other of said pins being
adjustable in position relative to said one fixed pin.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a third
element mounted in said carriage and being adjustable in position
relative to said one fixed pin, said third element being movable
relative to said carriage in two orthogonal directions.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said pair of pins
is a shouldered protrusion from said carriage defining a terminal
portion having a first diameter and a proximal portion having a
greater diameter, each pin being enabled to enter into and engage
rack openings of two differing diameters.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said other pin is mounted
in said carriage in an elongated slot for movement toward and away
from said fixed pin along an axis extending through said terminal
portions of said pins.
6. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising a third element
mounted in said carriage and being adjustable in position relative
to said one fixed pin, said third element being movable relative to
said carriage in two orthogonal directions, one of which is defined
by an axis extending through said terminal portions of said pins
and the other of which is parallel to an axis extending in the
direction of the protrusion of said pins.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said third element
comprises a fastener for coupling a device to said carriage.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rack engaging member
comprises a bracket and said first and second elements define a
pair of spaced openings in said bracket aligned along a
predetermined axis, each of said openings being an elongated slot
and the elongation of said slots having a lengthwise dimension
along said axis such that the first and second elements span the
difference in spacing between a pair of rack openings spaced at the
first distance one from the other and a different pair of rack
openings in the standard rack which are spaced at a second,
greater, distance one from the other.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a keeper
member mounted on said bracket and movable between a position
overlying said slots and a position withdrawn from said slots, said
keeper member when overlying said slots assuring that a desired
positioning in a rack is maintained.
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said bracket is planar
and further comprising a locator pin mounted on said bracket
intermediate said slots and projecting from said bracket to aid in
aligning rack mounted devices.
Description
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] Recent advances in high volume server computer systems,
typically rack mounted systems, have introduced advanced processors
and operating systems capable of addressing significantly larger
volumes of memory. Additionally, the advanced processors can in
some models be fabricated with two or more processors on a die or
on a common carrier and supported in a single socket, increasing
the power and thermal demands placed on systems.
[0002] Rack optimized server systems typically have mechanical
elements,such as the enclosure for the electronic elements, based
on a incremental height of 1.75 inches, known to the industry as 1U
or 1 unit. The 1U server is the one most impacted by the advances
in processors, operating systems and memory. Users who stress their
1U systems to maximum performance for extended periods of time will
encounter thermal difficulties. In order to achieve the levels of
performance desired while maintaining acceptable thermal limits,
such users may find it necessary to replace their 1U servers with
2U servers, as prior to the present invention all rack mounted
servers known to the inventors were incremented in height by the
standard unit.
[0003] A standard rack of the type known as a 42U (capable of
receiving forty two enclosures of 1U dimensions) will have uprights
with three holes per U and with a separation between the sets of
three which is different from the spacing within the set,
inhibiting the placement of rails, slides, brackets and enclosures
other than the standard 1U spacing.
[0004] The difficulty resulting in this restriction applies to
other devices which may be rack mounted to work in conjunction with
server systems, such as a memory expansion drawer receiving DIMMS.
Many DIMMS can be populated vertically with tight spacing,
accommodating many DIMMS in a 1U rack. However, larger capacity
DIMMS are taller and cannot be fit into a 1U enclosure vertically
but can be fit into an enclosure of 1 and 1/3 U height. Similar
opportunities exist for other memory configurations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] With the foregoing in mind, it is a purpose of this
invention to provide a solution which enables a user desiring a 1U
server to obtain such a product while providing an improvement path
which enables steps upward between the 1U and 2U embodiments. In
realizing this purpose of this invention, a rack engaging member is
provided having first and second elements spaced apart one from the
other at a predetermined distance which is determined by a first
distance at which two openings in a standard rack for receiving
electronic devices are spaced apart one from the other. One of the
first and second elements is positionable to span the difference in
spacing between a pair of rack openings spaced at the first
distance one from the other and a different pair of rack openings
in the standard rack which are spaced at a second, different,
distance one from the other. As a result, devices may be mounted in
manners which span the differential spacings of holes between the
sets of three provided in the standard rack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] Some of the purposes of the invention having been stated,
others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment of
this invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an front elevation view of the embodiment of FIG.
1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 1 showing
engagement with one form of rack;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a series of front elevation views of a second
embodiment of this invention; and
[0011] FIG. 5 is a series of front elevation views of a third
embodiment of this invention, similar to the views of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0012] While the present invention will be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown, it is to
be understood at the outset of the description which follows that
persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention
here described while still achieving the favorable results of the
invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be
understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to
persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon
the present invention.
[0013] A rack mounted complex includes several enclosures which are
mounted in a rack provided by a set of spaced uprights which have a
series of vertically spaced holes formed in them. The enclosures
may be mounted by means of mounting ears formed on the enclosures,
rails or slides. If rails or slides are used, then the rails and
slides are secured to the rack uprights in a manner similar to any
mounting ears provided on enclosures, The spacing of the uprights
one from another and of the holes along them are to a standard, to
accommodate enclosures of standard dimensions. Typically, a rack
mount intended to be filled or partially filled with 1U enclosures
will have a spacing which is intended to limit the choice of
enclosures to be mounted to those that are 1U, posing a problem for
users who may encounter the need of replacing 1U servers. A common
technique for assuring this limitation is to provide sets of three
holes or openings spaced center to center at 5/8 inch and space the
sets at 1/2 inch between each group of three. This differential is
intended to assure that a mounting which will engage the three
holes of a set cannot span two sets by accommodating the
intermediate lesser spacing. See FIGS. 4 and 5.
[0014] In the present invention, presented here in several
embodiments or implementations, this difficulty in accommodating
enclosures of fractional incremental heights is overcome by
providing a rack engaging member which has first and second
elements spaced apart one from the other at a predetermined
distance determined by a first distance at which two openings in a
standard rack for receiving electronic devices are spaced apart one
from the other, such as, for example only, 5/8 inch. However, one
of the elements is positionable to span the difference in spacing
between a pair of rack openings spaced at the first distance one
from the other (such as the 5/8 inch spacing) and a different pair
of rack openings in the standard rack which are spaced at a second,
differing, distance one from the other (such as the 1/2 inch
spacing).
[0015] In a first embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1
through 3, the rack engaging member is a carriage member 10. The
carriage member mounts a pair of pins serving as the first and
second elements. One of the pins 11 is in a fixed position relative
to the carriage 10 and the other of the pins 12 is adjustable in
position relative to the fixed pin. In particular, the adjustable
or movable pin 12 is mounted in the carriage in an elongated slot
for movement toward and away from the fixed pin along an axis
extending through terminal portions of said pins (see FIG. 2).
[0016] Each of the pins is a shouldered pin, having portions of two
differing diameters. This is done in order to accommodate the
mounting to racks from different manufacturers, as the diameter of
the holes or openings provided in the rack uprights will vary from
manufacturer to manufacturer or between standards. It is
contemplated for this invention that the mounting here disclosed
will provide for more universal usage than may have been the case
heretofore. The terminal portion of each pin is of smaller diameter
than a portion which is proximal the carriage 10, resulting in the
carriage being spaced further from an upright having smaller
diameter holes and closer to an upright having larger diameter
holes. This is suggested in FIG. 3 where an indication is given by
the line 14 of a rack upright having smaller openings and engaged
by the terminal portions of the pins 11, 12 without engaging the
proximal portions.
[0017] In the embodiment to which the present discussion is
directed, the carriage mounts a third element 15, which is a
fastener useful in securing the carriage to the rack uprights. As
shown, the fastener is a sliding nut which will receive a bolt
securing the carriage in place. It could as well be a bolt. In
either case, the fastener is captive, being held in restraint such
that it cannot be dropped from the carriage during assembly. The
fastener is also mounted in the carriage for movement relative
thereto in two orthogonal directions, indicated in the Figures. Of
the two directions, one is defined by an axis extending through the
terminal portions of the pins and the other is parallel to an axis
extending in the direction of the protrusion of the pins. The
fastener is thus adjustable in position relative to the one fixed
pin, to accommodate the variations in hole spacing described above.
This is illustrated in part in FIG. 3, where the fastener has been
moved to an extended position to engage a rack positioned as
indicated by the line 14.
[0018] While not fully illustrated here, the reader will understand
that the elongated slots mounting the fastener and the second or
loose pin 12, as shown in FIG. 2, enable a variety of positions to
be taken to accommodate the difference in spacing of holes in rack
uprights and thus achieve fractional spacing of enclosures as
contemplated by this invention. By way of comment on this
flexibility, positioning an enclosure at a regular or "straight" 1U
position uses the loose pin in its lowered location and the
fastener in its raised location (orienting to FIGS. 1 through 3
with the top of the sheet being upward). Positioning an enclosure
at one fractional position (1 and 1/3U) uses the loose pin in
lowered position and the fastener in lowered position to
accommodate the spacing differentials. Positioning an enclosure in
a second fractional position (1 and 2/3 U) uses both the loose pin
and the fastener in their raised positions. The other alternative
made available, as mentioned above, is movement of the fastener
between retracted (FIG. 1) and extended (FIG. 3) positions to
accommodate differences in rack hole diameters.
[0019] In a second embodiment in accordance with this invention,
the rack engaging member is a bracket 20 (FIG. 4) and the first and
second elements define a pair of spaced openings 21, 22 in the
bracket aligned along a predetermined axis. Each of the openings is
an elongated slot and the elongation of the slots has a lengthwise
dimension along the axis such that the first and second elements
span the difference in spacing between a pair of rack openings
spaced at the first distance one from the other and a different
pair of rack openings in the standard rack which are spaced at a
second, differing, distance one from the other. This configuration
further has a keeper member 24 mounted on the bracket 20 and
movable between a position overlying the slots (FIG. 4E, second
from bottom) and a position withdrawn from the slots (FIG. 4E,
first from bottom), the keeper member when overlying the slots
assuring that a desired positioning in a rack is maintained.
[0020] FIG. 4 presents a series of side by side views of an upright
(which appears almost as a column) in a rack mount system
configured for 1U enclosures as described above. The left most
portion, indicated at A), shows prior art brackets engaging the
lowermost and uppermost openings in a set of three. This would be
the "normal" spacing and installation. The next portion to the
right, indicated at B), shows the impossibility of using such prior
art brackets to achieve a non-standard spacing as this invention
proposes. The next portion to the right, indicated at C), shows the
bracket of this invention's second embodiment in three different
positions. The lowermost position is installed in the "normal"
position. The next two illustration above show the bracket
installed in two differing positions spanning the difference
between spacing within a set of three holes and the spacing between
a set of three holes. Note that the elongated openings present as
the first and second elements align differently with the holes in
the uprights. In one instance, the holes align with the lower
portions of the elongated holes in the bracket. In the other, with
the upper portions.
[0021] The next portion of the Figure, indicated at D), illustrates
the keeper member 24, apart from the bracket 20. Preferably, the
keeper member is of a springy material and clips onto the bracket
in such a way that protrusions on the keeper member enter into the
openings in the bracket and assist in maintaining the vertical
alignment. As referenced above, see the middle illustration in the
portion of FIG. 4 indicated at E).
[0022] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the third
embodiment of the invention here disclosed. Portions of the Figure
indicated t A), B), C), D), and E) are similar to those portions of
FIG. 4. The distinctions between the forms is that the bracket 30
of FIG. 5 replaces the keeper with a central pin 34 which maintains
alignment in all positions. Because the screw hole for securing an
enclosure is now occupied by the pin 34, a nut is provided forward
of the pin to secure an enclosure to the bracket 30 and thus to the
rack.
[0023] In the drawings and specifications there has been set forth
a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific
terms are used, the description thus given uses terminology in a
generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of
limitation.
* * * * *