U.S. patent application number 11/942298 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-21 for equipment rack and associated ventilation system.
This patent application is currently assigned to ORTRONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Lars R. Larsen, Stewart A. Levesque.
Application Number | 20090129014 11/942298 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40641713 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090129014 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Larsen; Lars R. ; et
al. |
May 21, 2009 |
Equipment Rack and Associated Ventilation System
Abstract
A cable management rack is provided within which or upon which a
heat-generating device is mountable, and which encompasses a
vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame.
The rack includes a first upright and a second upright attached to
opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top member, and
respective side-facing panels. Each of the panels defines a
plurality of vent holes arranged in an array and permit the rack to
receive a sideways flow of cooling air into a first side of the
rack through one of the vent hole arrays for cooling a
heat-generating device mounted between the panels, and permit the
rack to discharge a sideways flow of exhaust air through the other
vent hole array. Each of the array of vent holes may manifest a
honeycomb pattern of vent holes, and each of the vent holes may
manifest an hexagonal shape. A cable management system includes a
cable management rack for accommodating a heat generating device, a
first baffle mounted with respect to a first upright of the rack
and for redirecting a rearward flow of cool air sideways from a
space adjacent a front side of the rack, and a second baffle
mounted with respect to a second upright of the rack and for
redirecting a sideways flow of exhaust air from the rack and
through the second upright into a space adjacent a rear side of the
rack. A method of cooling a heat-generating device mounted in or on
a cable management rack includes providing a sideways flow of
cooling air into the rack and into the device.
Inventors: |
Larsen; Lars R.; (Old Lyme,
CT) ; Levesque; Stewart A.; (Scotland, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCCARTER & ENGLISH, LLP STAMFORD
FINANCIAL CENTRE , SUITE 304A, 695 EAST MAIN STREET
STAMFORD
CT
06901-2138
US
|
Assignee: |
ORTRONICS, INC.
New London
CT
|
Family ID: |
40641713 |
Appl. No.: |
11/942298 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/692 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/186 20130101;
H05K 7/20572 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/692 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/20 20060101
H05K007/20; H02B 1/20 20060101 H02B001/20 |
Claims
1. A cable management rack within or upon which a heat-generating
device is mountable and encompassing a vertical rectangular frame
open in a front and a rear of the frame and including a first
upright and a second upright attached to opposite respective
lateral sides of a base and a top member and including respective
side-facing panels, the improvement comprising wherein each of the
respective side-facing panels defines a respective corresponding
plurality of vent holes arranged in an array and effective to
permit the rack to receive a straight lateral sideways flow of
cooling air into a first side of the rack through one of the vent
hole arrays for cooling a heat-generating device mounted between
the side-facing panels, and to permit the rack to discharge a
corresponding straight lateral sideways flow of exhaust air through
the other of the vent hole arrays.
2. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
each respective side-facing panel, the respective corresponding
plurality of vent holes extends across a predominant portion of a
side-facing surface area of the side-facing panel.
3. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
each respective side-facing panel, the respective corresponding
plurality of vent holes extends across substantially an entire
height of the rack.
4. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
each respective side-facing facing panel, the respective
corresponding plurality of vent holes extends across substantially
an entire depth of the rack.
5. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
each respective plurality of vent holes, the array thereof
manifests a honeycomb pattern.
6. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
each respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof manifest an hexagonal shape.
7. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
each respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof manifests a punched hole perforating the respective
side-facing panel.
8. A cable management system operable to deliver a supply of
cooling air to a heat generating device mounted therewithin, the
system comprising: a cable management rack for accommodating a
heat-generating device, the rack encompassing a vertical
rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame and
including first and second uprights attached to opposite respective
lateral sides of a base and a top member; a first baffle mounted
with respect to the first upright and configured and dimensioned to
redirect a rearward flow of cool air from a space adjacent a front
side of the rack sideways through the first upright; and a second
baffle mounted with respect to the second upright and configured
and dimensioned to redirect a sideways flow of exhaust air from the
rack and through the second upright rearward into a space adjacent
a rear side of the rack.
9. A cable management system according to claim 8, further
comprising: a third baffle mounted with respect to the first
upright in vertical arrangement with the first baffle and
configured and dimensioned to redirect a second, separate rearward
flow of cool air from the space adjacent the front side of the rack
sideways through the first upright; and a fourth baffle mounted
with respect to the second upright in vertical arrangement with the
third baffle and configured and dimensioned to redirect a second,
separate sideways flow of exhaust air from the rack and through the
second upright rearward into a space adjacent a rear side of the
rack.
10. A cable management system according to claim 8, further
comprising: a second cable management rack for accommodating a
heat-generating device, the rack encompassing a vertical
rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame and
including first and second uprights attached to opposite respective
lateral sides of a base and a top member; and a third cable
management rack for accommodating a heat-generating device, the
rack encompassing a vertical rectangular frame open in a front and
a rear of the frame and including first and second uprights
attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top
member; wherein the first baffle is further mounted with respect to
the second upright of the second rack and is configured and
dimensioned to redirect a second sideways flow of exhaust air from
the second rack and through the second upright thereof rearward
into the space adjacent the rear side of the rack; and the second
baffle is mounted with respect to the first upright of the third
rack and is configured and dimensioned to redirect a second
rearward flow of cool air from the space adjacent the front side of
the rack sideways through the first upright thereof.
11. A method of cooling a heat-generating device mounted in a cable
management rack encompassing a vertical rectangular frame open in a
front and a rear of the frame and including respective first and
second uprights attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a
base and a top member, the method comprising: receiving a rearward
flow of cool air from a space adjacent a front side of the rack and
redirecting the flow of cool air sideways through the first upright
and into the heat-generating device; and redirecting a sideways
flow of exhaust air passing out of the heat-generating device, and
through the second upright, rearward to a space adjacent a rear
side of the rack.
12. A method of cooling a heat-generating device according to claim
11, further comprising: receiving another rearward flow of cool air
from the space adjacent the front side of the rack and redirecting
the another rearward flow of cool air sideways through the first
upright and into a second heat-generating device mounted in the
rack; and redirecting another sideways flow of exhaust air passing
out of another heat-generating device, and through the second
upright, rearward to the space adjacent the rear side of the
rack.
13. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
the respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof is oriented at an angle to the normal.
14. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
the respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof is formed via machining.
15. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
the respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof is provided with at least one slanted fin to influence the
flow of air though the upright.
16. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
the respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof is provided with at least one slanted vane to influence the
flow of air though the upright
17. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
the respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof is provided with at least one slanted louver to influence
the flow of air though the upright.
18. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
the respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof is provided with at least one fixed fin to influence the
flow of air though the upright
19. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
the respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof is provided with at least one fixed vane to influence the
flow of air through the upright.
20. The cable management rack of claim 1, wherein with respect to
the respective plurality of vent holes, each of the vent holes
thereof is provided with at least one fixed louver to influence the
flow of air though the upright.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure is directed generally to rack systems
for use in positioning of electronic components and/or equipment
and, more particularly, to cable management racks and equipment
ventilation systems associated therewith.
[0003] 2. Background Art
[0004] Cable management systems (such as cable racks, bays or
frames, which are hereinafter referred to as "racks") have long
been used in many varied applications, such as in communications
and electronic services, and are generally located in indoor rooms,
closures, offices or controlled environmental vaults. A known
common construction that has evolved for such racks is one shown in
FIG. 1 in the form of a rack 100. The rack 100 encompasses a tall,
rectangular frame, typically constructed with two uprights 102
attached to a base 104 and a top member 106, the latter commonly
incorporating a waterfall 108 useful for ensuring that
appropriately large bend radii are formed in cables extending to,
from, and along the top member 108, as discussed in greater detail
below. Referring now to FIG. 2, an arrangement 200 includes two
instances of a cable management rack that may be substantially
similar to the rack 100 of FIG. 1, including a rack 202 and a rack
204, the racks 202 and 204 being positioned adjacent to each other
in a side-by-side configuration and including respective waterfalls
206, 208. Also included in the arrangement 200 are three instances
of a conventional cable management cage, a first of which, a cage
210, is somewhat larger than the others and is positioned between
the rack 202 and the rack 204, a second of which, a cage 212, is
somewhat smaller and is positioned on an opposite side of the rack
202 from the cage 210, and a third of which, a cage 214, is
approximately the same size as the cage 212 and is positioned on an
opposite side of the rack 204 from the cage 210. The arrangement
200 further includes a variety of devices, e.g., a device 216 and a
device 218 mounted within the rack 202 (e.g., wherein the device
216 is a patch panel, and a device 220 and a device 222 mounted
within the rack 204, and a variety of cables 224 extending
vertically within the cages 210, 212, 214, forming a variety of
bend radii (e.g., a bend radius 226 associated with the waterfall
206), extending horizontally inward across the respective fronts of
the racks 202, 204, and interconnecting with the various devices
(e.g., the devices 216, 218, 220, 222) mounted within the racks
202, 204. The arrangement 200 still further includes a
corresponding variety of cables 226 interconnecting with the
various devices mounted within the racks 202, 204, extending
horizontally outward across the respective rears of the racks 202,
204, and extending vertically within the cages 210, 212, 214.
[0005] The devices mounted within the racks 202, 204 may be cross
connect panels, patch panels, or any one of a variety of other
types of devices requiring the orderly accomplishment of cable
interconnections. In many instances, a rack mounted device, such as
the device 218, requires a supply of cool air to ensure that a
moderate operating temperature is maintained within the device. For
example, the device 218 includes a pair of fan-equipped vents 228
facing outward of the device 218 and visible from a front side 230
of the rack 202 such that the device 218 receives a supply of cool
air directly from a space or corridor defined at least in part by a
corresponding front side of the arrangement 200. In such
circumstances, the device 218 typically further includes one or
more exhaust vents (obscured) facing outward of the device 218 and
visible from a rear side 232 of the rack 202 opposite the front
side 230 thereof such that the device 218 vents warm exhaust air
directly into a space or corridor defined at least in part by a
corresponding rear side of the arrangement 200.
[0006] A prior art arrangement 300 shown in FIG. 3 includes
multiple instances of a cable management rack similar to the cable
management racks 100, 202, 204 of FIGS. 1 and 2, including a rack
302, a rack 304, and a rack 306, an instance of a cable management
cage similar to the cage 210 of FIG. 2 (cage 308 disposed between
the rack 302 and the rack 304), and an instance of a cable
management cage similar to the cages 212 and 214 of FIG. 2 (cage
310 disposed between the rack 304 and the rack 306). A space or
corridor 312 defined at least in part by a front side 314 of the
arrangement 300 includes a supply of cool air for cooling such
devices (not shown for the sake of convenience) as are mounted in
the racks 302, 304, 306 of the arrangement 300. As shown by
respective flows of cool air indicated at 316, 318 and 320, the
cooling air enters the devices (not shown) mounted in the racks
302, 304, 306 of the arrangement 300 via the front side 314 of the
arrangement 300 adjacent the corridor 312. A space or corridor 322
is defined at least in part by a rear side 324 of the arrangement
300, and as shown by respective flows of warm exhaust air indicated
at 326, 328, and 330, the resulting warm exhaust air exits the
devices (not shown) mounted in the racks 302, 304, 306 of the
arrangement 300 via the rear side 324 of the arrangement 300
adjacent the corridor 322.
[0007] As described above, the ventilation arrangements depicted in
FIGS. 2 and 3 are appropriate for purposes of cooling devices
configured to receive cooling air approaching such devices from
directly in front of the arrangements 200, 300 and to expel warm
exhaust air by passing such warm air directly to the rear of the
arrangements 200, 300. Despite efforts to date, a need remains for
racks and associated ventilation arrangements and systems designed
to deliver cooling air to, and to eliminate warm exhaust air from,
devices mounted within such racks in a more effective and/or
reliable manner. These and other needs are satisfied by the racks
and associated ventilation systems disclosed herein.
SUMMARY
[0008] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure,
cable management racks, associated ventilation systems, and related
techniques are disclosed for providing sideways-directed flows of
cooling air into such racks and into heat-generating devices
mounted therein (or thereon), and for facilitating the passage of
sideways-directed flows of exhaust air outward of such devices and
out of such racks. The disclosed racks, ventilation systems, and
techniques facilitate redirection of cooling flows from spaces or
corridors positioned adjacent to respective front sides of such
racks sideways into such racks and into (and/or alongside) such
heat-generating devices, and further facilitate redirection of
exhaust flows from such devices and from such racks rearward into
spaces or corridors positioned adjacent to respective rear sides of
such racks.
[0009] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a
cable management rack is provided within or upon which a
heat-generating device is mountable, and which encompasses a
vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame.
The rack further includes a first upright and a second upright
attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top
member. The rack still further includes respective side-facing
panels. According to exemplary embodiments of the present
disclosure, each of the respective side-facing panels
advantageously defines a respective corresponding plurality of vent
holes arranged in an array and effective to permit the rack to
receive a straight lateral sideways flow of cooling air into a
first side of the rack through one of the vent hole arrays for
cooling a heat-generating device mounted between the side-facing
panels, and to permit the rack to discharge a corresponding
straight lateral sideways flow of exhaust air through the other of
the vent hole arrays. With respect to each respective side-facing
panel, the respective corresponding plurality of vent holes may
extend across a predominant portion of a side-facing surface area
of the side-facing panel, may extend across substantially an entire
height of the rack, and/or may extend across substantially an
entire depth of the rack. Further with respect to each respective
plurality of vent holes, the array thereof may manifest a honeycomb
pattern, and/or each of the vent holes thereof may manifest an
hexagonal shape, and/or a punched hole perforating the respective
side-facing panel.
[0010] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a
cable management system is provided, the system being operable to
deliver a supply of cooling air to a heat generating device mounted
therewithin (and/or thereon), and including a cable management rack
for accommodating a heat-generating device, the rack encompassing a
vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame
and including first and second uprights attached to opposite
respective lateral sides of a base and a top member, a first baffle
mounted with respect to the first upright and configured and
dimensioned to redirect a rearward flow of cool air from a space
adjacent a front side of the rack sideways through the first
upright, and a second baffle mounted with respect to the second
upright and configured and dimensioned to redirect a sideways flow
of exhaust air from the rack and through the second upright
rearward into a space adjacent a rear side of the rack. The cable
management system may further include (i) a third baffle mounted
with respect to the first upright in vertical arrangement with the
first baffle and configured and dimensioned to redirect a second,
separate rearward flow of cool air from the space adjacent the
front side of the rack sideways through the first upright, and (iv)
a fourth baffle mounted with respect to the second upright in
vertical arrangement with the third baffle and configured and
dimensioned to redirect a second, separate sideways flow of exhaust
air from the rack and through the second upright rearward into a
space adjacent a rear side of the rack.
[0011] Also, the cable management system may include a second cable
management rack for accommodating a heat-generating device, the
rack encompassing a vertical rectangular frame open in a front and
a rear of the frame and including first and second uprights
attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top
member, and a third cable management rack for accommodating a
heat-generating device, the rack encompassing a vertical
rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame and
including first and second uprights attached to opposite respective
lateral sides of a base and a top member, wherein the first baffle
is further mounted with respect to the second upright of the second
rack and is configured and dimensioned to redirect a second
sideways flow of exhaust air from the second rack and through the
second upright thereof rearward into the space adjacent the rear
side of the rack, and the second baffle is mounted with respect to
the first upright of the third rack and is configured and
dimensioned to redirect a second rearward flow of cool air from the
space adjacent the front side of the rack sideways through the
first upright thereof.
[0012] In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a
method is provided for cooling a heat-generating device mounted in
(or on) a cable management rack encompassing a vertical rectangular
frame open in a front and a rear of the frame and including
respective first and second uprights attached to opposite
respective lateral sides of a base and a top member, the method
including receiving a rearward flow of cool air from a space
adjacent a front side of the rack and redirecting the flow of cool
air sideways through the first upright and into the heat-generating
device, and redirecting a sideways flow of exhaust air passing out
of the heat-generating device, and through the second upright,
rearward to a space adjacent a rear side of the rack. The method
may further include receiving another rearward flow of cool air
from the space adjacent the front side of the rack and redirecting
the another rearward flow of cool air sideways through the first
upright and into a second heat-generating device mounted in the
rack, and redirecting another sideways flow of exhaust air passing
out of another heat-generating device, and through the second
upright, rearward to the space adjacent the rear side of the
rack.
[0013] Additional features, functions and benefits of the disclosed
racks, ventilation systems, and associated methods and techniques
will be apparent from the detailed description which follows,
particularly when read in conjunction with the appended
figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0014] To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the
disclosed equipment mounting racks and associated ventilation
systems, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a known cable
management rack;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective side view of a known
arrangement of cable management racks, cable management cages,
devices mounted in the racks, and cables mounted with respect to
the racks and cages and interconnected with the devices;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a known arrangement of
cable management racks and cable management cages illustrating
conventional flows for receiving cooling air from a corridor
adjacent a front side of the arrangement directly into devices
mounted in the racks, and for discharging warm exhaust air from the
mounted devices directly into a corridor adjacent a rear side of
the arrangement;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of a cable management rack
incorporating respective uprights having ventilated side panels in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of an arrangement in
accordance with the present disclosure of cable management racks
similar to the rack illustrated in FIG. 4, cable management cages
mounted between and beside the racks, devices mounted with respect
to the racks, and flow redirection baffles disposed in spaces
between the racks, wherein the arrangement illustrates inventive
flows for receiving cooling air from a corridor adjacent a front
side of the arrangement and for discharging warm exhaust air from
the mounted devices indirectly into a corridor adjacent a rear side
of the arrangement;
[0020] FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are views of corresponding portions of
respective first, second, third, and fourth variations of the
arrangement of FIG. 5 illustrating different placement positions
for and quantities of the baffles disposed between the ventilated
uprights of respective racks; and
[0021] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a switch device featuring
side-to-side ventilation.
DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S)
[0022] With reference to FIG. 4, an instance of a cable management
rack is depicted in accordance with the present disclosure in the
form of a rack 400. The rack 400 may encompass a tall, rectangular
frame, and may include two uprights 402. The two uprights 402 may
be attached to a base 404 at a bottom margin of the frame. The two
uprights 402 may further be attached to a top member 406. The top
member 406 may include a waterfall 408 for facilitating the
formation of appropriately large bend radii in cables (not
separately shown) mounted with respect to the rack 400. Each of the
uprights 402 may include side panel 410. Each side panel 410 may
include a plurality of vent holes 412 for facilitating the passage
of air through the side panel 410, such that the rack 400 is
operable as a component of a ventilation system for delivering an
effective flow of cooling air to one or more heat generating
devices (one of which is shown schematically in FIG. 4 at reference
numeral 414) mounted in the rack 400 through the vent holes 412 of
a side panel 410, and/or to promote an effective flow of warm
exhaust air therefrom through the vent holes 412 of a side panel
410. In such circumstances, the rack 400 is a suitable rack for
receiving heat-generating devices (e.g., such as the Catalyst
WS-C4510R switch marketed by Cisco Systems, Inc., an illustration
of which is provided in FIG. 10, and/or other switches marketed by
Cisco Systems, such as the Catalyst WS-C6513, and/or switches
marketed by other companies than Cisco, and/or one or more
non-switch devices with side-to-side ventilation) configured to
draw cooling air through a lateral side of the device 414 (e.g., as
opposed to through a front panel of the device 414) adjacent one of
the side panels 410, and to expel warm exhaust air through an
opposite lateral side of the device 414 (e.g., as opposed to
through a rear panel of the device) adjacent the other of the side
panels 410. It is noted that while such a side-cooled and
side-exhausted device 414 is entirely compatible with the rack 400,
the same may not necessarily be as compatible with conventional
cable management racks, predominant portions of the respective
areas (i.e., height and breadth) of the side panels of the uprights
of which tend to be intact and substantially un-perforated, and may
therefore be substantially impervious to the passage of cooling
and/or exhaust air flows therethrough.
[0023] Specifically with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4,
the plurality of vent holes 412 may advantageously collectively
extend across a predominant portion of the surface area (e.g., the
height and breadth) of the side panel 410, and/or each of the vent
holes may advantageously be of sufficiently large size relative to
a thickness of the side panel 410, to allow the side panel 410 to
offer a relatively low level of resistance to the passage of air
through the side panel 410 consistent with the rack 400 being
operable to deliver an effective flow of cooling air to the device
414 through the vent holes 412 of a side panel 410, and/or to
eliminate an effective flow of exhaust air from the device 414
through the vent holes 412 of a side panel. As shown in FIG. 4, in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, the vent
holes 412 may take the form of one or more regular or irregular
arrays (e.g., one or more similarly configured regular or irregular
arrays) comprising a plurality of such vent holes 412 and
collectively representing a predominant portion (e.g., between
about 50% to about 55%, between about 55% to about 60%, between
about 60% to about 65%, between about 65% to about 70%, between
about 70% to about 75%, between about 75% to about 80%, between
about 80% to about 85%, and/or greater than about 85%) of the total
area (e.g., the entire height and breadth/depth) of the side panel
410 of the respective upright 402. Other arrangements are possible,
including embodiments wherein the vent holes 412 take the form of a
regular array comprising a plurality of such vent holes 412
representing a predominant portion (e.g., between about 50% to
about 55%, between about 55% to about 60%, between about 60% to
about 65%, between about 65% to about 70%, between about 70% to
about 75%, between about 75% to about 80%, between about 80% to
about 85%, and/or greater than about 85%) of the total area (e.g.,
the entire height and breadth/depth) of a portion of the side panel
410 of the respective upright 402 (e.g., wherein the a portion in
question of the side panel 410 represents between about 10% to
about 15%, between about 15% to about 20%, between about 20% to
about 25%, between about 25% to about 30%, between about 30% to
about 35%, between about 35% to about 40%, between about 40% to
about 45%, between about 45% to about 50%, between about 50% to
about 55%, between about 55% to about 60%, between about 60% to
about 65%, between about 65% to about 70%, between about 70% to
about 75%, and/or between about 75% to about 80%, of the total area
(e.g., the entire height and breadth/depth) of the side panel 410
of the respective upright 402).
[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with embodiments of the
present disclosure, the vent holes 412 may advantageously form one
or more honeycomb-type arrays of hexagonal perforations through the
side panel 410 as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the respective shapes of
the array and the individual perforations may be beneficial for
purposes of achieving relatively high structural rigidity while
simultaneously permitting a relatively high proportion of the area
(e.g., height and breadth/depth) covered by the respective arrays
to be open and amenable to the unhindered passage through the
upright 402 of respective flows of cooling and/or warm exhaust air
with respect to the device 414 mounted therein. In accordance with
other embodiments of the present disclosure, other shapes than a
honeycomb shape may be provided for the array of vent holes 412,
and/or other shapes than a hexagonal shape may be provided for the
vent holes 412 themselves. For example, the vent holes 412 may be
arranged in an regular array of columns and rows (e.g., vertical
columns and horizontal rows), and/or the vent holes themselves may
manifest other shapes (e.g., regular or irregular shapes, circles,
rhombi, squares, rectangles, etc., or a combination thereof).
Further, the vent holes 412 need not necessarily be punched holes,
but may be formed using any number of conventional manufacturing
techniques (e.g., via molding, machining, drilling, etc.), and need
not necessarily provide a perpendicular and/or a straight path for
air to pass through the upright 402 (e.g., may be oriented at an
angle to the normal, and/or may be provided with one or more
slanted and/or fixed and/or movable fins or vanes or louvers to
influence the flow of air through the upright).
[0025] Turning now to FIG. 5, an arrangement 500 in accordance with
embodiments of the present disclosure includes multiple instances
of a cable management rack similar to the rack 400 of FIG. 4,
including a rack 502, a rack 504, and a rack 506, a cable
management cage 508 disposed between the rack 502 and the rack 504,
a cable management cage 510 disposed between the rack 504 and the
rack 506, a side-cooled device 512 mounted in the rack 502, a
side-cooled and side-exhausted device 514 mounted in the rack 504,
and a side-exhausted device 516 mounted in the rack 506. A space or
corridor 518 defined at least in part by a front side 520 of the
arrangement 500 includes a supply of cool air for cooling at least
the device 512 mounted in the rack 502, and the device 514 mounted
in the rack 504. The arrangement 500 further includes multiple
instances of a baffle 521 for redirecting respective flows of
cooling and/or warm exhaust air flows. As shown by respective flows
of cool air indicated at 522 and 524, the cooling air enters the
devices 512, 514 via respective lateral sides of each such device
512, 514 after having been received from the front side 520 of the
arrangement 500 adjacent the corridor 518 and redirected (e.g.,
redirected 90 degrees) by a respective instance of a baffle 521,
such that the devices 512, 514 receive the flows 522, 524 only
indirectly, rather than directly, through the front side 520 of the
arrangement 500 adjacent the corridor 518. A space or corridor 526
is defined at least in part by a rear side 528 of the arrangement
500, and as shown by respective flows of warm exhaust air indicated
at 530 and 532, respective flows of warm exhaust air exit the
devices 514, 516 via respective lateral sides of each such device
514, 516, and are redirected (e.g., redirected 90 degrees) by
respective instances of a baffle 521, such that the devices 514,
516 discharge the flows 530, 532 only indirectly, rather than
directly, through the rear side 528 of the arrangement adjacent the
corridor 526.
[0026] As those of ordinary skill will readily recognize, the
present disclosure, and more particularly, the arrangement 500, is
not necessarily limited to embodiments including cable management
cages (e.g., such as the cable management cage 508 or the cable
management cage 510). For example, in accordance with embodiments
of the present disclosure, either or both of the cable management
cage 508 and the cable management cage 510 may be removed, and/or
substituted for by the use of any other suitable system or
component capable of performing the function of verticalstyle wire
management.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, each of which illustrates
a portion of a respective variation of the arrangement 500 of FIG.
5, each of the racks 502, 504, and 506 may include an upright 600
similar to the uprights 402 of FIG. 4, and may further include a
perforated side panel 602. Each instance of a baffle 521 may be
mounted against a side panel 602. One or more (or all) of the
baffles 521 may include a cover 604 for preventing at least one of
a flow of cooling air flow or a flow of warm exhaust air from
extending beyond a certain distance vertically in the regions of
the baffles 521 between the racks 502, 504, and 506 (e.g., to
reduce and/or eliminate the intermingling of exhaust flows
associated with respective side-cooled and/or side-exhausted
devices resident in the same rack, and/or to reduce and/or
eliminate the possibility that an exhaust flow from one side-cooled
and/or side-exhausted device will back up into another such device
resident in the same rack).
[0028] Although the present disclosure has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments and implementations, it is to be
understood that the present disclosure is neither limited by nor
restricted to such exemplary embodiments and/or implementations.
Rather, the present disclosure is susceptible to various
modifications, enhancements and variations without departing from
the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the present
disclosure expressly encompasses such modifications, enhancements
and variations as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in
the art from the disclosure herein contained.
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