U.S. patent application number 12/855541 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for free access floor and partitioning method.
This patent application is currently assigned to FUJITSU LIMITED. Invention is credited to Junichi ISHIMINE, Tadashi KATSUI, Ikuro NAGAMATSU, Yuji OHBA, Seiichi SAITO, Masahiro SUZUKI, Akira UEDA, Yasushi URAKI, Nobuyoshi YAMAOKA.
Application Number | 20110047909 12/855541 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43431911 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110047909 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KATSUI; Tadashi ; et
al. |
March 3, 2011 |
FREE ACCESS FLOOR AND PARTITIONING METHOD
Abstract
A free access floor formed by free access panels arranged above
a base floor. The free access floor includes a specific panel that
is one of the free access panels and has a slit, and a partitioning
plate inserted into the slit, so as to hang down from a surface of
the specific panel and orient airflow in a space between the base
floor and the free access panels.
Inventors: |
KATSUI; Tadashi; (Kawasaki,
JP) ; ISHIMINE; Junichi; (Kawasaki, JP) ;
SAITO; Seiichi; (Kawasaki, JP) ; SUZUKI;
Masahiro; (Kawasaki, JP) ; NAGAMATSU; Ikuro;
(Kawasaki, JP) ; OHBA; Yuji; (Kawasaki, JP)
; YAMAOKA; Nobuyoshi; (Kawasaki, JP) ; UEDA;
Akira; (Kawasaki, JP) ; URAKI; Yasushi;
(Kawasaki, JP) |
Assignee: |
FUJITSU LIMITED
Kawasaki
JP
|
Family ID: |
43431911 |
Appl. No.: |
12/855541 |
Filed: |
August 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/302.1 ;
52/745.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04F 15/02405
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/302.1 ;
52/745.05 |
International
Class: |
E04B 5/48 20060101
E04B005/48; E04B 1/70 20060101 E04B001/70 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 28, 2009 |
JP |
2009-198545 |
Claims
1. A free access floor formed by free access panels arranged above
a base floor, comprising: a specific panel that is one of the free
access panels and has a slit; and a partitioning plate inserted
into the slit, so as to hang down from a surface of the specific
panel and to orient airflow in a space between the base floor and
the free access panels.
2. The free access floor according to claim 1, wherein the
partitioning plate is provided between pillars that support the
specific panel on the base floor.
3. The free access floor according to claim 1, wherein the specific
panel has an additional slit with the same shape as the slit.
4. The free access floor according to claim 1, wherein the
partitioning plate includes a flexible member and a weight attached
to a lower edge of the flexible member.
5. A partitioning method for partitioning a space between a base
floor and a free access floor above the base floor, the free access
floor being formed by free access panels, the method comprising:
inserting a partitioning plate into a slit that is formed in a
specific panel of the free access panels, so that the partitioning
plate hangs down from a surface of the specific panel; and
orienting airflow in the space by the partitioning plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of
priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-198545,
filed on Aug. 28, 2009, the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The embodiment discussed herein is related to a method of
forming a floor structure and an underfloor space and, more
particularly, to a technique of partitioning the underfloor
space.
BACKGROUND
[0003] There is known a free access floor (also referred to as
"raised floor" or "free access") formed by laying floor panels
(free access panels) in a bridged manner over supporting legs
regularly arranged in a raised manner on a base floor face.
Further, there is known a floor structure in which the underfloor
space of the free access floor is partitioned by arranging a
partition plate between two supporting legs (refer to, e.g., the
following Patent Document 1). In the floor structure of Patent
Document 1, the upper section of the partition plate is fixed onto
a pedestal for placing a panel in a support leg, and the lower
section of the partition plate is fastened onto an L-shaped angle
material fixed and mounted onto a base floor face or the base plate
of the support leg. Then, a plate supporter is set up to the
L-shaped angle material in a height adjustable manner and the lower
section of the partition plate is fixed onto the plate
supporter.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3914315
[0004] Although the above mentioned prior art allows the underfloor
space of the free access floor to be partitioned by the
partitioning plate, the structure for fixing the partitioning plate
is complicated. For example, in a data center, there may be a case
where the number of racks accommodating IT devices is frequently
increased/decreased or the layout of the racks is frequently
changed. In such a case, the complicated structure in the above
mentioned prior art makes it difficult to change the direction of
the flow of air such as cooling air flowing in the underfloor
space. Therefore, a heat problem casing a system to be unstable,
such as heat accumulation (hot spot generated in an area, such as
air intake faces of the IT devices, where the temperature should be
kept low), easily occurs. Further, there may be a case where cold
air is diffused in the underfloor area at which no rack is
installed (cooling is unnecessary) in the initial phase of the
system operation in the data center, resulting in the use of extra
air-conditioning power. Such power consumption is considered to be
a serious problem at the present circumstances where the scale of
the data center is increased with progress of IT and it is
necessary to reduce a power consumption so as to reduce carbon
dioxide emissions in the large-scale data center.
SUMMARY
[0005] According to an aspect of the invention, a free access floor
formed by free access panels arranged above a base floor is
provided. The free access floor includes a specific panel that is
one of the free access panels and has a slit, and a partitioning
plate inserted into the slit, so as to hang down from a surface of
the specific panel and orient airflow in a space between the base
floor and the free access panels.
[0006] The object and advantages of the invention will be realized
and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly
pointed out in the claims.
[0007] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention, as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a part of a free access
floor;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the part of the free
access floor of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a state
where a partitioning plate is set in a free access panel;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view illustrating a state
where the partitioning plate is not set in the free access
panel;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating examples of a case where
a plurality of partitioning plates are set in one free access
panel;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flexible
partitioning plate;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where
the flexible partitioning plate is used;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a method of fixing the
flexible partitioning plate to a supporting portion;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating another example of the fixing
method of the flexible partitioning plate; and
[0017] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an example of a free access
floor in which a flow path of cooling air is formed.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
[0018] An embodiment of the present invention will be described
below with reference to the accompanying drawings. A free access
floor according to the embodiment can be applied to a floor of a
data center where the number or layout of racks accommodating
servers and the like is frequently changed.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a part of the free access
floor, and FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the part of the free
access floor of FIG. 1. In FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of free
access panels 1a are arranged in a plane to form a free access
floor 1. The free access floor 1 is supported by a plurality of
pillars 3 raised on a base floor 2. A space is formed between the
free access floor 1 and the base floor 2.
[0020] In the present example, the free access panels 1a each have
a rectangular shape, and the pillars 3 each support the area where
the vertexes of the four free access panels 1a contact each other.
Thus, the pillars 3 each support the vertexes of the free access
panels 1a at substantially the center of its support surface.
[0021] Some free access panels (specific panels) among the
plurality of free access panels 1a have a slit 5. The slit 5 is
formed in any one or plurality of free access panels (specific
panels) 1a among the plurality of free access panels 1a.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view taken along the II-II
line of FIG. 1 in a state where a partitioning plate is set in a
free access panel. A partitioning plate 6 that orients airflow in
the space between the base floor 2 and free access floor 1 is
inserted into a given slit 5 among the plurality of slits 5, as
illustrated in FIG. 3. In other words, the partitioning plate 6
determines the direction of the flow of air flowing in the space.
The partitioning plate 6 is detachably provided so as to hang down
from the surface of the free access panel 1a.
[0023] In the configuration described above, the slit 5 is, in the
free access panel 1a in which the slit 5 is formed, formed to
extend between the pillars 3 that support the free access panels 1a
on the base floor 2. Insertion of the partitioning plate 6 into the
slit 5 allows the space in one direction of the free access panel
1a to be partitioned by the pillars 3 and the partitioning plate
6.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view taken along the II-II
line of FIG. 1 in a state where the partitioning plate is not set
in the free access panel. As illustrated in FIG. 4, to the slit 5
into which the partitioning plate 6 is not inserted, a closing
plate 7 is fitted so as to close the slit 5. More specifically, a
step 5a is formed on the upper surface side of the free access
panel 1a, and the closing plate 7 is fitted to the step 5a to
thereby close the slit 5 while making the surfaces of the free
access panel 1a constituting the free access floor 1 flush with
each other. When the partitioning plate 6 is used, a support
portion 6a formed at the upper edge of the partitioning plate 6 is
stopped by the step portion 5a, whereby the partitioning plate 6 is
supported by the free access panel 1a.
[0025] The partitioning plate 6 illustrated in FIG. 3 is a plate
member made of e.g., wood or plastic and is formed integrally with
the supporting portion 6a.
[0026] In the example of FIG. 1, one slit 5 is formed in one free
access panel 1a. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, a
plurality of slits 5 may be formed in one free access panel 1a for
receiving the insertion of the partitioning plate 6. In the case of
FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, the plurality of slits 5 are formed so as to
extend along the respective sides of the rectangular free access
panel 1a perpendicularly or in parallel to each other.
[0027] Another configuration of the partitioning plate will be
described. Although the partitioning plate 6 is formed of a plate
member in the example of FIG. 3, a partitioning plate 16
illustrated in FIG. 6 is formed of a flexible member. The
partitioning plate 16 of FIG. 6 has a configuration in which a
partitioning portion 16b formed of a flexible member such as a
flexible fabric having a sufficient size and shape to partition the
space under the panel is fixed to a support portion 16a, and a
plurality of weights 16c are fitted to the lower edge of the
partitioning portion 16b. In other words, the plurality of weights
16c are attached to a lower edge of the partitioning portion 16b.
The fabric may be a chemical fiber (nylon, polyester, etc.) or
vinyl chloride sheet. The weight 16c may be a metal material (iron,
etc.) or a plastic resin material.
[0028] The use of such a flexible partitioning plate 16 allows the
hanging amount (length of the partitioning portion 16 in the height
direction) of the partitioning plate 16 to be adjusted so as to,
e.g., prevent the upper end portion (support portion 16a) of the
partitioning plate 16 from protruding from the free access floor 1
even when an obstacle 9 exists on the base floor 2, thereby easily
partitioning the underfloor space. Further, even when the level of
the base floor 2 is raised as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the use of
the flexible partitioning plate 16 allows easy partitioning of the
underfloor space.
[0029] In the case where the flexible partitioning plate is used,
the partitioning plate may be fixed to the support portion as
follows. That is, the upper edge 16d of the flexible member 16b
constituting the partitioning portion 16b is adhered to the support
portion by adhesives as illustrated in FIG. 8 or the upper edge 16d
of the flexible member 16b is mechanically fixed to the support
portion by tacks, pins, or screws 11 as illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0030] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of the free access floor 1
according to the present embodiment. The plurality of free access
panels 1a each in which the partitioning plate 6 (or partitioning
plate 16) is provided are combined to form a flow path R of cooling
air in the underfloor space. Accordingly, the cooling air emitted
from an air conditioner 20 is not made to flow in a location where
cooling is unnecessary but is made to effectively flow only in the
flow path R formed by the partitioning plates 6, thereby reducing
power consumption required for air conditioning. Further, the
configuration of the flow path R can easily be changed by selecting
whether to set or not the partitioning plate 6 to the slit of the
free access panel 1a or selecting an appropriate slit to which the
partitioning plate 6 is set in terms of its extending direction. In
other words, the partitioning plate 6 orients airflow in the space
between the base floor 2 and the free access panels 1a.
Accordingly, a partitioning method is provided. The partitioning
method includes inserting the partitioning plate 6 into the slit 5,
so that the partitioning plate 6 hangs down from a surface of the
free access panel 1a, and orienting airflow in the space by the
partitioning plate 6.
[0031] Thus, according to the embodiment, the cooling air toward an
area where cooling is unnecessary can easily be blocked during,
e.g., the initial phase of the system operation in a data center,
enabling a reduction of power cost of an air conditioner. Further,
the free access floor 1 can easily be partitioned in accordance
with an analysis area that is cut out from the free access floor 1
for modeling of air-condition simulation, increasing accuracy of
analysis made by the air-condition simulation. Further, it is
possible to easily partition the underfloor space from above the
free access floor 1 in a state where racks or air conditioners are
set in the free access floor 1 and to easily change the direction
of the flow of wind in the underfloor space.
[0032] All examples and conditional language recited herein are
intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in
understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the
inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being
without limitation to such specifically recited examples and
conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the
specification relate to a depicting of the superiority and
inferiority of the invention. Although the embodiment(s) of the
present inventions have been described in detail, it should be
understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations
could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention.
* * * * *