Patent Application
20070145220
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.
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.
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.
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 ⅓ U height. Similar opportunities exist for other memory configurations.
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.
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:
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.
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 ⅝ inch and space the sets at ½ 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
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, ⅝ 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 ⅝ 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 ½ inch spacing).
In a first embodiment of the invention, shown in
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
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
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
In a second embodiment in accordance with this invention, the rack engaging member is a bracket 20 (
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
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.
