Computer enclosure rack mounting system

[0002] This invention relates to rack mounting techniques for computer enclosures.

[0003] In commercial settings, multiple computer enclosures are sometimes mounted in a vertical rack structure. This technique is referred to as “rack mounting,” and is most frequently used with server-type computers that are accessed remotely via a network.

[0004] One common prior art rack mounting technique utilizes “quick disconnect” extension slides. In a quick disconnect extension slide installation, left and right telescoping slide assemblies are attached to the rack structure. A pair of removable inner slides is removed from the left and right assemblies. The removed slides are then attached to left and right sides, respectively, of a computer enclosure by means of bolts or screws. After this has been done, the inner slides must then be realigned with the telescoping slide assemblies on the rack and reinserted into them to complete the installation of the computer enclosure into the rack. While somewhat popular, this technique has several drawbacks associated with it:

[0005] First, it is ergonomically difficult to install a product into a rack using the quick disconnect slide technique. For heavier products, realignment of the removed slides with those on the rack becomes challenging after the computer enclosure has been attached to the removed slides. This is particularly true for installations into the higher slots of a tall rack. In addition, realignment of the removed slides requires the installer or installers to stand in front of the enclosure and rack. This can be problematic in the tight quarters of a computer room.

[0006] Second, quick disconnect slide assemblies are prone to bearing damage during the installation of a computer into the rack. Specifically, the bearings between the removable inner slides and the non-removable slide assemblies are not capable of rolling during reinsertion of the removed inner slides. This creates forces so great during reinsertion that entire two-meter rack assemblies have been known to roll backwards responsive to the insertion force.

[0007] Third, the inner and outer slides of a quick disconnect assembly frequently must be treated as matched sets because of the tight tolerances that are required to cause them to function properly. For this reason, some manufacturers sell the inner and outer slide sets as pre-measured pairs. Consequently, it is often not possible to move a computer enclosure from one slot to another, or from one rack to another rack, without first removing the original pair of inner slides from the enclosure and installing a different pair of inner slides to the enclosure.

[0008] Finally, after a product has been mounted to a pair of inner slides and before the slides are inserted into the rack, the slide/product assembly is sometimes awkward to handle. This presents unwanted possibilities for damage both to the product and to the slides.

[0009] A need therefore exists for a better technique for mounting computer enclosures into a rack.

[0010] A computer enclosure rack mounting system according to the invention employs standoff members attached to left and right rails of telescoping extension slides. A computer enclosure adapted to be used with the inventive rack mounting system includes bearing surfaces that are adapted to receive the standoff members. To install the computer enclosure into the rack, the left and right rails are extended, and the computer enclosure is lowered toward the rails until the standoff members of the rails engage the bearing surfaces of the enclosure so as to support the enclosure. After this has been done, the enclosure and rails are simply slid back into the rack. The rails need not be removed from the rack to install the enclosure, and the enclosure need not be mounted to the rails by means of screws or bolts. The enclosure may be easily removed from the rack by reversing the just-described procedure, and may be installed into a different slot or a different rack without removing or replacing the rails.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a computer enclosure and rack mounting system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 is an oblique view of one of the standoff members of the system of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the standoff member of FIG. 2.

[0014] FIG. 4 is an oblique view of an extendable slide member of the system of FIG. 1 illustrating a preferred mounting arrangement for the standoff members thereon.

[0015] FIG. 5 is an oblique view of a computer enclosure adapted to receive standoff members according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a rack mounting system 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawing, a single slot 102 of a multi-slot rack 104 is shown. A left extendable rail assembly 106 and a right extendable rail assembly 108 are mounted to rack 104 on the left and right sides, respectively, of slot 102. Two left standoff members 110 protrude from left rail assembly 106. Two right standoff members 112 protrude from right rail assembly 108. Computer enclosure 114 includes left recesses 116 and right recesses 500. (Right recesses 500 are identical to left recesses 116. They are not visible in FIG. 1, but are partially visible in FIG. 5.) Recesses 116 and 500 are adapted to receive standoff members 110 and 112 when enclosure 114 is lowered toward rails 106 and 108 as indicated by arrows 118. When the recesses engage the standoff members, computer enclosure 114 is supported by rail assemblies 106 and 108.

[0017] Preferably, left and right standoff members 110, 112 protrude from rails 106, 108 toward the inside of slot 102. Standoff members 110, 112 are illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. Preferably, each standoff member 110, 112 includes a threaded portion 200, a shank portion 202, and a head portion 204 as shown. Threaded portion 200 is screwed into a corresponding threaded hole in an extending slide member 400 of rail assemblies 106, 108 as shown in FIG. 4. Once a standoff member has been so installed into slide member 400, the inner face 206 of shank portion 202 will rest against the inside surface 402 of slide member 400. In this manner, shank portion 202 and head portion 204 will both extend into slot 102. Preferably, head portion 204 is tapered toward shank portion 202 as shown. This feature allows standoff members 110, 112 to guide recesses 116, 500 as enclosure 114 is lowered. Once recesses 116, 500 are engaged with standoff members 110, 112, they will rest on shank portions 202.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, one or more sets of threaded holes 404 may be provided in alternative locations along slide member 400 to accommodate variously-sized computer enclosures. In such an embodiment, threaded standoff members 110, 112 may easily be moved to the alternative locations by unscrewing them from one set of holes and screwing them into the alternative set of holes.

[0019] Recesses 116, 500 are shown in more detail in FIG. 5. Each of the recesses includes a channel 502 having a first end 504 and a second end 506. The first end 504 is open and is substantially wider than the width of a standoff member so as to provide ample clearance for receiving the standoff member. The second end 506 is closed so as to provide a bearing surface for engaging the standoff member. The bearing surface rests against shank portion 202 of the standoff member when engaged. In a preferred embodiment, the width of end 506 is approximately equal to the diameter of shank portion 202 Oust large enough to receive the shank but no so large as to allow much lateral movement of the standoff member). Preferably, channel 502 includes a tapering region 508 between the first and second ends 504, 506 to facilitate alignment of the standoff member with end 506 while enclosure 114 is being lowered. In the embodiment shown, recesses 116, 500 are integrally formed in the material (typically sheet metal) of enclosure 114. In alternative embodiments, brackets may be mounted to enclosure 114 to provide bearing surfaces for engaging the standoff members.

[0020] To install enclosure 114 into rack 104, slide members 400 are extended forward. (Members 400 need not be removed from rack 104 as they were in prior art techniques.) Computer enclosure 114 is aligned over rails 106, 108 and members 400 so that recesses 116, 500 are above standoffs 110, 112. Enclosure 114 is then lowered onto rails 106, 108 so that the shank portions 202 of the standoff members engage the closed ends 506 of the recesses, thereby supporting enclosure 114 on rails 106, 108. Slide members 400 may then be retracted into slot 102 of rack 104, completing the installation. As was mentioned above, the standoff members may be screwed into alternative holes 404 prior to installation in order to accommodate differently-sized enclosures. The choice of which holes to be used may be driven by the locations of the corresponding recesses on the enclosure. To remove the enclosure from the rack, the just-described procedure is simply reversed.

[0021] While the invention has been described herein with reference to a particular embodiment, the illustrated embodiment has been shown by way of example and not by way of limitation. Persons having ordinary skill in the art and having reference to this specification will appreciate that various alternative embodiments may be created while remaining within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.