Counterweight device for adjusting gravity center of cabinet and cabinet

Abstract

The invention discloses a counter weight device for cabinet gravity center adjustment and a cabinet, and the device comprises a supporting structure which is configured to be installed in a preset vacancy in the cabinet in a pluggable manner, and the supporting structure is provided with a moving groove; the at least one balancing weight is mounted on the moving groove in a sliding manner; the driving mechanism is connected with the balancing weight and used for driving the balancing weight to move along the moving groove; wherein the gravity center of the cabinet is adjusted through the position movement of the balancing weight on the moving groove.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of configuration and adjustment technology of electronic equipment, and in particular to a counterweight device and cabinet for adjusting the center of gravity of a cabinet. Background Technology

[0002] Server racks are widely used in data centers with high computing power and large-scale models. However, different customers have different configuration requirements for racks, such as the model of cooling distribution units, the number and installation location of servers, and the layout of power distribution units and network equipment. These differences result in varying center of gravity positions for each rack. In actual logistics and transportation, a shift in the center of gravity can lead to a serious risk of tipping over. Currently, the center of gravity position of the rack is mainly determined manually. However, due to the different configurations of different racks, manual estimation is prone to errors in estimating the center of gravity position, leading to instability in the rack's center of gravity during transportation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a counterweight device and a cabinet for adjusting the center of gravity of a cabinet.

[0004] On one hand, embodiments of this application provide a counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of a server rack, comprising: A support structure is configured to be pluggably installed in a predetermined space inside the cabinet, the support structure being provided with a movable slot; At least one counterweight is slidably mounted on the movable slot; A drive mechanism, connected to the counterweight, is used to drive the counterweight to move along the moving groove; The center of gravity of the cabinet is adjusted by moving the counterweight on the moving slot.

[0005] Optionally, the device further includes: The control unit, electrically connected to the drive mechanism, is used to receive a center of gravity adjustment command and, based on the command, control the drive mechanism to drive the counterweight block to move on the moving slot, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the cabinet.

[0006] Optionally, the driving mechanism includes a drive motor and a transmission assembly. The drive motor is fixed to the support structure, and the transmission assembly connects the drive motor and the counterweight to convert the rotational motion of the drive motor into the linear motion of the counterweight. The control unit includes a microcontroller and a motor drive circuit. The microcontroller is used to receive center of gravity adjustment commands and generate control signals. The motor drive circuit is electrically connected to the microcontroller and the drive motor and is used to control the operation of the drive motor according to the control signals.

[0007] Optionally, the moving slot includes: The first movable slot is disposed within the supporting structure and extends along the width direction of the cabinet; The second movable slot is disposed within the supporting structure and extends along the depth direction of the cabinet; The counterweight is movably mounted on the first moving slot or the second moving slot.

[0008] Optionally, the width of the support structure matches the width of the mounting rails of the rack, and the depth of the support structure is less than the depth of the rack, so that the support structure can be inserted into a predetermined space inside the rack; the support structure is configured to be installed in the reserved space between the cooling distribution unit and the server equipment area inside the rack.

[0009] Optionally, the device further includes a locking mechanism disposed between the counterweight and the moving slot, or between the counterweight and the support structure, for locking the counterweight after it has moved to the target position.

[0010] Optionally, the counterweight is provided with a position adjustment point, which is used to indicate the current position of the counterweight. The type of the position adjustment point includes at least one of the following: groove, protrusion, scale mark or threaded hole.

[0011] Optionally, the device further includes a position sensor disposed on the moving slot or in the driving mechanism, for detecting the real-time position of the counterweight and feeding back the real-time position to the control unit.

[0012] Optionally, the control unit is also configured to: Obtain the current configuration information of the target rack; Based on the current configuration information, determine the center of gravity deviation between the estimated center of gravity of the target cabinet and the target center of gravity; Based on the center of gravity deviation, determine the target position that the counterweight block in the counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet needs to move in the width direction and / or depth direction; The drive mechanism is controlled to move the counterweight along the first moving groove and / or the second moving groove to the target position, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the target cabinet to a preset range.

[0013] On the other hand, embodiments of this application also provide a cabinet, including: The cabinet itself has at least one equipment installation area inside; At least one of the aforementioned counterweight devices for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet is pluggably installed in a predetermined space inside the cabinet body. The counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet adjusts the center of gravity distribution of the cabinet body by moving the position of its internal counterweight blocks. Attached Figure Description

[0014] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments recorded in this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of a server rack, according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 This is another schematic diagram of a counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of a server rack, according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 This is a front view of a counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of a server rack, according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 This is a rear view of the counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of a server rack according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a cabinet according to one embodiment of this application.

[0016] Figure label: 10 - Counterweight device; 20 - Cabinet; 100 - Support structure; 200 - Counterweight block; 310 - First moving slot; 320 - Second moving slot. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Various embodiments and features of this application are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] It should be understood that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described herein. Therefore, the above description should not be considered as limiting, but merely as an example of embodiments. Other modifications within the scope and spirit of this application will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which are included in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with the general description of the present application given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0020] These and other features of this application will become apparent from the following description of preferred forms of embodiments given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] It should also be understood that although this application has been described with reference to some specific examples, those skilled in the art can certainly implement many other equivalent forms of this application.

[0022] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of this application will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and in view of the following detailed description.

[0023] Specific embodiments of this application are described thereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings; however, it should be understood that the claimed embodiments are merely examples of this application, which can be implemented in various ways. Well-known and / or repeated functions and structures are not described in detail to avoid unnecessary or redundant details that could obscure the application. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details claimed herein are not intended to be limiting, but merely serve as the basis and representative basis for the claims to teach those skilled in the art to use this application in a variety of substantially any suitable detailed structures.

[0024] This specification may use the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” “in yet another embodiment,” or “in other embodiments,” all of which may refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments according to this application.

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a counterweight device 10 for adjusting the center of gravity of a server rack, according to an embodiment of this application, is shown. This application provides a counterweight device 10 for adjusting the center of gravity of a server rack, as follows: Figure 1 As shown, it includes: The support structure 100 is configured to be pluggably installed in a predetermined space inside the cabinet, and the support structure is provided with a movable slot. At least one counterweight 200 is slidably mounted on the movable slot; A drive mechanism, connected to the counterweight 200, is used to drive the counterweight 200 to move along the moving groove; The center of gravity of the cabinet is adjusted by moving the counterweight 200 on the moving slot.

[0026] The cabinet in this embodiment can be a standardized frame structure for the centralized installation, support, and protection of electronic equipment. For example, the cabinet typically includes a server equipment area for installing computing devices such as servers and storage devices. It may also include a Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) for distributing and controlling the coolant in the liquid cooling system. The counterweight device 10 in this embodiment can be used to adjust the overall center of gravity distribution of the cabinet. It changes its own weight distribution through internal movable counterweights, thereby offsetting or compensating for the center of gravity shift caused by uneven internal equipment configuration, thus stabilizing the cabinet's center of gravity within a preset safe range.

[0027] The support structure 100 serves as the foundation for the counterweight device 10. It can be constructed from a metal chassis, with a width matching the mounting rails of the chassis and a depth less than the chassis depth. The interior of the support structure 100 forms a space for mounting the moving slot, counterweight 200, and drive mechanism. The moving slot can be a horizontally extending linear guide rail, fixedly mounted on the base plate of the support structure 100. The moving slot can be formed by stamping metal sheet; for example, its cross-section can be U-shaped, with the side walls folded upwards to form guide surfaces. The counterweight 200 is a component used to generate and adjust gravity, and can be made of high-density metal. For example, the bottom of the counterweight 200 can have a sliding seat that slides into the moving slot; the sliding seat can be equipped with a slider or roller to reduce friction with the moving slot. The counterweight 200 can also be equipped with a sliding screw, which passes through the counterweight 200 and engages with the side wall of the moving slot to guide the counterweight 200 along the moving slot and prevent the counterweight 200 from shifting or wobbling during movement. The drive mechanism is the power source for the movement of the counterweight 200. It is connected to the counterweight 200 and is used to drive the counterweight 200 to move along the moving groove. When the drive mechanism receives a control command, it can drive the counterweight 200 to move, thereby achieving precise displacement of the counterweight 200 in the moving groove.

[0028] In this embodiment, the counterweight device 10 can be inserted into a predetermined empty space inside the rack (e.g., the reserved space between the cooling distribution unit and the server equipment area), and the support structure 100 is fixed to the rack's guide rails. When it is necessary to adjust the rack's center of gravity, the drive mechanism can be controlled to operate according to the center of gravity adjustment command. The drive mechanism drives the counterweight block 200 to move along the moving slot to the target position. By changing the position of the counterweight block 200 on the moving slot, the overall weight distribution of the device is changed, thereby changing the overall center of gravity of the rack on which it is installed, thus achieving the adjustment of the rack's center of gravity.

[0029] This application achieves precise positional movement of the counterweight 200 on the moving slot by setting a pluggable support structure 100 installed in a predetermined empty space inside the rack, a counterweight 200 sliding along the moving slot, and a drive mechanism connected to the counterweight 200. This enables the rack to actively and flexibly change its overall center of gravity distribution, solving the problem of rack center of gravity shift caused by different configurations. This lays a structural foundation for reducing transportation risks, saving logistics costs, and realizing modular testing. It can be applied to AI server clusters, liquid-cooled racks, and other equipment transportation and testing scenarios that require precise center of gravity control.

[0030] In one embodiment of this application, the apparatus further includes: The control unit, electrically connected to the drive mechanism, is used to receive a center of gravity adjustment command and, based on the command, control the drive mechanism to drive the counterweight 200 to move on the moving slot, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the cabinet.

[0031] In this embodiment, the control unit is located inside the support structure 100 and is electrically connected to the drive mechanism. The control unit can connect to an external management server via a communication interface to receive center of gravity adjustment commands; the center of gravity adjustment commands include target position information of the counterweight 200 or center of gravity deviation information used to calculate the target position. Based on the received commands, the control unit calculates the direction and distance that the counterweight 200 needs to move and generates corresponding control signals.

[0032] When the rack's center of gravity needs adjustment, the external management server can send a center of gravity adjustment command to the control unit. The control unit parses the command, calculates the target position of the counterweight 200, and outputs a corresponding number and frequency of pulse signals based on the difference between the current position and the target position. This controls the drive mechanism to move the counterweight 200 along the moving slot to the target position. By moving the counterweight 200, the overall weight distribution of the device is changed, thereby adjusting the rack's center of gravity.

[0033] In one embodiment of this application, the driving mechanism includes a drive motor and a transmission assembly. The drive motor is fixed to the support structure 100, and the transmission assembly connects the drive motor and the counterweight 200 to convert the rotational motion of the drive motor into the linear motion of the counterweight 200. The control unit includes a microcontroller and a motor drive circuit. The microcontroller is used to receive center of gravity adjustment commands and generate control signals. The motor drive circuit is electrically connected to the microcontroller and the drive motor and is used to control the operation of the drive motor according to the control signals.

[0034] In this embodiment, the drive mechanism includes a drive motor and a transmission assembly. The drive motor can be a stepper motor, fixedly mounted on the rear end of the support structure 100. The transmission assembly can be a lead screw and nut pair, including a lead screw and a nut. The lead screw is horizontally arranged along the extension direction of the moving groove, its front end is rotatably supported on the front of the support structure 100 via a bearing seat, and its rear end is coaxially connected to the output shaft of the drive motor via a coupling. The nut is fixed on the sliding seat of the counterweight block 200 and threadedly engages with the lead screw.

[0035] The drive motor can also be a stepper motor, fixedly mounted at the rear end of the support structure 100. The transmission assembly can be a gear and rack pair, with the output shaft of the drive motor connected to the gear, and a rack fixed on the counterweight 200 that meshes with the gear. The drive motor drives the gear to rotate, and the counterweight 200 moves linearly through the meshing of the gear and rack. Alternatively, the transmission assembly can be a synchronous belt drive, with the output shaft of the drive motor connected to a synchronous pulley, a synchronous belt fitted on the pulley, and the counterweight 200 fixedly connected to the synchronous belt. The drive motor drives the synchronous pulley to rotate, and the counterweight 200 moves through the synchronous belt.

[0036] The control unit is located inside the support structure 100 and is electrically connected to the drive mechanism. The control unit includes a circuit board integrating a microcontroller and a motor drive circuit. The microcontroller integrates a processor core, memory, and a communication interface. The microcontroller can interact with an external management server via the communication module. The microcontroller receives a center-of-gravity adjustment command from the external management server, which includes the target position information of the counterweight 200. The microcontroller's memory stores preset center-of-gravity adjustment strategies and counterweight movement parameters. Upon receiving the center-of-gravity adjustment command, the microcontroller reads the real-time position of the counterweight 200 from the memory, calculates the displacement difference between the target position and the current position, and converts the displacement difference into the number of rotation steps required for the drive motor based on the transmission ratio of the transmission components. The microcontroller generates a corresponding number of pulse signals, which control the rotation of the drive motor through the motor drive circuit. The motor drive circuit controls the rotation direction and number of rotation steps of the drive motor based on the pulse signals output by the microcontroller. The number of pulses output by the microcontroller corresponds to the moving distance of the counterweight 200, and the pulse frequency corresponds to the moving speed of the counterweight 200.

[0037] When the center of gravity of the cabinet needs to be adjusted, the external management server sends a center of gravity adjustment command to the control unit via the communication module. The microcontroller parses the command and obtains the target position of the counterweight 200. Based on the difference between the current position and the target position, the microcontroller calculates the required number of pulses and pulse frequency, and outputs pulse signals through the motor drive circuit. The drive motor rotates according to the pulse signals, converting the rotational motion into linear motion of the counterweight 200, driving the counterweight 200 to move along the moving slot to the target position. By moving the position of the counterweight 200, the overall weight distribution of the device is changed, thereby adjusting the overall center of gravity of the cabinet on which it is installed. In this embodiment, the counterweight 200 is driven to move along the moving slot by a drive motor and transmission components. The control unit uses a microcontroller and a motor drive circuit, which can receive external commands and automatically execute center of gravity adjustment, enabling precise and rapid adjustment of the position of the counterweight 200, and achieving precise control of the center of gravity of the cabinet.

[0038] In one embodiment of this application, such as Figure 2-4 As shown, the movable slot includes: The first moving slot 310 is disposed within the support structure 100 and extends along the width direction of the cabinet; The second moving slot 320 is disposed within the support structure 100 and extends along the depth direction of the cabinet; The counterweight 200 is movably mounted on the first moving slot 310 or the second moving slot 320.

[0039] In this embodiment, the first moving groove 310 is disposed on the base plate of the support structure 100 and extends along the width direction (i.e., horizontal direction) of the cabinet. For example, the first moving groove 310 can be formed by stamping metal sheet, with a "U" shaped cross-section and the side walls folded upward to form guide surfaces. Multiple raised reinforcing ribs are spaced apart at intervals along the extension direction of the bottom of the first moving groove 310 to enhance structural strength. The length of the first moving groove 310 matches the internal width of the support structure 100 to fully utilize the space in the width direction of the cabinet. The second moving groove 320 is disposed on the base plate of the support structure 100 and extends along the depth direction (i.e., horizontal direction) of the cabinet. The second moving groove 320 adopts the same structure as the first moving groove 310, and its length matches the internal depth of the support structure 100. The counterweight 200 is movably installed on either the first moving groove 310 or the second moving groove 320; that is, the counterweight 200 can be selected to be installed on either the width-direction moving groove or the depth-direction moving groove, depending on the actual center of gravity adjustment requirements.

[0040] In this embodiment, the driving mechanism may include a first driving unit and a second driving unit. The first driving unit includes a first driving motor and a first transmission assembly, used to drive the counterweight 200 to move along the first moving groove 310. The second driving unit includes a second driving motor and a second transmission assembly, used to drive the counterweight 200 to move along the second moving groove 320. The first driving unit and the second driving unit are electrically connected to the control unit respectively and are independently controlled by the control unit.

[0041] When it is necessary to adjust the center of gravity of the cabinet in the width direction, the control unit controls the first drive unit to move the counterweight 200 along the first moving groove 310 to the target lateral position, thereby changing the weight distribution of the device in the width direction and thus adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet in the width direction. When it is necessary to adjust the center of gravity of the cabinet in the depth direction, the control unit controls the second drive unit to move the counterweight 200 along the second moving groove 320 to the target longitudinal position, thereby changing the weight distribution of the device in the depth direction and thus adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet in the depth direction.

[0042] In one embodiment of this application, the width of the support structure 100 matches the width of the mounting rails of the rack, and the depth of the support structure 100 is less than the depth of the rack, so that the support structure 100 can be inserted into a predetermined space inside the rack; the support structure 100 is configured to be installed in a reserved space between the cooling distribution unit and the server equipment area inside the rack.

[0043] In this embodiment, the depth of the support structure 100 is less than the depth of the rack, ensuring sufficient space between the rear end of the support structure 100 and the rear of the rack after insertion, to accommodate cables, pipes, and other components at the rear of the rack. The support structure 100 can be configured to be installed in the reserved space between the cooling distribution unit and the server equipment area within the rack. For example, the rack body may contain, from top to bottom, a cooling distribution unit, a reserved space, and a server equipment area. The cooling distribution unit is located at the top of the rack and is used to distribute coolant to each server device. The server equipment area is located in the lower middle part of the rack and is used to install computing devices such as servers and storage devices. For example, a 3U to 4U high space (reserved space) is reserved between the cooling distribution unit and the server equipment area. The unused space at the front of this reserved space can be used for the installation of a counterweight device.

[0044] The support structure 100 is inserted into the front of the reserved space and fixed to the mounting rails of the cabinet with fixing screws. The depth of the support structure 100 is less than the depth of the cabinet. When the support structure 100 is installed in the front of the reserved space, the gap formed between the rear end face of the support structure 100 and the rear of the cabinet can be used to accommodate the cables and conduits laid in the rear of the cabinet, ensuring that the installation of the counterweight device will not interfere with the cables and conduits in the rear of the cabinet.

[0045] This embodiment designs the width of the support structure 100 to match the width of the rack mounting rails, allowing the device to be directly installed in the rack, providing good versatility and compatibility. The depth of the support structure 100 is less than the depth of the rack, and it is installed at the front of the reserved space to ensure a safe clearance between the rear of the device and the cables and conduits at the rear of the rack, avoiding interference and ensuring installation safety.

[0046] In one embodiment of this application, the device further includes a locking mechanism disposed between the counterweight 200 and the moving groove, or between the counterweight 200 and the support structure, for locking the counterweight 200 after it has moved to the target position.

[0047] In this embodiment, a locking mechanism is disposed between the counterweight 200 and the moving slot, or between the counterweight 200 and the support structure 100. This mechanism locks the counterweight 200 after it has moved to the target position, preventing displacement due to vibration or external force during transportation and ensuring the stability of the cabinet's center of gravity during transport. For example, the locking mechanism can employ an electromagnetic lock structure, including an electromagnet and an armature. The electromagnet is fixedly installed on the base plate of the support structure 100, located on one side of the moving slot. The armature is fixed to the sliding seat of the counterweight 200, corresponding to the position of the electromagnet. When the electromagnet is energized, it generates magnetic force to attract the armature, causing the counterweight 200 to be attracted and locked in its current position. When the electromagnet is de-energized, the magnetic force disappears, and the counterweight 200 returns to its free-moving state. The locking mechanism is electrically connected to the control unit, which controls its energization. Once the counterweight 200 has moved to the target position, the control unit sends a locking command to the locking mechanism, energizing the electromagnet and locking the counterweight 200. When the position of the counterweight 200 needs to be adjusted again, the control unit sends an unlocking command, de-energizing the electromagnet and releasing the counterweight 200. Then, the drive mechanism drives the counterweight 200 to move to the new target position.

[0048] The locking mechanism can also employ a mechanical locking pin structure, including a locking pin and a driving device. The locking pin is telescopically mounted on the side wall of the support structure 100. The driving device can be an electromagnet or a micro motor, connected to the locking pin, and used to drive the locking pin to extend or retract. Multiple locking holes are correspondingly provided on the sliding seat of the counterweight 200, spaced apart along the extension direction of the moving groove. The position of each locking hole corresponds to a different target position of the counterweight 200. When the counterweight 200 moves to the target position, the driving device drives the locking pin to extend and insert into the corresponding locking hole, locking the counterweight 200. When it is necessary to adjust the position of the counterweight 200, the driving device drives the locking pin to retract, releasing the counterweight 200.

[0049] In one embodiment of this application, the counterweight 200 is provided with a position adjustment point, which is used to indicate the current position of the counterweight 200. The type of the position adjustment point includes at least one of the following: groove, protrusion, scale mark or threaded hole.

[0050] In this embodiment, the position adjustment point can be set on the upper surface or side of the counterweight 200 to indicate the current position of the counterweight 200 and / or serve as an operating point for manually adjusting the position of the counterweight 200. The type of position adjustment point includes at least one of the following: a groove, a protrusion, a scale mark, or a threaded hole. For example, the position adjustment point adopts a groove structure, with the groove extending along the length of the counterweight 200. When the position of the counterweight 200 needs to be manually adjusted, the operator can use a screwdriver or other tool to insert into the groove and move the counterweight 200 along the moving groove using a push-pull tool. The groove can also serve as a position indicator mark; the operator can determine the current position of the counterweight 200 by observing the relative position of the groove on the support structure 100.

[0051] The position adjustment point can also employ a raised structure. For example, the upper surface of the counterweight 200 may have a cylindrical protrusion, and the top of the cylindrical protrusion may have anti-slip textures to increase friction. When the position of the counterweight 200 needs to be manually adjusted, the operator can directly pinch the cylindrical protrusion with their fingers and push the counterweight 200 along the moving groove. The cylindrical protrusion can also serve as a position indicator; the operator can determine the current position of the counterweight 200 by observing the relative position of the protrusion on the support structure 100.

[0052] The position adjustment point can also adopt a scale marking structure. For example, the side of the counterweight 200 can be provided with scale markings, which include multiple scale lines arranged at intervals along the moving direction of the counterweight 200, and corresponding numerical labels. A reference mark is provided at a corresponding position on the support structure 100. When the counterweight 200 moves along the moving groove, the operator can know the current position of the counterweight 200 by reading the alignment position of the scale mark and the reference mark.

[0053] The position adjustment point can also adopt a threaded hole structure. For example, the upper surface of the counterweight 200 can be provided with a threaded hole. When the position of the counterweight 200 needs to be manually adjusted, the operator can screw the handle or pull ring into the threaded hole, and the counterweight 200 will move along the moving groove through the handle or pull ring. After the adjustment is completed, the handle or pull ring can be unscrewed to keep the surface of the counterweight 200 flat.

[0054] In one embodiment of this application, the device further includes a position sensor disposed on the moving slot or in the driving mechanism, for detecting the real-time position of the counterweight 200 and feeding back the real-time position to the control unit.

[0055] In this embodiment, a position sensor can be installed on the moving slot or in the drive mechanism to detect the real-time position of the counterweight 200 and feed the detected real-time position information back to the control unit. The control unit controls the drive mechanism based on the difference between the fed-in real-time position and the target position to ensure that the counterweight 200 moves precisely to the target position. Specifically, the position sensor is electrically connected to the control unit, and the control unit controls the drive mechanism based on the real-time position information fed back by the position sensor. The microcontroller of the control unit can receive the real-time position signal fed back by the position sensor. When the counterweight 200 moves, the microcontroller compares the real-time position with the target position and calculates the difference between them. If the difference exceeds a preset allowable error range, the microcontroller can output a drive signal through the motor drive circuit to control the drive motor to perform compensation adjustment until the counterweight 200 reaches the target position and the deviation is within the allowable range. After the counterweight 200 moves to the target position, the microcontroller confirms that the real-time position is consistent with the target position and then sends a locking command to the locking mechanism to lock the counterweight 200 in the current position.

[0056] In one embodiment of this application, the control unit is further configured to: Obtain the current configuration information of the target rack; Based on the current configuration information, determine the center of gravity deviation between the estimated center of gravity of the target cabinet and the target center of gravity; Based on the center of gravity deviation, determine the target position that the counterweight block 200 in the counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet needs to move in the width direction and / or depth direction; The drive mechanism is controlled to move the counterweight 200 along the first moving groove 310 and / or the second moving groove 320 to the target position, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the target cabinet to a preset range.

[0057] In this embodiment, the control unit includes a microcontroller and a memory, which stores computer program instructions. When the microcontroller executes these instructions, it is configured to perform the following functions: acquire the current configuration information of the target cabinet; determine the center of gravity deviation between the estimated center of gravity of the target cabinet and the target center of gravity based on the current configuration information; determine the target position to be moved by the counterweight 200 in the width direction and / or depth direction according to the center of gravity deviation; and control the drive mechanism to drive the counterweight 200 to move along the first moving groove 310 and / or the second moving groove 320 to the target position, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the target cabinet to a preset range.

[0058] The control unit can be configured to determine the center of gravity deviation between the estimated center of gravity of the target rack and the target center of gravity based on the acquired current configuration information. The control unit's memory stores a historical configuration database containing various rack configurations and their corresponding measured center of gravity data. The historical configuration database records the actual center of gravity position of the rack under different configuration combinations, which may include coordinates in the height, width, and depth directions. The control unit can compare the current configuration information with each configuration in the historical configuration database to calculate similarity. The similarity calculation is based on the degree of matching of configuration parameters (such as equipment type, quantity, installation location, etc.). For example, if the current configuration and the historical configuration are completely identical in terms of CDU model, number of servers, and server installation location, the similarity is 100%; if some parameters differ, the similarity is calculated based on the degree of difference.

[0059] If a historical configuration with a similarity higher than a preset threshold (e.g., 95%) exists, the control unit uses the measured center of gravity data corresponding to that historical configuration as the estimated center of gravity. If no historical configuration with a similarity higher than the preset threshold exists, the control unit can activate a prediction model for estimation. The prediction model is an AI model trained based on machine learning algorithms. The model takes the rack configuration information as input and the corresponding center of gravity position as output. The control unit inputs the current configuration information into the prediction model, and the model outputs the estimated center of gravity position. The target center of gravity can be the ideal center of gravity position of the rack, usually set to the geometric center of the rack or slightly below the geometric center to ensure stability during transportation and use. The target center of gravity can be a preset fixed value, such as halfway up the rack in the height direction, the center in the width direction, or the center in the depth direction, or it can be dynamically adjusted according to the specific dimensions of the rack and transportation requirements.

[0060] The control unit compares the estimated center of gravity with the target center of gravity, calculates the difference between the two, and obtains the center of gravity deviation. The control unit is configured to determine the target position where the counterweight 200 needs to move in the width and / or depth directions based on the center of gravity deviation. The control unit is configured to control the drive mechanism to move the counterweight 200 along the moving groove to the target position based on the determined target position.

[0061] The control unit calculates the required direction and displacement of the counterweight 200 based on the target position and the current position. It then controls the drive mechanism to move the counterweight 200 along the first moving groove 310 and / or the second moving groove 320 to the target position, thereby adjusting the center of gravity of the target cabinet to a preset range. During the movement of the counterweight 200, the control unit receives real-time position feedback from the position sensor. The control unit compares the real-time position with the target position. If the difference exceeds a preset allowable error range, it continues to output drive signals for compensation adjustment until the counterweight 200 reaches the target position and the deviation is within the allowable range.

[0062] In this embodiment, the control unit is configured to automatically acquire the current configuration information of the target cabinet, determine the center of gravity deviation based on the historical configuration database or AI prediction model, calculate the target position of the counterweight 200, and control the drive mechanism to move the counterweight 200 precisely into place, thereby improving the adjustment efficiency and accuracy.

[0063] A second aspect of this application also provides a cabinet 20, such as Figure 5 As shown, it includes: The cabinet itself has at least one equipment installation area inside; The aforementioned counterweight device 10 for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet can be plugged into a predetermined space inside the cabinet body. The counterweight device 10 for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet adjusts the center of gravity distribution of the cabinet body by moving the position of its internal counterweight block 200.

[0064] The rack body of this embodiment is used to fix equipment such as servers and cooling distribution units (CDUs). The interior of the rack body can be divided into multiple equipment installation areas from top to bottom. For example, the cooling distribution units (CDUs) are installed in the upper part of the rack body, the server equipment area is installed in the middle, and the power distribution unit and network switching equipment are installed in the lower part. The cooling distribution unit is used to distribute coolant to each server device. It is relatively heavy, and its installation position significantly affects the overall center of gravity of the rack. The server equipment area is used to install multiple server devices. The number and distribution of server devices are configured according to different needs, which will cause the center of gravity of the rack to change. A reserved space can be reserved between the cooling distribution unit and the server equipment area. This reserved space is originally used for laying rear cables and pipes. The front part of this space is empty and can be used for the installation of the counterweight device 10. The counterweight device 10 can be plugged into a predetermined space inside the rack body. For example, the counterweight device 10 can be installed in the front part of the reserved space between the cooling distribution unit and the server equipment area.

[0065] The counterweight device 10 includes a support structure 100, a moving groove, a counterweight block 200, and a drive mechanism. The width of the support structure 100 matches the width of the mounting rails of the cabinet, and its depth is less than the depth of the cabinet. Fixing screws can be provided on both sides of the support structure 100 for detachably fixing the counterweight device 10 to the mounting rails. By moving the position of the counterweight block 200, the weight distribution of the counterweight device 10 is changed. Since the counterweight device 10 is fixed inside the cabinet body, the change in its weight distribution will change the overall center of gravity of the cabinet body. After adjustment, the overall center of gravity of the cabinet is moved to a preset safe range (e.g., near 1 / 2 of the cabinet height, the center of the width, or the center of the depth), thereby eliminating the center of gravity shift caused by uneven equipment configuration.

[0066] This embodiment solves the problem of inconsistent center of gravity caused by different configurations by installing a counterweight device 10 inside the cabinet 20.

[0067] The above embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. The scope of protection of this application is defined by the claims. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications or equivalent substitutions to this application within its substance and scope of protection, and such modifications or equivalent substitutions should also be considered to fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of a server rack, comprising: A support structure is configured to be pluggably installed in a predetermined space inside the cabinet, the support structure being provided with a movable slot; At least one counterweight is slidably mounted on the movable slot; A drive mechanism, connected to the counterweight, is used to drive the counterweight to move along the moving groove; The center of gravity of the cabinet is adjusted by moving the counterweight on the moving slot.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The control unit, electrically connected to the drive mechanism, is used to receive a center of gravity adjustment command and, based on the command, control the drive mechanism to drive the counterweight block to move on the moving slot, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the cabinet.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism includes a drive motor and a transmission assembly, the drive motor is fixed to the support structure, and the transmission assembly connects the drive motor and the counterweight, for converting the rotational motion of the drive motor into the linear motion of the counterweight; The control unit includes a microcontroller and a motor drive circuit. The microcontroller is used to receive center of gravity adjustment commands and generate control signals. The motor drive circuit is electrically connected to the microcontroller and the drive motor and is used to control the operation of the drive motor according to the control signals.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable slot comprises: The first movable slot is disposed within the supporting structure and extends along the width direction of the cabinet; The second movable slot is disposed within the supporting structure and extends along the depth direction of the cabinet; The counterweight is movably mounted on the first moving slot or the second moving slot.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the width of the support structure matches the width of the mounting rails of the cabinet, and the depth of the support structure is less than the depth of the cabinet, so that the support structure can be inserted into a predetermined space inside the cabinet; the support structure is configured to be installed in a reserved space between the cooling distribution unit and the server equipment area inside the cabinet.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism disposed between the counterweight and the moving groove, or between the counterweight and the support structure, for locking the counterweight after the counterweight has moved to the target position.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight is provided with a position adjustment point, the position adjustment point being used to indicate the current position of the counterweight, and the type of the position adjustment point includes at least one of the following: groove, protrusion, scale mark or threaded hole.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position sensor disposed on the moving slot or in the driving mechanism, for detecting the real-time position of the counterweight and feeding back the real-time position to the control unit.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to: Obtain the current configuration information of the target rack; Based on the current configuration information, determine the center of gravity deviation between the estimated center of gravity of the target cabinet and the target center of gravity; Based on the center of gravity deviation, determine the target position that the counterweight block in the counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet needs to move in the width direction and / or depth direction; The drive mechanism is controlled to move the counterweight along the first moving groove and / or the second moving groove to the target position, so as to adjust the center of gravity of the target cabinet to a preset range.

10. A server rack, comprising: The cabinet itself has at least one equipment installation area inside; At least one counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet as described in any one of claims 1-9 is pluggably installed in a predetermined space inside the cabinet body; The counterweight device for adjusting the center of gravity of the cabinet adjusts the center of gravity distribution of the cabinet body by moving the position of its internal counterweight blocks.

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