Articulated Cable Management for Rack Servers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable management devices for rack-mounted computer servers are inconvenient and time-consuming to install, prone to tangling, and do not adequately address the need for ruggedness in harsh environments, particularly in military applications where shock and vibration are concerns.
Innovation Solution
A cable management device featuring a support with pivotable elongate members and a stop member that moves from a folded position to an extended position as the server is slid in and out of the rack, ensuring cable organization and limiting rotation to prevent over-extension or over-rotation, made from lightweight yet high-strength materials like aluminum or stainless steel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional tie straps are used to manage cables, then cable tangling is reduced, but installation becomes time-consuming and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management system is divided into multiple articulated segments (first elongate member, second elongate member, third elongate member) connected by pivot joints. Each segment can independently fold or extend, allowing the entire structure to adapt to different server positions while maintaining cable organization, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual tie strap installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable management device transitions from a static tie strap structure to a dynamic articulated structure with multiple pivot joints. The segments can dynamically adjust their configuration as the server moves in and out of the rack, automatically maintaining proper cable tension and organization without requiring manual intervention during installation or operation.
2Reliability
If cable management devices are added to prevent tangling, then cable organization improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management function is merged with the existing server slide mechanism. The articulated members are integrated into the slide structure, using the same mounting brackets and pivot points that accommodate server movement. This combination eliminates the need for separate, complex cable management devices while maintaining effective cable organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated cable management structure serves multiple functions: it manages cable organization, accommodates server insertion and removal, and integrates with the existing slide mechanism. The same structural elements that support server movement also provide cable management, reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If standard cable management supports are used, then cable organization is achieved, but ruggedness in harsh environments is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cable management device is constructed from heavy-duty metal materials with high strength-to-weight ratios, such as aluminum alloys or stainless steel. These composite or alloy materials provide both the structural strength needed to withstand military-grade shock and vibration conditions and the flexibility required for the articulated segments to fold and extend during server operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A cable management device for managing cables extending between a support rack and an object slideable in and out of the support rack includes a support having a stop member and a mounting surface that is removably fastenable to the support rack. A first elongate member extends between a proximal end and a distal end and is pivotably fastened to the support at the proximal end. A second elongate member extends between a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second elongate member pivotably fastened to the distal end of the first elongate member. The first and second elongate members are movable from a folded position where the elongate members are substantially adjacent each other to an unfolded position, wherein the stop member limits the rotation of the first elongate member between the folded and unfolded positions to about ninety degrees.