Equipment Rack Caster Bracket Assembly for Adaptable Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Customized cabinetry for diverse electronic equipment configurations is often expensive and results in underutilized data centers due to industry standards like EIA-310-D, which requires specialized and costly equipment racks that may not be fully loaded with equipment.
Innovation Solution
The equipment rack design includes a frame assembly with adjustable caster bracket assemblies and modular mounting rails that allow for flexible positioning and tool-free assembly, accommodating various equipment sizes and configurations without the need for extensive customization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If customized cabinetry is used to accommodate different equipment configurations, then equipment fit is improved, but cost increases and data center utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The equipment rack is designed with standardized hole patterns (e.g., 19-inch rack standard with holes every 4.76cm vertically and horizontally) that allow a single rack design to accommodate multiple equipment configurations. The universal mounting system enables different sized equipment to be mounted on the same rack structure, eliminating the need for customized cabinetry for each equipment type while maintaining cost-effectiveness and improving data center utilization.
2Reliability
If industry-standard racks are used to meet EIA-310-D requirements, then compliance is improved, but cost increases and space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rack design incorporates the EIA-310-D standard hole patterns and dimensions, allowing compliance with industry standards while using a universal, off-the-shelf rack design. This eliminates the need for expensive customized racks while maintaining compliance, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and improving space utilization through standardized, interchangeable rack units.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized cabinets are purchased for each equipment type, then equipment accommodation is improved, but data center space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A single universal rack design with standardized mounting holes and adjustable mounting rails can accommodate multiple types of equipment with different size requirements. This consolidates what would otherwise require multiple specialized cabinets into one versatile rack, thereby maximizing data center space utilization while maintaining the ability to accommodate diverse equipment configurations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If customized racks are manufactured for each configuration, then equipment fit is improved, but assembly time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is pre-manufactured with standardized hole patterns, pre-drilled mounting holes, and pre-positioned mounting rails according to industry standards. This preliminary preparation of the rack structure allows for quick and easy equipment installation without requiring time-consuming custom manufacturing or complex assembly procedures, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining equipment configuration adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An equipment rack having one or more caster bracket assemblies. The caster bracket assembly is selectively mountable on a frame of the equipment rack at multiple mounting locations. The caster bracket can define a gap between the caster bracket assembly and a brace of the equipment rack frame which may be used for ingress/egress of cables or wires. Associated methods are also disclosed.