Flexible Finger Cable Grommet for Raised Floor Air Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Raised floor systems in data centers and offices experience reduced cooling efficiency due to air leakage through openings used for routing cables, necessitating a solution that allows cable passage while minimizing air escape.

Innovation Solution

The development of cable grommets with molded finger assemblies and flanges that fit within standard raised floor tiles, featuring flexible outer sections and rigid inner cores to restrict air leakage while accommodating cable passage, and optionally using sinusoidal cuts and spacers for enhanced air barrier efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If openings are provided in the raised floor to route cables, then cable routing is enabled, but cooling air escapes through these openings reducing cooling efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable routingVSAvoidcooling air loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible molded finger assemblies with outer edge sections that can bend and flex around cables while maintaining an air barrier. These flexible fingers are formed from polymer material that allows them to conform to cable shapes while blocking cooling air escape, directly resolving the contradiction between cable routing and cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The grommet is divided into multiple functional segments including a mounting flange, molded finger assemblies with individual fingers, and outer edge sections. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the mounting flange secures the grommet to the floor tile, the fingers accommodate cables, and the outer edges block air leakage, thereby enabling both cable routing and cooling efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If a rigid barrier is used to block cooling air, then air leakage is restricted, but cable passage is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling air lossVSAvoidcable passage

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The molded finger assemblies incorporate dynamic flexibility through their construction - the fingers can bend and move to accommodate cables of various sizes and shapes. This dynamic property allows the barrier to adapt its configuration: remaining rigid to block air when not disturbed, and becoming flexible to allow cable passage when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between air sealing and cable routing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If the grommet structure is made complex to improve air barrier efficiency, then cooling efficiency is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling air lossVSAvoidgrommet structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The grommet utilizes composite construction combining different polymer materials with varying properties - the inner core uses a rigid polymer for structural support and air blocking, while the outer edge sections use a more flexible polymer for cable accommodation. This composite approach achieves effective air barrier performance without requiring overly complex structural designs, as the material properties themselves provide the necessary functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively reduces cooling air loss while allowing cable routing, maintaining cooling efficiency by creating an efficient air barrier across the openings in raised floor tiles.

Implementation Method 1

The edges or wings of the molded fingers may be configured to flex around the cables while the core section remains generally rigid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

one or more pairs of opposed, overlapping molded finger assemblies... to restrict the loss of cooling air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS8716602B2Cable grommet for use with a raised floor

Publication Date: 2014.05.06 EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LTD

AI summary

Cable grommets for use with raised-floor tiles permit the passage of cables while simultaneously limiting the amount of cool air escaping from under-floor ducts and plenums. The cable grommet includes a floor tile mounting flange, one or more pairs of opposed, overlapping finger assemblies, and one or more pairs of opposed finger mounting flanges for coupling the finger assemblies to the underside of the floor tile mounting flange. The edges of the of the triangularly-shaped fingers are configured to flex around the cables while the interior core section remains generally rigid and parallel to the plane of the floor to restrict the loss of cooling air. Alternatively, the cable grommet includes a floor tile mounting flange and a finger panel defining a sinusoidal cut along its length and a plurality of intersecting short cuts.