Foldable Patch Panel Assembly for Compact Shipping and Stable Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional patch panels are fixed in size, making them too large for standard packaging and transportation, requiring excessive materials and space, especially for larger models used in data centers.
Innovation Solution
A foldable patch panel assembly with a hinge system and foldable rear bracket, allowing the panel to be shipped in a compact state and easily assembled on-site, featuring meshing gears for smooth opening and an I-shaped stabilizer for locking in the open position, enabling efficient space utilization and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fixed-size patch panels are used, then the panel provides stable and reliable cable management, but the panel occupies excessive space during transportation and requires excessive packaging materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patch panel is divided into multiple detachable sections that can be separated for transportation. Each section contains a portion of the cable management functionality, allowing the panel to be disassembled into compact units for shipping and then reassembled at the installation site to provide the full cable management capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch panel incorporates movable and adjustable components that allow it to transition between a compact configuration for transportation and an expanded configuration for operation. The panel includes telescopic arms and adjustable mounting mechanisms that enable it to adapt its size and shape based on whether it is being transported or installed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If larger patch panels are used for data centers, then the panel provides sufficient ports and cable management capacity, but the panel becomes even more difficult to transport and package
Solution Approach 1:
Large patch panels are divided into multiple modular sections that can be independently transported and then assembled together. Each section maintains the essential cable management functionality, allowing the system to be transported in manageable units while still providing the required large-scale cable management capacity when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch panel sections are designed to nest within each other during transportation, with smaller sections fitting inside larger ones. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall volume required for shipping while maintaining the full cable management capacity when the sections are assembled at the installation site.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed-dimensional patch panels are manufactured, then the panel provides standardized mounting and installation, but the panel cannot be compacted for efficient packaging and transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patch panel is manufactured as standardized modular sections that can be easily assembled and disassembled. Each section maintains standardized mounting interfaces for easy installation, while the modular nature allows the sections to be compacted and nested together during transportation, reducing the need for excessive packaging materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patch panel incorporates dynamic mounting mechanisms that allow it to be securely installed in standardized positions while also enabling compact folding and nesting during transportation. The mounting hardware is designed to provide stable installation when deployed but allows for easy disassembly and compact storage when not in use.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable patch panel assembly includes a front frame comprising two front panels that are connected by a hinge assembly to thereby permit folding of the front panels relative to each other, wherein each front panel includes one or more slots for receiving therein one or more arrays of jacks; and a rear bracket comprising two bracket sections that are foldable relative to each other, wherein each bracket section comprises at least one clamp for receiving a cable therethrough; and wherein each bracket section further comprises an arm that is foldable relative to the bracket section and configured to snap into an outer end of the front panel.