Rack Cabling System With Patch Panel Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data center cabling systems face challenges with cable management, as existing methods lead to cable damage and inefficiency due to slack and sharp bends, making installation and servicing difficult and time-consuming, and require additional space for cable management solutions.
Innovation Solution
A rack cabling system with a patch panel housing that aligns cable pathway openings with hardware components, allowing for minimal bends and reduced slack, using connector coupler plates to manage fiber optic cables efficiently, and a method of assembling cabling that routes cables through the patch panel with radiused bends to minimize damage and optimize space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cables are routed with minimal bends through the patch panel, then cable damage is reduced and transmission efficiency is improved, but cable management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patch panel housing is divided into multiple cable pathway openings, each providing a dedicated route for individual cables. This segmentation allows each cable to be managed independently with controlled bending paths, reducing cable damage while maintaining organized management through structured division of the cabling space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces radiused bend guides and cable management structures as intermediary elements between the cable entry points and connector coupler plates. These intermediaries provide predetermined radiused bend paths that protect cables from sharp bends while organizing cable routing, thus improving reliability without overwhelming complexity.
2Reliability
If a patch panel housing is used to manage cables, then cable organization and damage reduction are improved, but rack space consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patch panel housing combines multiple functions into a single compact unit: cable routing pathways, bend protection structures, connector coupler plate mounting, and organization features are all integrated into one housing that occupies minimal rack space while providing comprehensive cable management capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable pathway openings and management structures are nested within the compact patch panel housing, allowing multiple cable routes and management features to be contained within a small footprint that fits efficiently into rack units without consuming excessive space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If connector coupler plates are mounted at multiple positions, then adaptability for different cable lengths is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector coupler plates are designed as universal components that can be mounted at multiple predetermined positions on the rear of the patch panel housing. Each plate provides the same coupling function but at different locations to accommodate various cable lengths and routing requirements, allowing a single plate design to serve multiple purposes without increasing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A rack cabling system including a rack having mounted thereon a first hardware component and a patch panel housing mounted on the rack adjacent the first hardware component. The patch panel housing populates no more than a three rack unit (RU space), the patch panel housing including a first end having cable pathway openings and a second end having connector elements mounted therein. The patch panel may have a first cable pathway opening located adjacent the first side of the housing and defining a primary position and a first connector element mounted on the second end and the first connector element having a first position corresponding to the primary position of the first cable pathway opening. Cable harnesses are routed with less than three bends of the cables between the first hardware component and the patch panel housing, so the first cable harness is terminated at the first connector element in the first position.