Method and apparatus for mounting rack components on racks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In densely packed electronic equipment racks, accessing the rear or sides to mount heavy components is difficult due to space constraints, requiring access to both front and rear for proper attachment, which is often not feasible.
Innovation Solution
A bracket and sleeve system where brackets are mounted to the rear of the rack through the front, allowing components to be slid in with sleeves engaging the brackets, providing support along the component's depth without additional fastening post-installation, enabling installation from a single access point, typically the front.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If racks are tightly packed side by side to increase space utilization, then the number of components that can be housed increases, but access to the rear and sides of the rack becomes difficult or impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is installed on the rear post before the component is inserted into the rack. This preliminary installation allows the bracket to be positioned correctly without requiring access to the rear of the rack during component installation. The bracket extends forward to engage with the component as it is slid into place, eliminating the need for post-installation fastening operations at the rear of the rack.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers the fastening function from the rear of the rack to the front. By mounting the bracket on the rear post and having it extend forward to engage the component, the system mediates between the need for rear support and the limitation of front-only access, allowing secure attachment without direct rear access.
2Quantity of substance
If components are made heavier to increase capacity, then more components can be supported, but the requirement for rear and side fastening becomes more critical
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is pre-installed on the rear post with the component insertion path in mind. This preliminary positioning ensures that the bracket will correctly engage with the component during front-only insertion, providing heavy component support without requiring complex rear fastening operations. The bracket's position and extension are designed specifically to handle heavier loads during front-access installation.
3Ease of operation
If traditional front-panel bolting is used to secure components, then installation is straightforward from the front, but components require additional support at the rear which is inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is segmented into two parts: the bracket mounted on the rear post provides rear support, and the forward extension of the bracket provides front engagement. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the bracket body ensures rear stability while the forward extension enables front-access installation, collectively providing reliable component support.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket extends in the depth dimension from the rear post toward the front, creating a three-dimensional engagement path. This dimensional extension allows the bracket to provide rear support while simultaneously enabling front access for component installation, solving the contradiction between support reliability and installation accessibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system for mounting one or more components (20) to a rack comprising brackets (30) that can be mounted to the rear of the rack through an opening in a front of the rack before the component (20) is inserted into a slot and mating sleeves (22) running along sides of the component. The brackets (30) include arms (32) that extend forwardly towards a front of the slot. After the brackets (30) are attached, the component (20) can be slid into the slot from the front of the rack with the sleeves (22) sliding over and engaging the brackets (30). In this manner, the component (20) can be slid into the slot in the rack with the brackets (30) sliding into the sleeves (22), thereby providing support for the component (20) along a substantial portion of a depth of the component (20) without the need to bolt or otherwise fixedly attach the component (20) to the bracket (30) after the component (20) is in the rack. Accordingly, the component (20) can be installed in the rack without the need for any access except from the front of the rack.