Rack Dolly Bracket and Wheel Locking for Portable Server Racks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Moving rack-mounted systems is cumbersome and typically requires large, bulky equipment, making it difficult to transport them efficiently without damaging the equipment or straining the installer.
Innovation Solution
A portable rack dolly system that includes a wheel assembly with a shaft and brackets that can be attached to a device rack, allowing the rack to be tilted forward to engage the wheels and then locked in place for easy movement, utilizing a handle assembly for support and gravity-assisted wheel alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If shipping support brackets are used to move racks, then the racks can be transported from outside to inside the shelter, but the process becomes cumbersome and requires large bulky equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is nested within the device rack structure itself, with wheels positioned inside the rack frame and a shaft that fits into slots within the rack. This nesting eliminates the need for separate bulky moving equipment by integrating the dolly functionality directly into the rack structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a dynamic tilting mechanism where the rack can be tilted forward to engage the wheels with the ground for rolling movement, and tilted backward to disengage and lock the wheels in place. This dynamic operation allows the same structure to serve both as a stationary rack and a mobile dolly.
2Reliability
If traditional moving methods are used, then racks can be transported, but installers experience strain and equipment may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly is designed so that when the rack is tilted forward, the wheels naturally roll forward due to gravity, and when tilted backward, the wheels are passively locked in place by the rack's weight. This uses gravitational equipotentiality to eliminate the need for installers to manually control the movement, reducing strain while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism is self-service, where the weight of the rack itself locks the wheels in place when tilted backward, without requiring additional locking devices or manual intervention. The system uses its own weight and geometry to secure itself during transport.
3Productivity
If a portable dolly system is integrated into the rack, then movement becomes efficient and easy, but the rack structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The open slots in the brackets serve multiple functions: they guide the wheel shaft during engagement, provide structural support for the wheel assembly, and enable the tilting mechanism for both engagement and disengagement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, minimizing added complexity while maximizing productivity.
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
Enables the efficient and stable transport of rack-mounted systems, reducing the need for bulky equipment and minimizing strain on installers, while maintaining the stability of the equipment during movement.
Implementation Method 1
a downwardly angled portion configured to allow gravity to drop the wheel shaft downward as the device rack is tilted forwards
Implementation Method 2
a horizontal or upwardly angled portion configured to allow the weight of the device rack to secure the wheel shaft as the device rack is tilted backwards
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises a wheel assembly including a wheel shaft and first and second wheels rotationally coupled to the wheel shaft; a first bracket coupled to a device rack and including a first open slot, the first open slot including a receiving portion configured to receive the wheel shaft at a first position, a delivery portion configured to deliver the wheel shaft upon tilting the rack forwards, and a locking portion configured to secure the wheel shaft upon tilting the rack backwards; and a second bracket configured to be coupled to the rack on a second side and including a second open slot, the second open slot including a receiving portion configured to receive the wheel shaft at a second position, a delivery portion configured to deliver the wheel shaft upon tilting the rack forwards, and a locking portion configured to secure the wheel shaft upon tilting the rack backwards.