Rack With Internal Support And Male Connectors For Component Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing equipment racks face challenges in ensuring proper alignment of components and efficient water-cooling, leading to potential equipment failure and increased maintenance needs in large data centers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a rack design with internal support members and male connectors for precise mechanical alignment, combined with a liquid cooling system using inlet and outlet ports and a liquid adaptor with a rotatable elongate rod for secure component placement and fluid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If components are installed quickly in equipment racks, then installation speed is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates leading to equipment failure or bad connections
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are pre-positioned on the side panels at specific locations corresponding to the side edges of components. These support members protrude into the rack interior to guide the initial alignment of components during insertion, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment adjustments while ensuring precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members act as intermediary elements between the rack structure and the components being installed. These support members provide a mechanical interface that guides component alignment during insertion, mediating between the operator's insertion action and the required precise final position of the component.
2Temperature
If water-cooling is implemented in equipment racks, then heat dissipation is improved, but system complexity increases due to hydraulic connections requiring watertight sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid adaptor serves as an intermediary component that simplifies the hydraulic connection system. It integrates the fluid distribution function into a single modular unit that connects to the component, eliminating the need for complex distributed hydraulic connections throughout the rack while maintaining effective water-cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid adaptor performs multiple functions: it distributes coolant to the component, provides structural support, and simplifies hydraulic connections. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity while maintaining effective heat dissipation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A rack adapted for receiving one or more components is disclosed. The rack includes a backplane, a pair of side panels extending from the backplane and internal support members on each side to receive and mechanically guide an initial alignment of components upon their initial insertion in the rack. A pair of male connectors mounted to the backplane is configured to mate with a corresponding pair of female connectors of each component to mechanically guide a final alignment of each component when the component is further inserted in the rack. Mechanical guidance may also be provided by, or supplemented with, a connection capable of providing liquid cooling to the rack. A system including the rack and the component inserted in the rack is also disclosed.