Rack-Mount Unit Flange Truss Structure for Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rack-mounting structures face instability during transportation, interference between units, and poor accommodation efficiency due to uneven positioning and wide rail spacing, leading to potential damage and incorrect mounting.

Innovation Solution

A rack-mount unit mounting structure that uses flanges with plate-shaped parts forming a truss structure, engaging with rails to stabilize the unit and ensure correct positioning, featuring flexible plate-shaped parts with wide openings for easy alignment and horizontal movement, allowing for stable and efficient unit placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the unit is supported only by the front surface using bolts fastened onto rails, then the mounting structure is simple, but the rear side hangs down and shakes unstably during transportation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting structureVSAvoidunit stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a plate-shaped part that extends from the flange toward the body side panel, creating a triangular support structure in the depth dimension. This transforms the original front-surface-only support into a three-dimensional triangular configuration, preventing rear-side hang-down and instability during transportation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The plate-shaped part is designed with flexibility to contact the rail, allowing it to adapt to position unevenness and stress deformation. This flexible contact enables the structure to accommodate variations in rail position while maintaining stable support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Stability of the object's composition

If angle mount brackets are used to prevent hang-down, then unit stability is improved, but additional space is required and accommodation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunit stabilityVSAvoidaccommodation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support function into the unit's own flange structure by adding the plate-shaped part, eliminating the need for separate angle mount brackets. This integration maintains stability while saving space and improving accommodation efficiency within the rack mount.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unit's flange structure with the plate-shaped part provides its own support function, making the unit self-supporting without requiring additional external brackets. This self-service approach prevents hang-down while optimizing space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If the rail position deviates from correct position due to assembly unevenness or stress deformation, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the screw holes do not coincide and mounting precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly easeVSAvoidhole coincidence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the rigidity parameter of the support structure by introducing a flexible plate-shaped part. This flexibility allows the structure to accommodate position deviations in the rail while maintaining proper alignment of screw holes, thus preserving manufacturing precision despite assembly variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If the space between rails is wider than the unit width, then rail spacing flexibility is improved, but unit centering becomes difficult and positioning precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverail spacing flexibilityVSAvoidunit centering

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The plate-shaped part extends into the depth dimension, creating a triangular configuration that provides lateral support and guidance. This three-dimensional structure helps center the unit between the rails while maintaining the flexibility of rail spacing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible plate-shaped part contacts the rail and adapts to the spacing between rails, enabling the unit to be properly centered even when the rail spacing is wider than the unit width. This flexibility maintains positioning precision while accommodating rail spacing variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20240206105A1Mounting structure of rackmount unit and rack-mount mounting member

Publication Date: 2024.06.20 THAMWAY CO LTD

AI summary

A mounting structure of a rack-mount unit for accommodating a unit in a rack mount, by loading of the unit from a front opening of the rack mount, and by engagement and fastening of fastening holes formed in the perpendicular direction of flanges provided at the both ends in the lengthwise direction of the front surface of the unit, with fastening holes formed in the perpendicular direction of a pair of rails elongating in the perpendicular direction and disposed on the both sides on the front side of the rack mount. One end of a plate-shaped part elongating from the flange toward a body side panel of the unit is connected to the flange, and another end of the plate-shaped part is connected to the body side panel, of which hypotenuse is the plate-shaped part, and of which adjacent side is the body side panel of the unit.