Rack Rail Damper With Battery Backup for Seismic Oscillation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic equipment racks are prone to structural failure and damage during earthquakes due to seismic oscillations, and traditional power connections can become loose or disengaged, leading to potential device damage and power loss.
Innovation Solution
A damper system with a battery back-up unit slidably secured to rails within the rack, which dampens seismic oscillations and provides power to devices during earthquakes, using mass-tuned damping mechanisms and direct rail connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the electronic equipment rack uses a rigid physical structure to provide stability, then the rack can support electronic devices vertically in a small footprint, but the rack becomes prone to structural failure during earthquakes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed rigid connection with a dynamic suspension system. The electronic device is suspended using springs and/or shock absorbers that allow controlled movement during earthquakes, transforming the static rigid structure into a dynamic system that can adapt to seismic forces while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-installing energy absorption elements (springs and shock absorbers) in the suspension system. These elements are designed to absorb and dissipate seismic energy before it can cause structural failure, providing protective cushioning that activates automatically during earthquake events.
2Power
If traditional wired power connections are used in the rack, then devices can receive power, but the connections become loose or disengaged during earthquake oscillations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the mechanical wired power connection system with a wireless power transmission system. This eliminates the mechanical contacts that are prone to loosening during earthquakes, using electromagnetic fields or optical methods to transmit power without physical connection points that can fail under seismic stress.
3Reliability
If a damper system with battery back-up unit is added to dampen seismic oscillations, then structural failure is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the suspended platform to serve multiple functions: it provides mechanical suspension for seismic protection, contains the energy absorption elements, houses the battery back-up power system, and supports the electronic device. This multi-functional integration reduces overall system complexity compared to separate dedicated components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies merging by combining the damper system and battery back-up unit into a single integrated suspended platform structure. The energy absorption elements and power supply system are merged into one cohesive unit that works together to protect the electronic device, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying the overall system architecture.
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
Prevents structural failure and device damage by minimizing oscillations and ensuring continuous power supply to electronic devices during earthquakes.
Implementation Method 1
a battery back-up unit slidably secured to a plurality of rails disposed within the electronic equipment rack and tuned to dampen seismic oscillations of the electronic equipment rack during an earthquake
Implementation Method 2
The battery back-up unit may supply power to the one or more electronic devices directly via the plurality of rails
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a damper system for an electronic equipment rack. The damper system may include an electronic equipment rack, a battery back-up unit, and a plurality of rails disposed within the electronic equipment rack. The battery back-up unit is slidably secured to the plurality of rails and tuned to dampen seismic oscillations of the electronic equipment rack during an earthquake. The battery back-up unit is also able to provide power to the electronic equipment disposed in the rack during a power outage.