Load Distribution Structure for Raised Floor Data Center Tiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing electronic package density and load on data center floors, particularly in raised floor environments, pose challenges in supporting the weight of electronics racks and preventing structural damage to conduit and cabling due to lack of adequate load distribution and protection at cutouts in raised floor tiles.
Innovation Solution
A load distribution structure for raised floor tiles, comprising a frame load distributor and an edging bracket, which secures the distributor in place and protects conduit by extending into the tile cutouts, providing structural support and preventing caster rollover, while allowing for flexible configuration to accommodate varying tile sizes and conduit paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If electronics are packed more closely together to increase circuit density, then processing speed and function are improved, but load on the data center floor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The floor tile is segmented into multiple load-bearing regions separated by recesses, allowing the total floor load to be distributed across multiple discrete support points rather than concentrated in one location. This enables higher overall loading capacity while maintaining the ability to support increased electronics density.
Solution Approach 2:
The load distribution structure transitions from a two-dimensional surface support to a three-dimensional configuration with recesses extending downward. This vertical dimension allows load to be distributed through depth as well as surface area, increasing the effective load-bearing volume without increasing the floor footprint.
2Ease of operation
If floor tiles are cut to accommodate conduit, then conduit installation is enabled, but structural integrity and load-bearing capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The floor tile is divided into separate load-bearing regions by recesses, which naturally create isolated structural zones. Cutouts can be made in non-load-bearing areas between these regions without compromising the integrity of the load-bearing structures themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the floor tile are given different structural qualities - some areas have full thickness for load bearing, while other areas have recesses for conduit accommodation. This local differentiation allows conduit installation in specific locations without weakening the overall structural integrity.
3Force
If load is concentrated on small areas of the floor tile, then point load support is achieved, but tile deflection and damage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The floor tile structure is segmented into multiple load-bearing regions that independently support point loads. When a load is applied to one region, it is contained and distributed within that specific region's geometry, preventing deflection from propagating to other areas of the tile.
4Force
If multiple components are used to distribute load, then load distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load distribution function is merged into the floor tile structure itself through integrated recesses, eliminating the need for separate load-distributing components. The structural geometry directly performs the load distribution function, reducing part count and assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor tile structure serves multiple functions simultaneously - it provides the floor surface, supports loads, distributes point loads through its recess geometry, and accommodates conduit through the same recesses. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional specialized components.
Data Source
AI summary
Load distribution structures are provided for a raised floor tile(s) of a raised floor data center. The load distribution structure, which resides adjacent to an opening in the raised floor tile(s), such as a cutout in the raised floor tile(s), to facilitate supporting a frame load, includes a frame load distributor and an edging bracket. The frame load distributor resides on the raised floor tile adjacent to the opening in the raised floor tile(s), and distributes, at least in part, the frame load on the raised floor tile(s). The edging bracket couples to the frame load distributor to, at least in part, hold the frame load distributor in fixed position on the raised floor tile(s). The edging bracket extends, at least in part, into the opening in the raised floor tile to secure the frame load distributor in fixed position relative to the opening in the raised floor tile(s).