Sled and Tray Assembly for Cylindrical Computer Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cylindrical form of the Mac Pro computer presents challenges for deployment in standard data center racks, requiring a mounting configuration that maximizes space and thermal efficiency while accommodating non-standard 'U' type enclosures and ensuring adequate cooling and cabling access.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained computer mounting arrangement that allows horizontal mounting of Mac Pro computers on sled and tray assemblies, enabling up to 12 computers per rack with slide-out accessibility and optimized airflow, and cable management within a compact footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If Mac Pro computers are mounted in standard data center racks, then space utilization is improved, but the cylindrical form factor creates mounting configuration challenges and reduces adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The rack is divided into individual rack units, each capable of independently mounting a single Mac Pro computer. Each rack unit contains a sled that can be independently inserted and removed from the tray, allowing flexible configuration and maximizing space utilization while accommodating the cylindrical form factor of Mac Pro computers.
2Ease of operation
If Mac Pro computers are horizontally mounted on sleds, then accessibility and cable management are improved, but the mounting structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sled is designed to be movable within the rack unit, allowing it to be smoothly inserted and removed from the tray. This dynamic mounting mechanism improves computer accessibility and cable management while keeping the overall structure relatively simple through standardized components.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple Mac Pro computers are densely packed in racks, then space efficiency is improved, but cooling and thermal dissipation become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Each rack unit is designed with dedicated airflow channels and cooling considerations specific to the cylindrical Mac Pro form factor. The sled and tray structures incorporate features that facilitate proper air intake and exhaust for each individual computer, ensuring adequate thermal dissipation even when multiple units are densely packed in the rack.
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement for mounting and supporting a plurality of cylindrical form or other computer systems, for example Apple Mac Pro cylindrical form computer systems, in a data center so as to optimize cooling air flow, access to cabling, and maximized use of space. A plurality of shelf assemblies is mounted to a computer center rack. Each shelf assembly comprises a tray that supports a pair of slidable sleds. Each sled supports a cylindrical form computer enclosure in an axially horizontal configuration, and includes a sled face that exposes a top surface of a computer enclosure. Air flow perforations in the sled face direct air into the space behind the sled face and across a mounted computer enclosure. The tray and sled provides a convenient arrangement for power and communications cabling, as well as directs a cooling air flow through openings in the trays and sleds upwardly across computer enclosures.