Rackless computing equipment construction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9345166-B2
Application number	US-201314143251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2013
Priority date	Dec 30, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

A self-supporting server chassis accepts blade server computing devices, and other like computing devices and associated infrastructure hardware, and also provides structural support for vertical stacking of such self-supporting server chassis, thereby eliminating the need for conventional racks. Internal support structures, such as rails, holes and standoffs, accept and provide physical support for the computing devices and other infrastructure hardware. Vertical stacking support structures provide physical stability and rigidity for stacking multiple self-supporting server chassis in a vertical direction, and allow interconnection among self-supporting server chassis. Stacks of self-supporting server chassis can comprise a base member with casters or other like transportation hardware, as well as a top member that provides further structural stability and rigidity, as well as providing cooling and airflow benefits, such as airflow containment. Ranking hardware in the self-supporting server chassis accommodates computing devices and infrastructure hardware that were designed for installation into a traditional rack.

First claim

I claim:

1. A self-supporting server chassis comprising:
a base;
a first side adjacent the base;
a second side adjacent the base and opposite the first side;
a back adjacent the base and the first and second sides;
a first internal support structure configured to support a backplane into which two or more server computing devices are plugged;
a second internal support structure configured to support the two or more server computing devices; and
at least three vertical stacking support structures positioned, in aggregate, on at least one of: the base, the first side, the second side and the back, the at least three vertical stacking support structures comprising:
a first vertical stacking support structure on a first edge of the first side at a front of the self-supporting server chassis; and
a second vertical stacking support structure on a first edge of the second side at the front of the self-supporting server chassis;
wherein both the first and second vertical stacking support structures comprise multiple attachment openings spaced apart a predetermined distance and alienable with openings in rack mounting ears affixed to rack mountable computing devices.

2. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , wherein the at least three vertical stacking support structures further comprise:
a third vertical stacking support structure on a second edge of the first side; and
a fourth vertical stacking support structure on a second edge of the second side;
wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth vertical stacking support structures are external to the self-supporting server chassis and are oriented orthogonally to the base.

3. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , wherein the at least three vertical stacking support structures are rectangular prisms.

4. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , wherein the at least three vertical stacking support structures each comprise a hollow opening at a top and a bottom of the at least three vertical stacking support structures.

5. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , wherein the at least three vertical stacking support structures each comprise a hollow opening at a top of the at least three vertical stacking support structures and a protrusion at a bottom of the at least three vertical stacking support structures, the protrusion sized smaller than the hollow opening at the top of the at least three vertical stacking support structures.

6. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , wherein the at least three vertical stacking support structures each comprise a first interlocking member at a top of the at least three vertical stacking support structures and a corresponding interlocking member at a bottom of the at least three vertical stacking support structures.

7. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , further comprising a top opposite the base and adjacent the back and the first and second sides.

8. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , wherein the server computing devices are blade server computing devices; and wherein further the second internal support structure comprises two or more rails along which the blade server computing devices slide as they are inserted into the self-supporting server chassis.

9. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , wherein the first internal support structure comprises at least three stand-offs extending from the back and having holes through which fasteners, attaching the backplane to the self-supporting server chassis, are insertable.

10. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , further comprising the two or more server computing devices, wherein the two or more server computing devices are physically inside the self-supporting server chassis.

11. The self-supporting server chassis of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first standard rack attachment support member along the first side at a front of the self-supporting server chassis; and
a second standard rack attachment support member along the second side at the front of the self-supporting server chassis;
wherein both the first and second standard rack attachment support members comprise multiple attachment openings spaced apart a predetermined distance and alignable with openings in rack mounting ears affixed to rack mountable computing devices.

12. A system comprising:
a first self-supporting server chassis, the first self-supporting chassis comprising:
a base;
a first side adjacent the base;
a second side adjacent the base and opposite the first side;
a back adjacent the base and the first and second sides;
a first internal support structure configured to support a backplane into which two or more server computing devices are plugged;
a second internal support structure configured to support the two or more server computing devices; and
at least three vertical stacking support structures positioned, in aggregate, on at least one of: the base, the first side, the second side and the back;

a second self-supporting server chassis comprising at least three other vertical stacking support structures; and
connectors between each of the at least three vertical stacking support structures of the first self-supporting server chassis and corresponding ones of the at least three other vertical stacking support structures of the second self-supporting server chassis;
wherein the at least three vertical stacking support structures of the first self-supporting server chassis and the at least three other vertical stacking support structures of the second self-supporting server chassis comprise first interlocking members; and wherein further the connectors comprise second interlocking members that interlock with the first interlocking members.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein both the at least three vertical stacking support structures of the first self-supporting server chassis and the at least three other vertical stacking support structures of the second self-supporting server chassis comprise hollow ends; and wherein further the connectors are positioned such that each connector is partially inserted into a hollow end of a one of the at least three vertical stacking support structures of the first self-supporting server chassis and also partially inserted into a hollow end of a one of the at least three other vertical stacking support structures of the second self-supporting server chassis.

14. The system of claim 13 , the at least three vertical stacking support structures of the first self-supporting server chassis and the at least three other vertical stacking support structures of the second self-supporting server chassis are of a first shape and the connectors are of a second shape differing from the first shape, the first shape being a rectangular prism.

15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a stack bottom of a stack comprising the first self-supporting server chassis and the second self-supporting server chassis, the stack bottom comprising at least three openings on a first side; and
additional connectors connecting the stack bottom to a lower one of the first self-supporting server chassis or the second self-supporting server chassis, the additional connectors being positioned such that each connector is partially inserted into one of the at least three openings and a hollow end of a corresponding one of either the at least three vertical stacking support structures of the first self-supporting server chassis or the at least three other vertical stacking support structures of the second self-supporting server chassis, whichever of the first or second self-supporting server

Assignees

• Microsoft Corp
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Rubenstein Brandon Aaron

Classifications

• H05K7/1489 Primary

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/181

  Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613) · CPC title