Rack assemblies for server carrying and pivoting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9655275-B2
Application number	US-201514848706-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2015
Priority date	Sep 9, 2015
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

Rack assemblies for server carrying and pivoting are disclosed. According to an aspect, a rack assembly includes a server rack including multiple stand columns. The server rack defines server spaces for receiving servers, and defines an opening for access of the server spaces. The rack assembly includes first and second slide rails supported by the stand columns and configured to move between a first position within a server spaces and a second position that is outside of the opening. Further, the rack assembly includes a first connector being configured to releasably attach a first side of the server to the first slide rail. The rack assembly also includes a second connector configured to attach the second side to the second slide rail, and configured to pivot about the second side when the first side is detached from the second slide rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rack assembly comprising:
a server rack comprising a plurality of stand columns, defining a plurality of server spaces for receiving a plurality of servers, and defining an opening for access of the server spaces;
a first slide rail and a second slide rail supported by the stand columns and which move between a first position within one of the server spaces and a second position that is at least partially outside of the opening;
a first connector that releasably attaches a first side of one of the servers to the first slide rail, wherein the first side of the one of the servers opposes a second side of the one of the servers;
a second connector that:
attaches the second side of the one of the servers to the second slide rail, and
pivots around the second side when the first side is detached from the first slide rail; and
a cable and resistance mechanism, wherein the cable is attached at a first end to the resistance mechanism and the first slide rail,
wherein the cable is attached at a second end to an end of the one of the servers, and
wherein the cable and resistance mechanism resist a force pulling the cable in a direction of attachment to the end of the one of the servers.

2. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the server spaces is 1 U in height.

3. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second slide rails each comprise first and second portions, the first portion of each of the slide rails being attached to the stand columns, and the second portion of the first slide rail and the second slide rail being engaged with and moves with respect to the first portion of the first slide rail and the second slide rail, respectively, wherein the second portion of the first slide rail is attached to the first connector, and wherein the second portion of the second slide rail is attached to the second connector.

4. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the slide rails are moveable to the second position such that the one of the servers is outside of the one of the server spaces.

5. The rack assembly of claim 1 , further comprising side walls, a rear wall, and a front being attached together to form a support structure for carrying servers.

6. The rack assembly of claim 5 , wherein the front defines the opening.

7. The rack assembly of claim 5 , wherein the stand columns are rigidly attached to the side walls.

8. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stand columns include first, second, third, and fourth stand columns.

9. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first connector comprises a latch mechanism for securing the first side of the one of the servers to the first slide rail.

10. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second connector comprises first and second portions, the first portion being connected to a second side of the second slide rail, and the second portion connects to a first side of the first slide rail.

11. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the server spaces are arranged in a vertical direction with respect to each other.

12. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the resistance mechanism comprises one of a spring and clutch.

13. The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first slide rail defines an interior, and wherein the resistance mechanism and a portion of the cable are positioned within the interior of the first slide rail.

14. The rack assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one resistive hinge attached to a second side of the second slide rail and the one of the servers for resisting movement of the one of the servers when pivoting about the second side.

15. The rack assembly of claim 14 , wherein the resistive hinge comprises a spring mechanism that resists movement of the one of the servers when pivoting about the second side.

16. A rack assembly comprising:
a server rack comprising a plurality of stand columns, defining a plurality of server spaces for receiving a plurality of servers, and defining an opening for access of the server spaces;
first and second slide rails supported by the stand columns and that moves between a first position within one of the server spaces and a second position that is at least partially outside of the opening;
a first connector that releasably attaches a first side of one of the servers to the first slide rail, wherein the first side of the one of the servers opposes a second side of the one of the servers;
a second connector that attaches the second side to the second slide rail, and that pivots about the second side when the first side is detached from the second slide rail; and
a tray attached to the first side of the one of the servers.

17. The rack assembly of claim 16 , wherein the tray is pivotally attached to the first side of the one of the servers.

18. The rack assembly of claim 16 , wherein the tray is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the tray is adjacent to a top of the one of the servers, and wherein in the second position the tray is positioned away from the top of the one of the servers.

19. The rack assembly of claim 18 , wherein when the one of the servers is pivoted downward about the second side, the tray is moveable to the second position for holding components.

Assignees

• Lenovo Entpr Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Adams Keith T
• Cudak Gary D
• Herman Joseph F
• Weber John M

Classifications

• H05K7/183

  support rails therefor · CPC title

• H05K7/1489 Primary

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