Equipment module support brackets, rack-mounted equipment systems, and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9723747-B1
Application number	US-201514740207-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 15, 2015
Priority date	Jun 15, 2015
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

Equipment module support brackets, rack-mounted equipment cabinet systems, and related methods can include at least one equipment module, a rack-mounted equipment cabinet for storing the rack-mounted equipment, and at least one equipment module support bracket installed in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet for supporting the at least one equipment module stored in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet. The support bracket can include a longitudinally extending top face, and at least one aperture disposed on opposite ends of a rear facing longitudinal edge of the longitudinally extending top face. The support bracket can include a height of less than one (1) rack unit (RU) when mounted in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet. The support bracket can include at least one server support bracket for supporting a server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An equipment module support bracket for supporting an equipment module stored in a rack-mounted equipment cabinet, the equipment module support bracket comprising:
a longitudinally extending top face configured to be positioned adjacent to a bottom surface of the equipment module to prevent the equipment module from sagging; and
at least one aperture disposed on opposite ends of a rear facing longitudinal edge of the longitudinally extending top face for mounting the equipment module support bracket to the rack-mounted equipment cabinet;
wherein the equipment module support bracket comprises a height of less than one (1) rack unit (RU) when mounted in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet.

2. The equipment module support bracket of claim 1 , wherein the equipment module support bracket is configured as a server support bracket for supporting a server module and is configured to be mounted directly above at least one Disk Array Enclosure (DAE) storage bracket.

3. The equipment module support bracket of claim 1 , wherein the equipment module support bracket is configured to be mounted at a rear of the rack-mounted equipment cabinet between equipment rails of the rack-mounted equipment cabinet, such that the equipment module support bracket is mounted at a first end to an inside face of a first equipment rail and at a second end to an inside face of a second equipment rail.

4. The equipment module support bracket of claim 1 , wherein the equipment module support bracket is configured to maintain a gap between the equipment module and rack-mounted equipment mounted adjacent to the equipment module in order to maintain an airflow barrier therebetween.

5. The equipment module support bracket of claim 1 , wherein the equipment module support bracket is comprised of a material configured to withstand static and dynamic load requirements.

6. The equipment module support bracket of claim 1 , further comprising a pad disposed on the longitudinally extending top face for eliminating vibration between the equipment module support bracket and the equipment module.

7. The equipment module support bracket of claim 1 , comprising a side face extending from a side edge of the equipment module support bracket and disposed substantially orthogonal to the longitudinally extending top face;
wherein the side face is configured to engage an equipment rail of the rack-mounted equipment cabinet.

8. A rack-mounted equipment system comprising:
a rack-mounted equipment cabinet;
rack-mounted equipment including at least one equipment module mounted to the rack-mounted equipment cabinet; and
at least one equipment module support bracket installed in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet for providing additional support to the at least one equipment module stored in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet, the at least one equipment module support bracket comprising:
a longitudinally extending top face positioned adjacent to a bottom surface of the equipment module to prevent the at least one equipment module from sagging; and
at least one aperture disposed on opposite ends of a rear facing longitudinal edge of the longitudinally extending top face;
wherein the at least one equipment module support bracket comprises a height of less than one (1) rack unit (RU) when mounted in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet.

9. The rack-mounted equipment system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one equipment module support bracket is configured as a server support bracket for supporting a server module and is configured to be mounted directly above at least one Disk Array Enclosure (DAE) storage bracket.

10. The rack-mounted equipment system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one equipment module support bracket is configured to be mounted at a rear of the rack-mounted equipment cabinet between equipment rails of the rack-mounted equipment cabinet, such that the at least one equipment module support bracket is mounted at a first end to an inside face of a first equipment rail and at a second end to an inside face of a second equipment rail.

11. The rack-mounted equipment system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one equipment module support bracket is configured to maintain a gap between the at least one equipment module and rack-mounted equipment mounted adjacent to the at least one equipment module in order to maintain an airflow barrier therebetween.

12. The rack-mounted equipment system of claim 8 , wherein the equipment module support bracket is comprised of a material configured to withstand static and dynamic load requirements.

13. The rack-mounted equipment system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one server support bracket further comprises a pad disposed on the longitudinally extending top face for eliminating vibration between the at least one equipment module support bracket and the at least one equipment module.

14. The rack-mounted equipment system of claim 8 , comprising a side face extending from a side edge of the equipment module support bracket and disposed substantially orthogonal to the longitudinally extending top face;
wherein the side face is configured to engage an equipment rail of the rack-mounted equipment cabinet.

15. A method for installing at least one equipment module support bracket in a rack-mounted equipment cabinet, the method comprising:
positioning at least one equipment module support bracket beneath an equipment module mounted in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet such that a longitudinally extending top face of the at least one equipment module support bracket is positioned adjacent to a bottom surface of the equipment module, the at least one equipment module support bracket comprising a height of less than one (1) rack unit (RU) when mounted in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet, and at least one aperture is disposed on opposite ends of a rear facing longitudinal edge of the longitudinally extending top face; and
installing the at least one equipment module support bracket in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one equipment module support bracket supports a server module, such that installing the at least one equipment module support bracket in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet comprises mounting the at least server support bracket directly above at least one Disk Array Enclosure (DAE) storage bracket.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein installing the at least one equipment module support bracket in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet comprises mounting the at least one equipment module support bracket at a rear of the rack-mounted equipment cabinet between equipment rails of the rack-mounted equipment cabinet, such that the at least one equipment module support bracket is mounted at a first end to an inside face of a first equipment rail and at a second end to an inside face of a second equipment rail.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein installing the at least one equipment module support bracket in the rack-mounted equipment cabinet comprises mounting the at least one equipment module support bracket to maintain a gap between the at least one equipment module and rack-mounted equipment mounted adjacent to the at least one equipment module in order to maintain an airflow barrier therebetween.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the equipment module support bracket is comprised of a material configured to withstand static and dynamic load requirements.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein positioning at least one equipment module support bracket beneat

Assignees

• Vce Co Llc
• Vce Ip Holding Co Llc

Inventors

• Marrs Samuel M
• Eaton Alva B

Classifications

• H05K7/1489 Primary

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

• H05K7/18

  Construction of rack or frame · CPC title

• H05K7/20754

  Air circulating in closed loop within cabinets · CPC title