Rail seal for electronic equipment enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9814159-B2
Application number	US-201715492741-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2017
Priority date	Sep 10, 2010
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

An electronic equipment enclosure includes a frame structure, one or more panels attached to the frame structure, at least one vertical mounting rail fastened to the frame structure, and a rail seal attached to the at least one vertical mounting rail. The rail seal includes a generally flat panel portion and a seal along an edge thereof. The seal is adapted to engage at least one of the one or more panels to provide an air dam between the one or more panels and the at least one vertical mounting rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic equipment enclosure comprising:
a frame structure comprised of a plurality of interconnected vertical support posts and horizontal cross members;
one or more panels mounted on the frame structure, the frame structure and the one or more panels together defining an enclosed space for electronic equipment, the one or more panels at least including a top panel;
a first separate mounting rail mounted within the enclosed space to at least one of the horizontal cross members of the frame structure;
a second separate mounting rail mounted within the enclosed space to at least one of the horizontal cross members of the frame structure; and
a rail seal attached between the first and second separate mounting rails, the rail seal including a flat panel portion and a deflectable portion disposed along an upward-facing edge of the flat panel portion;
wherein the flat panel portion of the rail seal is oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the top panel such that the deflectable portion is pressed directly against, and is deflected by, the top panel, thereby providing a horizontal air dam within the enclosed space between the top panel and tops of the first and second separate mounting rails.

2. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable portion includes an internal cavity extending substantially the length thereof.

3. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable portion is shaped as a wiper blade, a distal end of which interfaces with the top panel to establish the horizontal air dam.

4. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable portion includes a bumper that interfaces with the top panel to establish the horizontal air dam.

5. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable portion includes one or more notches that interface with the top panel to establish the horizontal air dam.

6. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second separate mounting rails is mounted to the same horizontal cross member of the frame structure.

7. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the deflectable portion includes a pair of extension arms that define a channel for receiving the edge of the flat panel portion.

8. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 7 , wherein the deflectable portion includes a hooked tab for engaging the edge of the flat panel portion received between the pair of extension arms.

9. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the top panel includes one or more panel knockouts arranged therein and configured to be removable therefrom to provide a pass-through opening for a cable.

10. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 9 , wherein a split brush assembly is seated in place of a removed one of the one or more panel knockouts.

11. An electronic equipment enclosure comprising:
a frame structure comprised of a plurality of interconnected vertical support posts and horizontal cross members;
one or more panels mounted on the frame structure, the frame structure and the one or more panels together defining an enclosed space for electronic equipment, the one or more panels at least including a bottom panel;
a first separate mounting rail mounted within the enclosed space to at least one of the horizontal cross members of the frame structure;
a second separate mounting rail mounted within the enclosed space to at least one of the horizontal cross members of the frame structure; and
a rail seal attached between the first and second separate mounting rails, the rail seal including a flat panel portion and a deflectable portion disposed along a downward-facing edge of the flat panel portion;
wherein the flat panel portion of the rail seal is oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the bottom panel such that the deflectable portion is pressed directly against, and is deflected by, the bottom panel, thereby providing a horizontal air dam within the enclosed space between the bottom panel and bottoms of the first and second separate mounting rails.

12. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the deflectable portion includes an internal cavity extending substantially the length thereof.

13. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the deflectable portion is shaped as a wiper blade, a distal end of which interfaces with the bottom panel to establish the horizontal air dam.

14. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the deflectable portion includes a bumper that interfaces with the bottom panel to establish the horizontal air dam.

15. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the deflectable portion includes one or more notches that interface with the bottom panel to establish the horizontal air dam.

16. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second separate mounting rails is mounted to the same horizontal cross member of the frame structure.

17. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the deflectable portion includes a pair of extension arms that define a channel for receiving the edge of the flat panel portion.

18. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 17 , wherein the deflectable portion includes a hooked tab for engaging the edge of the flat panel portion received between the pair of extension arms.

19. An electronic equipment enclosure comprising:
a frame structure comprised of a plurality of interconnected vertical support posts and horizontal cross members;
one or more panels mounted on the frame structure, the frame structure and the one or more panels together defining an enclosed space for electronic equipment, the one or more panels at least including a side panel disposed at a side of the enclosed space;
at least one separate mounting rail mounted within the enclosed space to at least one of the horizontal cross members of the frame structure; and
a deflectable seal disposed against a surface of the at least one separate mounting rail, the deflectable seal being oriented generally perpendicularly relative to the side panel such that a portion of the deflectable seal is pressed directly against, and is deflected by, the side panel, thereby providing an air dam within the enclosed space between the side panel and the at least one separate mounting rail.

20. The electronic equipment enclosure of claim 19 , wherein the deflectable seal includes an internal cavity extending substantially the length thereof.

Assignees

• Chatsworth Prod Inc

Inventors

• Lewis Ii Richard Evans
• Garza Jr Jose Arturo
• Donowho D Brian
• Alaniz Daniel

Classifications

• H05K5/0247

  Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring · CPC title

• H05K7/183 Primary

  support rails therefor · CPC title

• H05K7/20009

  using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures (in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954) · CPC title

• H05K7/18

  Construction of rack or frame · CPC title

• H05K5/0234 Primary

  Feet; Stands; Pedestals, e.g. wheels for moving casing on floor · CPC title