Perforated panel connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9918400-B2
Application number	US-201715584378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2017
Priority date	Nov 2, 2015
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A server enclosure having a plurality of panels abutted to one another and constrained by a connector having a channel and at least one aperture. Each respective panel has at least one perpendicular portion being perpendicular to a face of the respective panel and adjoining a perimeter of the respective panel. Connectivity media coincident to the aperture can affix at least two panels and a connector to one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A server enclosure comprising:
a plurality of sides forming an interior of the server enclosure, wherein the interior of the server enclosure is configured to hold one or more servers therein;
wherein at least one side of the server enclosure comprises a plurality of panels, wherein each panel comprises a metallic material, wherein each panel comprises a face having perpendicular portions at each edge of a perimeter of the face and being perpendicular to the face, wherein the face is perforated and at least one of the perpendicular portions is not perforated, wherein each face of each panel comprises a triangular geometry;
wherein a plurality of connectors adjoin the plurality of panels to each other, wherein each connector comprises a metallic material, wherein each connector comprises a channel formed by a first portion parallel to a second portion and connected by a third portion separating the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion comprises a variable thickness, wherein the channel of each connector is respectively fitted over at least two respective and abutted ones of the perpendicular portions of at least two of the plurality of panels, wherein each third portion of each connector comprises a plurality of apertures defining voids through the variable thickness of the third portion; and
wherein a plurality of connections respectively affix each connector to the plurality of panels, wherein each connection is respectively coincident to respective ones of said plurality of apertures, wherein each connection comprises a weld.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Lapree Scott R
• Mroz Stephen P
• Pfeifer Mark D

Classifications

• H05K7/20709

  for server racks or cabinets; for data centers, e.g. 19-inch computer racks · CPC title

• B44C5/0461

  used as wall coverings · CPC title

• A47B96/201

  Edge features · CPC title

• F16B5/08

  by means of welds or the like (welding B23K) · CPC title

• H05K5/0217

  Mechanical details of casings (covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03) · CPC title