Rack pulley system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9948076-B1
Application number	US-86651907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 3, 2007
Priority date	Oct 3, 2007
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

Abstract

A removable rack pulley system is provided. The removable rack pulley system is detachably connected to a rack and is employed to adjust cables that are associated with equipment stored in shelves of the rack. The rack pulley system includes a cable-run assembly and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a pressure-actuated locking pin to adhere and release calipers that attach the rack pulley system to the rack. The cable-run assembly uses a multi-length shaft that is integrally connected to the locking mechanism. The multi-length shaft is configured to receive multiple spools of cable to allow various types and sizes of cables to be simultaneously pulled through the rack pulley system while retaining separation of the cables during adjustment of cables. The spools are secured in the cable-run assembly by a holding wire that detachably connects to an end of the multi-length shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A removable pulley system attachable to a rack adapted to support data equipment, the removable pulley system comprising:
a cable-run assembly comprising:
(1) a plurality of cables of varying size, type, or service that are simultaneously retrieved from multiple spools within the cable-run assembly;
(2) a holding wire adapted to secure the plurality of cables in the cable-run assembly, wherein the holding wire is permanently attached to a proximal end of an adjustable shaft that receives the multiple spools, wherein the adjustable shaft can be increased or decreased in length; and

a locking mechanism having holes to receive a removable locking pin that secures the removable pulley system to the rack, wherein a segment of the rack secured by the removable locking pin is rigid and wherein a longest dimension of the segment runs parallel to the plurality of cables; and
an arm that integrally attaches the cable-run assembly and the locking mechanism of the removable pulley system.

2. The removable pulley system of claim 1 , wherein the segment secured by the locking pin is an intermediate between two parallel portions of the locking mechanism.

3. The removable pulley system of claim 1 , wherein the removable locking pin includes a button that retracts balls that secure the removable pulley system to the rack.

4. The removable pulley system of claim 1 , wherein the locking pin provides enabled, disabled, locked, and unlocked positions, and automatically attaches the removable pulley system to the rack.

5. The removable pulley system of claim 1 , wherein the rack is an overhead rack.

6. The removable pulley system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable shaft is removable.

7. An apparatus for running cables along a rigid rack by employing a removable pulley system, the apparatus comprising:
an attachment mechanism that secures the apparatus to the rigid rack, wherein the rigid rack is used as a shelf to support data equipment and wherein the attachment mechanism is perpendicular to the rigid rack;
an adjustable shaft connected to the attachment mechanism for receiving spools for the cables, the adjustable shaft adapted to increase or decrease in length; and
a U-shaped holding wire that secures the spools to the adjustable shaft, wherein the U-shaped holding wire is permanently attached to a joint at a proximal end of the adjustable shaft and the U-shaped holding wire is latched to a distal end of the adjustable shaft such that the U-shaped holding wire may be unlatched from the distal end of the adjustable shaft to remove one or more of the spools from the distal end of the adjustable shaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising the data equipment positioned on the rigid rack, wherein the attachment mechanism includes a locking system to engage with portions of the rigid rack.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a release system to disengage from the rigid rack.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein, when mounted,
the spools of cable are capable of rotational movement around the adjustable shaft to adjust the length of the cables that are run along the rack.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the rigid rack is an overhead rack.

12. An apparatus for locking a removable pulley system to a rack, the apparatus comprising:
a cable-run assembly adapted to release or retract cable along the rack;
a n-shaped member having holes and integrally attached to a common joint between the cable-run assembly and the n-shaped member;
a locking pin that traverses the holes of the n-shaped member to secure the removable pulley system to the rack, wherein the locking pin automatically connects to a portion of the rack via retractable balls that prevent the locking pin from traversing out of the holes of the n-shaped member, and wherein a segment of the rack secured by the locking pin is rigid and has a longest dimension running parallel to the cable; and
an adjustable shaft that can increase or decrease in length for receiving spools.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the locking pin is manually translated to disengage the releasable pulley system from the rack.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the rack is an overhead rack.

15. The removable pulley system of claim 1 , wherein the removable locking pin comprises pressurized release clips that automatically secure the removable pulley system.

16. The removable pulley system of claim 15 , wherein the pressurized release clips include calipers that automatically engage the rack.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the rack is a shelving system for data equipment that is located in a data center.

Assignees

• Davey Andrew Lee
• Haney David Wayne
• Mateski Christopher Joseph
• Sprint Communications Co Lp

Inventors

• Davey Andrew Lee
• Haney David Wayne
• Mateski Christopher Joseph

Classifications

• H02G1/04 Primary

  for mounting or stretching · CPC title

• B65H57/14

  Pulleys, rollers, or rotary bars · CPC title

• B65H49/327

  Arrangements or adaptations for attachment to a wall, a post or the like · CPC title

• B65H49/205

  Hand-held or portable dispensers · CPC title

• B65H49/36

  Securing packages to supporting devices (replacing or removing cores, receptacles, or completed packages at paying-out, winding, or depositing stations B65H67/00) · CPC title