Equipment Rack and Associated Ventilation System
A cable management rack is provided within which or upon which a heat-generating device is mountable, and which encompasses a vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame. The rack includes a first upright and a second upright attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top member, and respective side-facing panels. Each of the panels defines a plurality of vent holes arranged in an array and permit the rack to receive a sideways flow of cooling air into a first side of the rack through one of the vent hole arrays for cooling a heat-generating device mounted between the panels, and permit the rack to discharge a sideways flow of exhaust air through the other vent hole array. Each of the array of vent holes may manifest a honeycomb pattern of vent holes, and each of the vent holes may manifest an hexagonal shape. A cable management system includes a cable management rack for accommodating a heat generating device, a first baffle mounted with respect to a first upright of the rack and for redirecting a rearward flow of cool air sideways from a space adjacent a front side of the rack, and a second baffle mounted with respect to a second upright of the rack and for redirecting a sideways flow of exhaust air from the rack and through the second upright into a space adjacent a rear side of the rack. A method of cooling a heat-generating device mounted in or on a cable management rack includes providing a sideways flow of cooling air into the rack and into the device.
Latest Ortronics, Inc. Patents:
This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/221,835, filed Mar. 21, 2014, which is a continuation of co-pending U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 27/427,964, filed on Jul. 24, 2012, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/180,778, filed Jul. 12, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,526,181, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/468,407, filed on May 19, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,983,038, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/942,298, filed on Nov. 19, 2007, now abandoned. This application claims priority benefit to each of the foregoing applications and hereby incorporates by reference each of the foregoing applications in their entireties as part of the present disclosure.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The present disclosure is directed generally to rack systems for use in positioning of electronic components and/or equipment and, more particularly, to cable management racks and equipment ventilation systems associated therewith.
2. Background Art
Cable management systems (such as cable racks, bays or frames, which are hereinafter referred to as “racks”) have long been used in many varied applications, such as in communications and electronic services, and are generally located in indoor rooms, closures, offices or controlled environmental vaults. A known common construction that has evolved for such racks is one shown in
The devices mounted within the racks 202, 204 may be cross connect panels, patch panels, or any one of a variety of other types of devices requiring the orderly accomplishment of cable interconnections. In many instances, a rack mounted device, such as the device 218, requires a supply of cool air to ensure that a moderate operating temperature is maintained within the device. For example, the device 218 includes a pair of fan-equipped vents 228 facing outward of the device 218 and visible from a front side 230 of the rack 202 such that the device 218 receives a supply of cool air directly from a space or corridor defined at least in part by a corresponding front side of the arrangement 200. In such circumstances, the device 218 typically further includes one or more exhaust vents (obscured) facing outward of the device 218 and visible from a rear side 232 of the rack 202 opposite the front side 230 thereof such that the device 218 vents warm exhaust air directly into a space or corridor defined at least in part by a corresponding rear side of the arrangement 200.
A prior art arrangement 300 shown in
As described above, the ventilation arrangements depicted in
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, cable management racks, associated ventilation systems, and related techniques are disclosed for providing sideways-directed flows of cooling air into such racks and into heat-generating devices mounted therein (or thereon), and for facilitating the passage of sideways-directed flows of exhaust air outward of such devices and out of such racks. The disclosed racks, ventilation systems, and techniques facilitate redirection of cooling flows from spaces or corridors positioned adjacent to respective front sides of such racks sideways into such racks and into (and/or alongside) such heat-generating devices, and further facilitate redirection of exhaust flows from such devices and from such racks rearward into spaces or corridors positioned adjacent to respective rear sides of such racks.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a cable management rack is provided within or upon which a heat-generating device is mountable, and which encompasses a vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame. The rack further includes a first upright and a second upright attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top member. The rack still further includes respective side-facing panels. According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the respective side-facing panels advantageously defines a respective corresponding plurality of vent holes arranged in an array and effective to permit the rack to receive a straight lateral sideways flow of cooling air into a first side of the rack through one of the vent hole arrays for cooling a heat-generating device mounted between the side-facing panels, and to permit the rack to discharge a corresponding straight lateral sideways flow of exhaust air through the other of the vent hole arrays. With respect to each respective side-facing panel, the respective corresponding plurality of vent holes may extend across a predominant portion of a side-facing surface area of the side-facing panel, may extend across substantially an entire height of the rack, and/or may extend across substantially an entire depth of the rack. Further with respect to each respective plurality of vent holes, the array thereof may manifest a honeycomb pattern, and/or each of the vent holes thereof may manifest an hexagonal shape, and/or a punched hole perforating the respective side-facing panel.
In an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, either or each of the respective side facing panels advantageously defines an integral baffle. If both side facing panels possess an integral baffle, they may be arranged with respective integral baffles extending from diagonally opposing uprights of the side facing panels. The integral baffles are generally angularly oriented relative to the substantially rectangular rack and are effective to permit the rack to receive a lateral sideways flow of cooling air into a first side of the rack through one of the cavities defined by a first integral baffle, and to permit the rack to discharge a corresponding (or substantially corresponding) lateral sideways flow of exhausting air through the other cavity defined by the other integral baffle.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a cable management system is provided, the system being operable to deliver a supply of cooling air to a heat generating device mounted therewithin (and/or thereon), and including a cable management rack for accommodating a heat-generating device, the rack encompassing a vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame and including first and second uprights attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top member, a first baffle mounted with respect to or integrally extending from the first upright and configured and dimensioned to redirect a rearward flow of cool air from a space adjacent a front side of the rack sideways through the first upright, and a second baffle mounted with respect to or integrally extending from the second upright and configured and dimensioned to redirect a sideways flow of exhaust air from the rack and through the second upright rearward into a space adjacent a rear side of the rack.
The cable management system may further include (i) a third baffle mounted with respect to or integrally extending from the first upright in vertical alignment with the first baffle and configured and dimensioned to redirect a second, separate rearward flow of cool air from the space adjacent the front side of the rack sideways through the first upright, and (iv) a fourth baffle mounted with respect to or integrally extending from the second upright in vertical alignment with the third baffle and configured and dimensioned to redirect a second, separate sideways flow of exhaust air from the rack and through the second upright rearward into a space adjacent a rear side of the rack.
Also, the cable management system may include a second cable management rack for accommodating heat-generating device(s), the second cable management rack encompassing a vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame and including first and second uprights attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top member, and a third cable management rack for accommodating a heat-generating device, the third cable management rack encompassing a vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame and including first and second uprights attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top member, wherein a first baffle is further mounted with respect to or integrally extending from the second upright of the second rack and is configured and dimensioned to redirect a second sideways flow of exhaust air from the second rack and through the second upright thereof rearward into the space adjacent the rear side of the rack, and a second baffle is mounted with respect to or integrally extending from the first upright of the third rack and is configured and dimensioned to redirect a second rearward flow of cool air from the space adjacent the front side of the rack sideways through the first upright thereof.
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method is provided for cooling a heat-generating device mounted in (or on) a cable management rack encompassing a vertical rectangular frame open in a front and a rear of the frame and including respective first and second uprights attached to opposite respective lateral sides of a base and a top member, the method including receiving a rearward flow of cool air from a space adjacent a front side of the rack and redirecting the flow of cool air sideways through the first upright and into the heat-generating device, and redirecting a sideways flow of exhaust air passing out of the heat-generating device, and through the second upright, rearward to a space adjacent a rear side of the rack. The method may further include receiving another rearward flow of cool air from the space adjacent the front side of the rack and redirecting the another rearward flow of cool air sideways through the first upright and into a second heat-generating device mounted in the rack, and redirecting another sideways flow of exhaust air passing out of another heat-generating device, and through the second upright, rearward to the space adjacent the rear side of the rack.
Additional features, functions and benefits of the disclosed racks, ventilation systems, and associated methods and techniques will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, particularly when read in conjunction with the appended figures.
To assist those of skill in the art in making and using the disclosed equipment mounting racks and associated ventilation systems, wherein:
With reference to
Specifically with respect to the embodiment shown in
As shown in
Turning now to
As those of ordinary skill will readily recognize, the present disclosure, and more particularly, the arrangement 500, is not necessarily limited to embodiments including cable management cages (e.g., such as the cable management cage 508 or the cable management cage 510). For example, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, either or both of the cable management cage 508 and the cable management cage 510 may be removed, and/or substituted for by the use of any other suitable system or component capable of performing the function of vertical style wire management.
As shown in
With reference to
Each of the integral baffles 721a-721d may advantageously define a vertically-oriented flange or lip 1106a-1106d along an exposed edge thereof. The flange/lip facilitates positioning of rack 700 relative to adjacent structures, e.g., adjacent racks, and is generally oriented substantially parallel to the side face of the corresponding upright. The disclosed flange(s)/lip(s) may include a plurality of apertures/slots (not pictured) that facilitate attachment to adjacent structures, e.g., adjacent racks. Of note, the angular orientations of integral baffles 721a-721d relative to the corresponding upright—which are defined by the angles formed in bend regions 1102a-1102d—may vary from implementation-to-implementation, but such angle typically ranges from about 30° to about 60°. The angular orientation of integral baffles 721a-721d advantageously facilitates sideways air flow into and out of rack 700. In the exemplary embodiment of
In an alternate embodiment, not depicted, integral baffles of the type disclosed with reference to
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments and implementations, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is neither limited by nor restricted to such exemplary embodiments and/or implementations. Rather, the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications, enhancements and variations without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the present disclosure expressly encompasses such modifications, enhancements and variations as will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art from the disclosure herein contained.
Claims
1. A rack system, comprising:
- a. a vertical rectangular frame for accommodating at least one heat-generating device in a horizontal orientation, the vertical rectangular frame including a front, a rear, a first side, a second side, and an interior region; and
- b. a vertically oriented first baffle fixedly mounted relative to the first side of the vertical rectangular frame and extending laterally from the first side at an angle that is less than 90 degrees relative to the first side.
2. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first side of the vertical rectangular frame defines a height and wherein the first baffle extends substantially the entire height of the first side of the vertical rectangular frame.
3. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first side of the vertical rectangular frame defines a height and wherein the first baffle extends a portion of the height of the first side of the vertical rectangular frame.
4. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle defines a bottom and wherein the bottom of the first baffle is substantially vertically aligned with the bottom of the vertical rectangular frame.
5. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle defines a top and wherein the top of the first baffle is substantially vertically aligned with the top of the vertical rectangular frame.
6. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle defines a bottom and a top, wherein the bottom of the first baffle is not substantially vertically aligned with the bottom of the vertical rectangular frame, and wherein the top of the first baffle is not substantially vertically aligned with the top of the vertical rectangular frame.
7. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle defines a mounting flange along a first edge thereof.
8. A rack system according to claim 7, wherein the first baffle further defines a second mounting flange along a second edge thereof.
9. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle defines an upper end that is structurally bounded so as to prevent flow of air redirected by the first baffle from extending beyond the upper end of the first baffle.
10. A rack system according to claim 9, further comprising a cover that structurally bounds the first baffle at its upper end.
11. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle is configured and dimensioned to redirect a rearward flow of cool air that passes from a front space adjacent to the front of the vertical rectangular frame sideways through the first side and into the interior region.
12. A rack system according to claim 11, wherein cool air enters the interior region only by passing from a front space adjacent to the front of the vertical rectangular frame sideways through the first side based on redirection by the first baffle.
13. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle is configured and dimensioned to redirect a sideways flow of exhaust air from the interior region through the first side rearward into a rear space adjacent to the rear of the vertical rectangular frame.
14. A rack system according to claim 13, wherein exhaust air exits from the interior region only through the first side rearward into a rear space adjacent to the rear of the vertical rectangular frame based on redirection by the first baffle.
15. A rack system according to claim 1, further comprising a second baffle that is fixedly mounted to the first side of the vertical rectangular frame above the first baffle.
16. A rack system according to claim 15, wherein the second baffle defines an upper end that is structurally bounded so as to prevent flow of air redirected by the second baffle from extending beyond the upper end of the second baffle.
17. A rack system according to claim 16, wherein the first baffle and the second baffle extending laterally from the first side at substantially the same angle relative to the first side.
18. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle extends laterally from the first side at an angle that ranges from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees relative to the first side.
19. A rack system according to claim 1, wherein the first baffle includes a first mounting flange on a first end thereof.
20. A rack system according to claim 19, wherein the first mounting flange is vertically oriented when the first baffle is mounted with respect to vertical rectangular frame.
21. A rack system according to claim 19, wherein the first baffle includes a second mounting flange on a second end thereof.
22. A rack system according to claim 21, wherein the first mounting flange and the second mounting flange are substantially parallel to each other.
23. A system, comprising:
- a. a first assembly that includes a frame defining a front, a rear, a first lateral side and a second lateral side;
- b. a second assembly that includes a frame defining a front, a rear, a first lateral side and a second lateral side; and
- c. a first baffle mounted with respect to the first lateral side of the first assembly, wherein the first baffle is positioned between the first assembly and the second assembly and is angularly oriented with respect to the first lateral side of the first assembly and with respect to the first lateral side of the second assembly.
24. A system according to claim 23, wherein the first baffle has a first mounting flange on a first end thereof and a second mounting flange that is substantially parallel to the first mounting flange on a second end thereof, and wherein the first baffle is mounted to the first lateral side of the first assembly via the first mounting flange and is mounted to the first lateral side of the second assembly via the second mounting flange.
25. A system according to claim 23, further comprising a cable management cage mounted with respect to at least one of the first assembly and the second assembly, wherein the cable management cage is positioned in the space between the first assembly and the second assembly and in front of the first baffle.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 4, 2014
Publication Date: Dec 18, 2014
Applicant: Ortronics, Inc. (New London, CT)
Inventors: Lars R. Larsen (Old Lyme, CT), Stewart A. Levesque (Scotland, CT)
Application Number: 14/476,961
International Classification: H05K 7/20 (20060101); F24F 13/00 (20060101);