Method and apparatus for an electronic equipment rack

• US 20070151779A1
• Filed: 12/29/2005
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scalematrix Holdings, Inc. (ScaleMatrix, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Emiph, LLC
• Inventors: Chaput, Richard, Robbins, Jody, Woodbury, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,611,157 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/16 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/2045 Protection against vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/18 Construction of rack or frame

Abstract

A method and apparatus for an electronic equipment rack that provides mobility through directional self-propulsion and multi-axis suspension. The electronic equipment rack further provides self-powered operation and environmental control with wireless access, while protecting against unauthorized access, electromagnetic interference (EMI), and dust contamination. An alternate embodiment provides a non-mobile electronic equipment rack with multi-axis suspension, while optionally providing wireless access and protection against unauthorized access and the environment.

Claims

1. An electronic component transport system, comprising:

a platform having first and second surfaces;

a mobility control device coupled to the first surface of the platform and adapted to provide directional propulsion of the platform;

a first enclosure coupled to the second surface of the platform;

a second enclosure coupled to the second surface of the platform and the first enclosure, the second enclosure being adapted to accept a plurality of electronic components;

a suspension system coupled to the first and second enclosures and to the second surface of the platform and adapted to isolate a position of the second enclosure from relative position variations of the platform and the first enclosure, the suspension system including,

a first suspension device coupled to the second enclosure and the second surface of the platform, the first suspension device adapted to maintain a position of the second enclosure between a minimum and a maximum distance in a first direction relative to the first enclosure; and

a second suspension device coupled to the second enclosure and adaptively programmed to dampen movement of the second enclosure between the minimum and the maximum distance relative to the first enclosure; and

a third enclosure encompassing the first and second enclosures, the third enclosure including,

a power conditioner coupled to receive an input power signal and adapted to provide a conditioned power signal to the plurality of electronic components in response to the input power signal; and

an environment control unit adapted to maintain the plurality of electronic components at a substantially constant temperature.

2. The electronic component transport system of claim 1, wherein the first suspension device comprises:

a first pneumatic support coupled to a first portion of the second enclosure and adapted to pneumatically maintain a position of the first portion of the second enclosure between the minimum and the maximum distance relative to a first portion of the first enclosure in response to a first position signal; and

a second pneumatic support coupled to a second portion of the second enclosure and adapted to pneumatically maintain a position of the second portion of the second enclosure between the minimum and the maximum distance relative to a second portion of the first enclosure in response to a second position signal.

3. The electronic component transport system of claim 2, wherein the first suspension device further comprises:

a first sensor adapted to detect the position of the first portion of the second enclosure between the minimum and the maximum distance relative to the first portion of the first enclosure and to provide the first position signal in response to the detected position; and

a second sensor adapted to detect the position of the second portion of the second enclosure between the minimum and the maximum distance relative to the second portion of the first enclosure and to provide the second position signal in response to the detected position.

4. The electronic component transport system of claim 3, wherein the first suspension device further comprises:

a first compressor coupled to the first sensor and the first pneumatic support and adapted to maintain a pressure of the first pneumatic support to maintain the position of the first portion of the second enclosure between the minimum and the maximum distance relative to the first portion of the first enclosure; and

a second compressor coupled to the second sensor and the second pneumatic support and adapted to maintain a pressure of the second pneumatic support to maintain the position of the second portion of the second enclosure between the minimum and the maximum distance relative to the second portion of the first enclosure.

5. The electronic component transport system of claim 1, wherein the second suspension device comprises:

a conductive element; and

a magnetorheological device displaced within the conductive element and coupled to the second enclosure and the platform.

6. The electronic component transport system of claim 5, wherein the second suspension device further comprises:

a pulse width modulator coupled to the conductive element and adapted to provide a pulse width modulated signal to the conductive element, the conductive element being adapted to produce a variable magnitude magnetic field in response to the pulse width modulated signal; and

an accelerometer coupled to the pulse width modulator and adapted to provide an adaptive control signal to the pulse width modulator, the pulse width modulator being adapted to adjust a duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal in response to the adaptive control signal.

7. The electronic component transport system of claim 1, further comprising a third suspension device coupled between the first and second enclosures and adaptively programmed to dampen movement of the second enclosure, the movement being in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.

8. The electronic component transport system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless interface coupled to the third enclosure and adapted to provide data access to the plurality of electronic components.

9. The electronic component transport system of claim 8, wherein the wireless interface comprises a multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) wireless interface.

10. The electronic component transport system of claim 8, wherein the wireless interface comprises a keyboard, video, mouse (KVM) wireless switch.

11. The electronic component transport system of claim 1, further comprising a security device adapted to authenticate access to the first and second enclosures.

12. A mobile equipment rack assembly, comprising:

a platform adapted to provide directional propulsion;

a first rack coupled to the platform;

a second rack coupled to the first rack and the platform, the second rack being encapsulated by the first rack; and

a shock absorption unit coupled to the first and second racks, the shock absorption unit including,

a weight bearing device coupled to the second rack and adapted to maintain a position of the second rack within a first range of distance in a first direction relative to the first rack; and

a dampening device coupled to the second rack, the dampening device being adaptively programmed to dampen movement of the second rack within the first range of distance.

13. The mobile equipment rack assembly of claim 12, wherein the weight bearing device comprises:

a first pneumatic support coupled to a first portion of the second rack and adapted to pneumatically maintain a position of the first portion of the second rack between the first range of distance relative to a first portion of the first rack in response to a first position signal; and

a second pneumatic support coupled to a second portion of the second rack and adapted to pneumatically maintain a position of the second portion of the second rack between the first range of distance relative to a second portion of the first rack in response to a second position signal.

14. The mobile equipment rack assembly of claim 13, wherein the weight bearing device further comprises:

a first sensor adapted to detect the position of the first portion of the second rack between the first range of distance relative to the first portion of the first rack and to provide the first position signal in response to the detected position; and

a second sensor adapted to detect the position of the second portion of the second rack between the first range of distance relative to the second portion of the first rack and to provide the second position signal in response to the detected position.

15. The mobile equipment rack assembly of claim 14, wherein the weight bearing device further comprises:

a first compressor coupled to the first sensor and the first pneumatic support and adapted to maintain a pressure of the first pneumatic support to maintain the position of the first portion of the second rack between the first range of distance relative to the first portion of the first rack; and

a second compressor coupled to the second sensor and the second pneumatic support and adapted to maintain a pressure of the second pneumatic support to maintain the position of the second portion of the second rack between the first range of distance relative to the second portion of the first rack.

16. The mobile equipment rack assembly of claim 12, wherein the dampening device comprises:

a conductive element; and

a magnetorheological device displaced within the conductive element and coupled to the second rack and the platform.

17. The mobile equipment rack assembly of claim 16, wherein the dampening device further comprises:

a pulse width modulator coupled to the conductive element and adapted to provide a pulse width modulated signal to the conductive element, the conductive element being adapted to produce a variable magnitude magnetic field in response to the pulse width modulated signal; and

an accelerometer coupled to the pulse width modulator and adapted to provide an adaptive control signal to the pulse width modulator, the pulse width modulator being adapted to adjust a duty cycle of the pulse width modulated signal in response to the adaptive control signal.

18. The mobile equipment rack assembly of claim 12, wherein the dampening device comprises:

a right-angle drive coupled to the second rack and the platform; and

a magnetorheological device coupled to the right-angle drive and the platform, wherein the magnetorheological device is adapted to actuate through the right-angle drive to dampen movement of the second rack within the first range of distance.

19. An equipment rack assembly, comprising:

a first rack coupled to a platform;

a second rack coupled to the first rack and the platform;

a shock absorption unit coupled to the first and second racks, the shock absorption unit including,

a weight bearing device coupled to the second rack and the platform and adapted to maintain a position of the second rack within a first range of distance relative to the first rack; and

a dampening device coupled to the second rack and adaptively programmed to dampen movement of the second rack within the first range of distance.

20. The equipment rack assembly of claim 19, wherein the dampening device comprises:

a right-angle drive coupled to the second rack and the platform; and

a magnetorheological shock absorber coupled to the right-angle drive and the platform, wherein the magnetorheological shock absorber is adapted to actuate through operation of the right-angle drive to dampen movement of the second rack within the first range of distance.