RACK DELIVERY SYSTEM

• US 20170253374A1
• Filed: 03/04/2016
• Published: 09/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Tunks, Eric, Embleton, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,950,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1488 Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures

Abstract

A device delivery system includes a base support member having vertical force dissipation member(s) that dissipate vertical forces, and a device support member that mounts to one or more devices. A horizontal movement subsystem couples the device support member to the base support member, and operates to allow the device support member to move relative to the base support member in a substantially horizontal plane during rack transport. Resilient member(s) extend between the base support member and the device support member, and operate to damp the movement of the device support member relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane. A movement limiting subsystem may be provided on the base support member and the device support member, and may be activated to resist movement of the device support member relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane during rack positioning.

Claims

1. A device delivery system, comprising:

a base support member that includes at least one vertical force dissipation member that is configured to dissipate vertical forces transmitted to the base support member;

a device support member that is configured to mount to a device;

a horizontal movement subsystem that couples the device support member to the base support member, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem is configured to allow the device support member to move relative to the base support member in a substantially horizontal plane; and

at least one resilient member that extends between the base support member and the device support member, wherein the at least one resilient member is configured to damp the movement of the device support member relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a movement limiting subsystem provided on the base support member and the device support member, wherein the movement limiting subsystem is configured to be activated to resist movement of the device support member relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a plurality of rotatable members that engage each of the base support member and the device support member, and wherein the plurality of rotatable members are configured to rotate to allow the device support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a first flat surface of the base support member that engages a second flat surface of the device support member, and wherein the first flat surface is configured to move relative to the second flat surface to allow the device support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a fluid bladder that engages each of the base support member and the device support member, and wherein the fluid bladder is configured to deform to allow the device support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a mechanical linkage coupled to each of the base support member and the device support member, and wherein the mechanical linkage includes at least one moveable coupling that is configured to allow the device support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

7. A rack delivery system, comprising:

a rack that is configured to house a plurality of computing devices;

a rack shipping pallet that is mounted to the rack, wherein the rack shipping pallet includes;

a base support member that includes at least one vertical force dissipation member that is configured to dissipate vertical forces transmitted to the base support member;

a rack support member that mounted to the rack;

a horizontal movement subsystem that couples the rack support member to the base support member, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem provides for movement of the rack support member relative to the base support member in a substantially horizontal plane when a force is transmitted to the rack support member; and

at least one resilient member that extends between the base support member and the rack support member, wherein the at least one resilient member is configured to damp the movement of the rack support member relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a movement limiting subsystem provided on the base support member and the rack support member, wherein the movement limiting subsystem is configured to be activated to resist movement of the rack support member relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a plurality of rotatable members that engage each of the base support member and the rack support member, and wherein the plurality of rotatable members are configured to rotate to allow the rack support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a first flat surface of the base support member that engages a second flat surface of the rack support member, and wherein the first flat surface is configured to move relative to the second flat surface to allow the rack support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a fluid bladder that engages each of the base support member and the rack support member, and wherein the fluid bladder is configured to deform to allow the rack support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a mechanical linkage coupled to each of the base support member and the rack support member, and wherein the mechanical linkage includes at least one moveable coupling that is configured to allow the rack support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

13. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of racks, wherein the rack support member is mounted to each of the plurality of racks.

14. A method for delivering a rack, comprising:

mounting a rack to a rack support member that is moveably coupled to a base support member;

moving the rack and the rack support member and, in response, generating vertical forces and horizontal forces that are transmitted to the rack support member;

dissipating the vertical forces transmitted to the base support member using at least one vertical force dissipating member that is included in the base support member;

providing for movement of the rack support member relative to the base support member in a substantially horizontal plane that occurs in response to the horizontal forces using a horizontal movement subsystem that couples the rack support member to the base support member; and

damping horizontal motion of the rack that occurs in response to the horizontal forces using at least one resilient member that extends between the base support member and the rack support member.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

activating a movement limiting subsystem that is provided on the base support member and the rack support to resist movement of the rack support member relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a plurality of rotatable members that engage each of the base support member and the rack support member, when the plurality of rotatable members rotate to allow the rack support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a first flat surface of the base support member that engages a second flat surface of the rack support member, and wherein the first flat surface moves relative to the second flat surface to allow the rack support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a fluid bladder that engages each of the base support member and the rack support member, and wherein the fluid bladder deforms to allow the rack support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the horizontal movement subsystem includes a mechanical linkage coupled to each of the base support member and the rack support member, and wherein the mechanical linkage includes at least one moveable coupling that allows the rack support member to move relative to the base support member in the substantially horizontal plane.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

mounting a plurality of racks to the rack support member that is moveably coupled to a base support member.