Abstract
Described herein is an integration cell that can be pre-installed with plural electronic equipment units at a location remote from a datacenter. One or more pre-installed integration cells can be shipped on a single standard shipping palette to the datacenter location and moved into the datacenter through standard doorways and using standard elevators. Inside the datacenter, the integration cell can be inserted into a seismic electronic equipment storage rack to allow for bulk installation or removal of plural electronic equipment units.
Claims
1. An integration cell for an electronic equipment rack comprising a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the first and second side walls are connected to the top wall and bottom walls on opposite sides to define a rectangular cavity, wherein the integration cell is configured to support one or more electronic equipment units within the rectangular cavity, wherein the integration cell is pre-installed with the one or more electronic equipment units prior to transportation to a datacenter location, and wherein the housing protects the one or more electronic equipment units during transportation.
2. The integration cell of claim 1, wherein the housing may comprise one or more cutouts, wherein the one or more cutouts function to provide ventilation for the one or more electronic equipment units during operation and wherein the one or more cutouts function to reduce the overall weight of the integration cell.
3. The integration cell of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises one or more stopper flanges positioned along a front edge of the first side wall and the second side wall, wherein the one or more stopper flanges are configured to engage at least one surface of an electronic equipment chassis to prevent further ingress of the the electronic equipment chassis into the rectangular cavity when the electronic equipment chassis is installed into the integration cell, wherein the electronic equipment chassis is configured to store one or more electronic equipment units.
4. The integration cell of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises one or more stopper flanges configured to engage a surface of an electronic equipment rack to prevent further ingress of the integration cell into an opening of the electronic equipment rack when the integration cell is installed into the electronic equipment rack.
5. The integration cell of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises one or more electronic equipment chassis mounting flanges for securing an electronic equipment chassis to the integration cell.
6. The integration cell of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises one or more through holes for securing the integration cell to an electronic equipment rack.
7. The integration cell of claim 1, wherein the width of the integration cell is less than half of the width of a standard shipping palette or equivalent multimodal shipping unit.
8. The integration cell of claim 1, wherein the length of the integration cell is equal to or less than the length of a standard shipping palette or equivalent multimodal shipping unit.
9. The integration cell of claim 1, further comprising at least one optional fitment.
10. An electronic equipment rack system comprising: one or more storage racks each comprising a plurality of vertical members and a plurality of horizontal members connected to the vertical members at different heights and defining one or more integration cell openings; one or more integration cells according to claim 1 positioned in the one or more integration cell openings of the one or more storage racks; wherein the one or more integration cells are pre-installed with one or more electronic equipment units prior to transportation to a datacenter location where the one or more storage racks are located.
11. A method for bulk installation of electronic equipment units in an electronic equipment storage rack in a datacenter comprising: installing one or more electronic equipment units into an integration cell at a first location; securing one or more integration cells having one or more installed electronic equipment units to a standard shipping palette at the first location; transporting the standard shipping palette from the first location to a second location having a datacenter comprising an electronic equipment storage rack; installing the one or more integration cells into the electronic equipment storage rack in the datacenter at the second location.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising installing one or more electronic equipment storage racks in a datacenter at a first location.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The structure and operation of the present invention will be understood from a review of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front view diagram illustrating an example integration cell according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view diagram illustrating an example integration cell according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a top view diagram illustrating an example integration cell according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example integration cell according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example integration cell with an electronic equipment chassis according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example integration cell with plural electronic equipment chassis according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a front view diagram illustrating an example integration cell with plural electronic equipment chassis according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a front view diagram illustrating an example standard shipping palette that is an exemplary multimodal shipping unit loaded with plural integration cells with plural electronic equipment chassis according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack, which is an example of a high-density electronic equipment rack, according to an embodiment of the invention, having no integration cells;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack partially filled with a single integration cell according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack completely filled with plural integration cells according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 12A is a front view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack completely filled with plural integration cells according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 12B is a front view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack system completely filled with plural integration cells according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 12C is a front view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack system partially filled with plural integration cells according to an embodiment of the invention; and
[0030] FIG. 13 is a side view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack completely filled with plural integration cells according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide for an integration cell that can be pre-installed with plural electronic equipment remote from a datacenter and can be shipped on standard shipping palettes to the datacenter and inserted into a seismic electronic equipment storage rack. After reading this description it will become apparent to one skilled in the art how to implement the invention in various alternative embodiments and alternative applications. However, although various embodiments of the present invention will be described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are presented by way of example only, and not limitation. As such, this detailed description of various alternative embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope or breadth of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a front view diagram illustrating an example integration cell 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the integration cell 10 comprises a housing 15 that includes a stopper flange 20A and 20B, wherein the stopper flange 20A and 20B contains a front planar surface referred to herein as an electronic equipment chassis mounting flange 21A and 21B. Each stopper flange 20A and 20B is positioned on the front of the integration cell 10.
[0033] The housing 15 has a plurality of functions. A first function may be to provide a structure within which one or more electronic or non-electronic equipment chassis can be inserted and secured to the electronic equipment chassis mounting flange 21A and 21B. An electronic or non-electronic equipment chassis can be secured to the electronic equipment chassis mounting flange 21A and 21B by one or more methods, including, but not limited to, mechanical and/or magnetic fasteners. A second function is to facilitate installation into a seismic electronic equipment storage rack. A third function may be to facilitate modality and to protect the contents of the one or more electronic equipment chassis during land, sea or air transportation from the location where the integration cell 10 is pre-installed with the one or more electronic equipment chassis to the datacenter location.
[0034] Advantages of the integration cell 10 is that it allows remote installation and configuration (e.g., wiring) of plural electronic equipment by the provider of the electronic equipment and it allows bulk insertion and removal of plural pre-configured electronic equipment in a datacenter. Additionally, a plurality of optional fitments including, but not limited to, equipment mounting rails, shelf systems, wire management systems, cooling units, security doors and other sheet metal, extruded or molded fixtures can also be attached or otherwise coupled to meet the special requirements of any given implementation.
[0035] The electronic equipment chassis mounting flange 21A and 21B provides a surface to engage a corresponding surface of an electronic equipment chassis when the electronic equipment chassis is installed in the integration cell 10 and allows the electronic equipment chassis to be secured to the integration cell 10.
[0036] The stopper flanges 20A and 20B function to provide a surface to engage and secure a corresponding surface on an electronic equipment storage rack when the integration cell 10 is inserted into the electronic equipment storage rack.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a side view diagram illustrating an example integration cell 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the integration cell 10 comprises a housing 15 and stopper flange 20, having an electronic equipment chassis mounting flange 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 15 optionally has one or more cutouts 25 in the side wall. The cutouts 25 provide weight reduction of the integration cell 10 without compromising the structural integrity of the integration cell 10 or its ability to protect the contents of the one or more electronic equipment chassis that are installed in the integration cell 10. Additionally, the optional cutouts 25 provide for ventilation and cooling of the electronic equipment during operation in the datacenter.
[0038] FIG. 3 is a top view diagram illustrating an example integration cell 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the integration cell 10 comprises stopper flanges 20A and 20B, having an electronic equipment chassis mounting flanges 21A and 21B, and one or more optional cutouts 25 in the top wall or the integration cell 10.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example integration cell 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the integration cell 10 comprises stopper flanges 20A and 20B, having electronic equipment chassis mounting flanges 21A and 21B and one or more optional cutouts 25 in each wall of the housing 15. The housing 15 includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. As illustrated, each of the walls includes one or more cutouts 25 to provide weight reduction and cooling ventilation while retaining the structural integrity of the integration cell.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example integration cell 10 with an electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic equipment chassis 30 comprises a first chassis flange 22A and a second chassis flange 22B. Each chassis flange 22A and 22B comprises a surface designed to engage and couple to a respective surface of the electronic equipment chassis mounting flanges 21A and 21B. Accordingly, the electronic equipment chassis 30 can be pre-installed with electronic equipment and pre-wired and then inserted into the housing 15 of the integration cell 10 and secured. The housing 15 of the integration cell 10 includes one more optional cutouts 25 for weight reduction and ventilation.
[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the electronic equipment chassis 30 comprises one or more electronic equipment bays 35. Each of the one or more electronic equipment bays 35 is configured to house one or more electronic equipment (not shown).
[0042] FIG. 6 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example integration cell 10 with plural electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, when the plural electronic equipment chassis 30 are secured to the housing 15, a back end of the plural electronic equipment chassis 30 do not extend all the way to a back end of the integration cell housing 15. Additionally, one or more optional cutouts 25 are positioned in the back end portion of the housing 15 that is not adjacent to a surface of the plural electronic equipment chassis 30. Advantageously, the open space at the back end of the housing 15 allows for cooling ventilation and air circulation and also defines an area within the housing 15 to accommodate installation of close coupled cooling equipment and/or power distribution equipment, which may be fastened to the integration cell 10 or to the electronic equipment storage rack in the datacenter. In one embodiment, the cooling equipment may include a fan, a coil, or some combination of a fan and a coil. In one embodiment, the power distribution equipment may include a power strip with plug receptacles or a power busway.
[0043] FIG. 7 is a front view diagram illustrating an example integration cell 10 with plural electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0044] FIG. 8 is a front view diagram of a standard shipping palette 40 illustrating an exemplary multimodal shipping unit loaded with plural integration cells 10 with plural electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention. Advantageously, the integration cell 10 is sized such that two integration cells 10 can be placed side by side on a standard forty (40) inch shipping palette 40 or comparable sized shipping crate (not shown) and wrapped, coupled, or otherwise secured to the palette 40 or comparable sized shipping crate (not shown) without requiring individual packaging of the individual electronic equipment (not shown) and without individual packaging of the individual electronic equipment chassis 30, substantially decreasing shipping cost and packing material waste. Alternative multimodal shipping units of comparable size may also be utilized to attain the benefits of this consolidated platform that are not shown including shipping crates, shipping frames and other shipping apparatus.
[0045] FIG. 9 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack 50 according to an embodiment of the invention, which is an example of a high-density electronic equipment rack. It is noted that while FIG. 9 provides the example of using a seismic electronic equipment storage rack, the present invention is not limited to use of only seismic racks. In the illustrated embodiment, the rack 50 comprises four vertical members 55 that are each secured to a base 60, a shelf 65 and a top 70. When the components of the rack 50 are secured together, they form a seismically stable structure into which one or more integration cells can be inserted and secured. Although the rack 50 is illustrated in a two high configuration, alternative configurations are also possible such as a two wide or a three high and the like. Advantageously, each rack 50 is configured to be secured to additional racks 50 to provide a modular seismic electronic equipment storage rack system that is variable in both height and width. Additionally advantageous is that the modular seismic electronic equipment storage rack system is also variable in density of electronic equipment by selective insertion of integrations cells into the rack system.
[0046] FIG. 9 also illustrates alignment and coupling holes 71 that are used in the securing of individual storage racks 50 to each other by one or more rack connectors 75, as illustrated hereafter, and as is described in additional detail in U.S. Pat. No. 9,532,484, which has been incorporate by reference herein in its entirety.
[0047] FIG. 10 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack 50 that is partially filled with a single integration cell 10 having plural electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0048] FIG. 11 is a perspective view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack 50 that is completely filled with plural integration cells 10, where each integration cell 10 has plural electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0049] FIG. 12A is a front view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack that is completely filled with plural integration cells 10, where each integration cell 10 has plural electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0050] FIG. 12B is a front view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack system 80 comprising a plurality of individual seismic electronic equipment storage racks 50 that are each completely filled with plural integration cells 10, where each integration cell 10 has plural electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the individual storage racks 50 are secured to each other via the coupling holes 71 and associated coupling means, which may comprise screws or some alternative form of fastener.
[0051] FIG. 12C is a front view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack system 80 comprising a plurality of individual seismic electronic equipment storage racks 50 according to an embodiment of the invention. Each of the individual seismic electronic equipment storage racks 50 are either completely filled or partially filled with one or more integration cells 10, where each integration cell 10 has one or more electronic equipment chassis 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the individual storage racks 50 are secured to each other by one or more rack connectors 75, which may comprise screws or some alternative form of fastener.
[0052] FIG. 13 is a side view diagram illustrating an example seismic electronic equipment storage rack 50 that is completely filled with plural integration cells 10, where each integration cell 10 has plural electronic equipment chassis 30 according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0053] The above description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles described herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the description and drawings presented herein represent a presently preferred embodiment of the invention and are therefore representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. It is further understood that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments that may become obvious to those skilled in the art and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly not limited.
