NL2029140B1 - Modular assembly for accommodating electronic devices - Google Patents

Abstract

MODULAR ASSEMBLY FOR HOUSING ELECTRONIC DEVICES 5 ABSTRACT: The present disclosure relates to a modular assembly for accommodating electronic devices, at least comprising: - a server-sized shelf, defining a upward facing carrier surface for carrying at least one of the electronic devices; and 10 - a stand extending from the server-sized shelf, Wherein the stand extends either: - upward from the carrier surface to support an overlying server-sized shelf, or - down from a back surface opposite the carrier surface to support the server-sized shelf. 15 REPRESENTATIVE FIGURE FOR PUBLICATION : FIGURE 5

Description

MODULAR ASSEMBLY FOR ACCOMMODATING ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The present invention relates to a housing for accommodating electronic devices, in particular servers and similar electronic equipment modules.

It is known to house electronic equipment modules in standardised (computer server) racks, in which a predetermined maximum amount of computer servers or electronic equipment modules can be housed. A well known example of such a rack is the 19-inch rack, which is typically embodied by a rigid frame or enclosure comprising a predetermined number of slots, each of which being configured to receive an electronic equipment module and having a width of approximately 19 inches (482,6 millimeters), a depth of approximately 36 inches (914,40 millimeters} and a height of approximately 1,75 inches (44,45 mm). The height of a slot is often referred to as a rack unit or U, with the height of the entire server rack being defined by the number of slots. A common, standardised height of such a computer server rack is 42 U.

Racks of the above described type are commonly utilised in specialised data centers to house computer servers, telecommunications equipment and the like. Such datacenters typically comprise a great multitude of computer servers and a correspondingly large number of server racks housed in a sufficiently large server room.

Computer servers and similar electronic devices or modules are also utilised by private individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises or larger enterprises that do not necessarily need to house a very large number of servers or other types of electronic equipment modules. In these settings, the number of servers or electronic equipment modules is typically limited. Moreover, these electronic equipment modules are typically not housed in a dedicated server room, but rather in a smaller, more confined space such as a fuse box, utility closet, or the like,

In practice, the above described known server racks are found to be unsuitable for housing electronic equipment modules in such confined spaces. A server rack with an overall height of 42

U and comprising a total of 42 slots for housing electronic equipment modules is found to be excessively bulky and cumbersome when only a handful of electronic devices needs to be housed.

Such a server rack is furthermore often too large to be placed in a desired (confined) space and costly relative to the relatively small number of devices that needs to be housed.

It is conceivable that the above drawbacks of known racks can be circumvented by selecting a server rack having a height and number of slots that correspond to the number of electronic equipment modules to be housed. For example, five electronic equipment modules may be housed in a relatively small server rack having a height of 5U and five slots in which the electronic equipment modules are placed.

Such smaller server racks are, however, rather uncommon and therefore difficult to obtain.

Moreover, if the number of electronic equipment modules is expanded, for example to six, an entirely new server rack having at least six slots must be provided at significant costs.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a housing for electronic devices of the above mentioned types with which the drawbacks of known housings, in particular known (server) racks, are obviated or abated.

This objective is achieved by a modular assembly for accommodating electronic devices in accordance with the present invention, at least comprising a server-sized shelf defining a upward facing carrier surface for carrying at least one of the electronic devices; and a stand extending from the shelf, wherein the stand extends either upward from the carrier surface to support an overlying server-sized shelf, or down from a back surface opposite the carrier surface to support the server- sized shelf.

The here above specified modular assembly can be easily stacked with other identical or similar units to form a compact, modular housing for housing electronic equipment modules such {5 as computer servers or telecommunications equipment. Because of its compactness, this modular housing can be easily placed in a confined or inconspicuous place when a dedicated server room is not available. Moreover, because the housing is modular, the number of modular units can be easily expanded or reduced when the number of electronic devices to be housed changes, without the need to replace the entire housing.

In a preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the stand extending from the shelf comprises at least one bearing wall perpendicularly extending from the server-sized shelf at a thereof.

In these embodiments, the at least one stand embodied as a bearing wall not only enables stacking of the modular assembly, but moreover also defines the outer perimeter of the modular assembly and optimises the amount of available surface space on the carrier surface of the server- sized shelf.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, at least the server-sized shelf and the at least one bearing wall consist of a single plate separated by a fold line, along which a section of said single plate is bent at an approximately right angle relative to the plate to form the at least one bearing wall and the server-sized shelf.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the section of the single plate forming the at least one bearing wall comprises a first additional fold line along which said section is bent approximately parallel to the server-sized shelf to form the top surface of the bearing wall to support an overlying server-sized shelf.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, a second additional fold line is disposed along the top surface, opposite the first additional fold line, wherein the section of the plate forming the at least one bearing wall vertically extends downwards from the second additional fold line towards the server-sized shelf of the modular housing unit.

In the above described embodiments, the at least one stand embodied as a side wall is integrally connected with the server-sized shelf. As such, the modular assembly may be largely, or even entirely, manufactured out of a single (metal) plate.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the at least one bearing wall comprises at least one tab extending from an edge of the at least one bearing wall closest to the server-sized shelf and opposite the second additional fold line, and the server-sized shelf comprises at least one notch disposed to receive said tab. As such, a secure connection between at least a part of the bearing wall and the server-sized shelf is achieved without requiring welding, soldering, nut-and-bolt connections or the like.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the stand extending from the shelf comprises a first bearing wall and a second bearing wall, the server-sized shelf extending there between.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the first bearing wall and the second bearing wall are arranged at opposing sides of the server-sized shelf.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, a top surface of the stand and a bottom surface of the modular assembly, respectively, comprise a shape configured to interlock with a bottom surface and a top surface of a stand of another modular assembly.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, one of the bottom surface of the modular assembly and the top surface of the stand comprises a protrusion and the other of the button surface of the modular assembly and the top surface of the stand comprises a recess configured to engage the protrusion.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the recess comprises an enlarged part for receiving the protrusion therein and a narrowed part adjacent to the enlarged part configured to slidingly lock the protrusion.

The above described embodiments wherein the aforementioned bottom surface and top surface comprise interlocking shapes, different modular assemblies may be securely stacked to form a housing an arbitrary number of electronic equipment modules (e.g. computer servers). In the event that the numbers of electronic equipment modules to be housed is expanded or reduced, modular assembly modules may be added or removed at will.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the server-sized shelf comprises a plurality of perforations.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, at least some of the perforations are slit-shaped.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, at least some of the slit-shaped perforations are arranged perpendicular to one another in their lengthwise directions.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, wherein at least some of the perforations are configured to detachably receive a cable clamp therein.

The above described perforations in the server-sized shelf reduce the amount of weight and material costs for a modular assembly in accordance with the present invention. Moreover, they enable a flow of air through an interior of the modular assembly unit for the purpose of cooling the electronic equipment modules housed therein. The perforations of each server-sized shelf may moreover form an air channel when a plurality of modular assemblies are stacked on top of one another in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the modular assembly comprises a slot disposed along an edge of the server-sized shelf and configured to receive a wall.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the slot is formed at least in part by a ridge extending perpendicularly along the edge of the bottom.

In a further preferred embodiment of the modular assembly in accordance with the present invention, the slot is formed at least in part by a front surface of the at least one bearing wall.

Here below the present invention will be elucidated with reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 depicts modular assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention in perspective view;

Figure 2 shows the modular assembly of Figure 1 in a top down perspective;

Figure 3 shows a view of the modular assembly of Figure 1 and 2;

Figure 4 depicts a bottom-up perspective the modular assembly of the foregoing figures;

Figure 5 illustrates a plurality of modular assemblies in accordance with the present invention in a state of being stacked on one another;

Figure 6A and Figure 6B depict an embodiment of a cable clamp according to an aspect of the present invention; and

Figure 7 shows detailed view of a section of the modular assembly according to the {foregoing figures.

Figure 1 depicts a modular assembly 1 for accommodating electronic devices, such as computer servers or comparable electronic equipment modules, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention. The modular assembly 1 comprises a server-sized shelf 2 that is approximately server-sized and defining an upward facing carrier surface for carrying at 5 least one electronic device (not shown) and a back surface opposite the carrier surface of the server-sized shelf 2.

In the present disclosure, the term “server-sized” refers to any one of the typical dimensions or footprint of a computer server or other type of electronic equipment module. A non- limiting example of such server-sized dimensions of the shelf 2 may be a width of 482.0 mm by 808.5mm.

The modular assembly 1 moreover comprises at least one stand 3 extending from the server-sized shelf 2. The stand 3 may extend either upward from the carrier surface of the server- sized shelf 2 to support an overlying server-sized shelf 2 of another modular assembly 1, and/or down back surface opposite the carrier surface of the server-sized shelf to support the server-sized shelf 2, for example on top of another modular assembly unit 1.

In Figure 1 two stands 3 are present, which are moreover embodied as walls 3 of the modular assembly 1 with the server-sized shelf extending there between. The stands 3 are arranged at opposing sides of the server-sized shelf and preferably constructed sufficiently rigid to obtain a structural integrity of the modular assembly 1 and to moreover carry one or more further modular assemblies thereon. As such, in these embodiments each stand 3 may be considered a bearing wall 3 of the modular assembly 1.

Alternatively, each stand 3 may be embodied by a column or pillar-like structure extending in an upward and/or downward direction from the server-sized shelf 2. While the embodiments as depicted in the figures comprise two stands 3, alternatively one, three or more stands 3 may be provided.

In embodiments of the modular assembly 1, such as the one depicted in Figure 1, wherein each stand 3 is a bearing wall 3, each bearing wall 3 moreover comprises an outer side wall 9 and an inner side wall 10 defining inner and outer perimeters of each bearing wall.

As is best elucidated in Figure 2, each stand 3 comprises a top surface 4 configured to carry an overlying server-sized shelf of another modular assembly stacked on the depicted modular assembly 1, as well as a bottom surface 5 configured to support the modular assembly 1 on for example another modular assembly or a ground surface. The bottom surface 5 of the at least one stand 3 may be partially comprised by the back surface of the server-sized shelf 2.

Again referring to Figure 1 and moreover to Figures 3 and 5, the modular assembly 1 moreover comprises a rear plate 6 and a front plate 7 extending along respective opposing sides between the bearing walls 3. The rear plate 6 and the front plate 7 may be disposed in lateral slots along the server-size shelf 2. Each of these slots may be at least partially embodied by a ridge 12 extending approximately perpendicularly from the carrier surface of the server-sized shelf 2 and moreover by at least part of a frontal section 19 and a rear section 20 of each bearing wall 3.

The rear plate 6 and the front plate 7 are preferably removably arranged within their respective slots and at least one of the rear plate 6 and the front plate 7 may be replaced by a front panel of an electronic equipment module (not shown) when said electronic equipment module is housed by the modular assembly 1.

In embodiments of the modular assembly 1 wherein the one or more stands 3 are embodied as bearing walls 3, the server-sized shelf 2 and the at least one bearing wall may be integrally formed to consist of a single plate with the server-sized shelf 2 and the at least one side wall 3 being separated by a fold line 16. In the depicted embodiment, this fold line 16 extends along an edge of the server-sized shelf and a bottom edge of the bearing wall 3.

During a manufacturing process of the modular assembly 1, a section of this initial plate — which preferably consists of a bendable material such as steel or aluminium — may be bent an approximately right angle relative to the rest of the plate along fold line 16, to thereby form the server-sized shelf 2 and at least part of the at least one bearing wall 3, in particular the outer wall 9.

Still referring to Figure 1, in accordance with certain embodiments there may be a first additional fold line 17 disposed along an upper edge of the outer wall 9 of the at least one bearing wall 3, opposite the aforementioned fold line 16. During a manufacturing process of the modular assembly 1, the aforementioned section of the initial plate may be bent to extend approximately parallel to the server-sized shelf 2, to thereby define the top surface 4 of the at least one stand or bearing wall 3. As such, the server-sized shelf 2 and the outer wall 9 and top surface 4 of the at least one bearing wall 3 may be formed in an integral manner.

Moreover, a second additional fold line 18 may be disposed along an edge of the top surface 4 opposite the edge of the top surface 4 along which the first additional fold line 17 is disposed. Here, the aforementioned section of the initial plate constituting the server-sized shelf 2 and the at least one bearing wall 3 vertically extends downward from this second additional fold line 18 toward the carrier surface of the server-sized shelf 2, thus forming the inner side wall 10 of the at least one bearing wall 3.

As is best elucidated in Figure 7, the inner side wall 10 of the at least one bearing wall 3 may moreover comprise a tab or protrusion 25 extending from an edge of the of the inner side wall 10 of the bearing wall 3 closest to the server-sized shelf 2 and opposite the second additional fold line 18. This tab 25 may be arranged in an appropriately disposed corresponding aperture 30 comprised by the server-sized shelf 2, to thereby fixedly connect the inner side wall 10 with the server-sized shelf 2. As can moreover be discerned from Figure 7, two ribs 31 and 32 may be appropriately disposed in or near the corresponding aperture 30, between which the aforementioned tab 25 may be ‘clicked’ to hold it in place. Alternatively, the tab 25 may be bent after having been arranged through the corresponding aperture 30 in server-sized shelf 2.

Still referring to Figure 4, the server-sized shelf 2 may comprise a plurality of perforations 29 extending from the carrier surface to the back surface through the server-sized shelf 2. The perforations 29 may comprise a longitudinal or slit-like shape. In the depicted embodiment, the slit-like perforations 29 are arranged parallel to one another in groups of five, with the longitudinal directions of each of the slit-like perforations 29 constituting a given group being perpendicular to the longitudinal directions of each of the slit-like perforations 29 constituting a neighbouring group.

The perforations 29 may contribute to an overall reduction of weight and material costs of the modular assembly 1, and moreover be appropriately dimensioned to serve as passages through which cables may pass when a plurality of modular assemblies 1 are stacked. In addition, the perforations 29 may function as vent holes to allow a flow of air to flow through the modular assembly 1 for cooling the electronic equipment module(s) housed therein. When a plurality of modular assemblies 1 are stacked on top of one another as elucidated in Figure 5, there may thus be formed an air channel extending in a vertical direction of the modular assemblies 1. Moreover, one or more fans (not shown) may be arranged in at least one of these stacked modular assemblies 1 to promote airflow.

While the appended drawing depicts the perforations 29 as comprising a slit-like shape, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The perforations 29 may comprise alternative shapes or be arranged in different formations. Nevertheless, the perforations 29 being slit-like is considered advantageous in conjunction with cable clamps 22, such as the ones depicted in Figure 6A and

Figure 6B.

In Figure 6A and 6B, the cable clamp 22 comprises a body 23 and a foot 23. The body 23 is configured to clamp around a cable (not shown) and comprises a C-shape for this purpose having an open end through which a cable may be arranged. At least the body 23 of cable clamp 22 preferably comprises a material exhibiting a degree of flexibility, so that a cable may be arranged therein with relative ease.

The foot 24 of the cable clamp 22 is preferably configured to be arranged into a given perforation 29 of the server-sized shelf 2. As is best depicted in Figure 6B, the foot 24 may be disposed at an angle of approximately 45° relative to a width of the body 23 of the cable clamp 22.

The body 23 and the foot 24 may be integrally connected to one another and preferably comprise a plastic material.

After the foot 24 of the cable clamp 22 has been inserted into an arbitrarily selected perforation 29 of the server-sized shelf 2, the cable clamp 22 may be rotated by approximately 45° in either direction, so that the foot 24 extends perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the selected perforation 29 into which the cable clamp 22 has been placed; and the body 23 extends either parallel or perpendicular to said perforation 29, depending on in which direction the cable clamp 22 has been rotated. The cable clap 22 may therefore be easily and securely arranged at practically any location on server-sized shelf 2 and appropriately oriented to secure any cables that may be present.

The cable clamp 22 may moreover be utilised to fixate an electronic device placed upon the server-sized shelf 2. For example, a plurality of cable clamps 22 may be arranged in perforations 29 situated around a circomference of an electronic device placed upon the server- sized shelf 2, to thereby prevent lateral movement of said electronic device.

Two or more modular assemblies 1 in accordance with the present invention may be arranged on top of one another in the manner that can be deduced from Figure 5. The modular assemblies 1 as disclosed herein may be considered “units” that collectively form a housing assembly that is assembled in the manner depicted in Figure 5.

In the event that the number of electronic equipment modules (e.g. computer servers) to be housed is expanded, a user may add an additional modular assembly 1 to the housing assembly.

Likewise, when the number of electronic equipment modules is reduced, an electronic equipment module may be removed from a modular assembly 1 in which it is housed, and said modular assembly 1 may be removed from the housing assembly constituted by a plurality of modular assemblies 1. As such, an arbitrary number of electronic device modules can be housed within the housing assembly while maintaining the server-sized footprint and compact physical dimensions of the housing assembly.

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of modular assemblies 1 constituting a housing assembly may be fixedly connected to one another when stacked. Figures 2 and 4 each depict exemplary means through which this may be achieved. In particular, the top surface 4 and the bottom surface 5 of the stand 3, respectively, comprise shapes configured to interlock with a bottom surface 5 and a top surface 4 of an other modular assembly 1.

Referring now to Figure 7, the top surface 4 of the stand 3 comprises at least protrusion 8.

The protrusion 8 may comprise, for example, a disk-shaped body 11 suspended above the top surface 4 of the stand 3 by means of two legs.

As is shown in Figure 4, there is disposed a recess 13 configured to engage a corresponding protrusion 8 of the top surface 4 of the stand 3 by receiving it therein. The recess 13 moreover comprises a narrowed part 14 and an enlarged part 15 into which the disk-shaped body 11 of the protrusion 8 is arranged during assembly by stacking. Once the disk-shaped body 11 of the protrusion 8 is arranged into the recess 13, the modular assembly 1 comprising the protrusion 8 may be slid relative to the modular assembly 1 comprising the recess 13, so that the protrusion 8 enters the narrowed part 14 of the recess 13. Because the disk-shaped body 11 of the protrusion 8 is enlarged relative to the narrows part 14 of the recess 13, the protrusion 8 is then fixedly locked into the recess 13. Moreover, the outer surfaces of the stacked modular assemblies 1 may be flush in this assembled state.

While the depicted embodiments as show and described here above have the top surface 4 of the stand 3 comprising the protrusion 8 and the bottom surface 5 of the stand 3 or the back surface of the server-sized shelf 2 comprising the recess 13, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the protrusion 8 may be comprised by the bottom surface 5 of the stand 3 or the back surface of the server-sized shelf 2; and the recess 13 may be comprised by the top surface 4 of the stand 3.

Following the above embodiment description of aspects of the present disclosure, it is noted that certain details are exhibited, which are not all to be limiting on the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is by no means limited to any preferred aspect or feature, but only by the limiting definitions of the appended independent claims, and may include in or for particular jurisdictions also obvious alternatives for features defined even in independent claims.

Claims (18)

CONCLUSIONS I. A modular assembly for accommodating electronic devices comprising at least: - a server sized shelf defining an upward facing support surface for supporting at least one of the electronic devices; and - a stand extending from the server-sized shelf; wherein the stand extends either: - upwardly from the support surface to support an overhead server-sized shelf, or - downwardly from a rear surface opposite the support surface to support the server-sized shelf. The modular assembly of claim 1, wherein the stand extending from the server-sized shelf comprises: at least one load-bearing wall extending perpendicularly from the server-sized shelf to a side thereof. The modular assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one server-sized shelf and the at least one load-bearing wall consist of a single sheet separated by a fold line along which a portion of said single sheet is bent at a substantially perpendicular angle to the plate, for forming the at least one load-bearing wall and the server-size shelf. The modular assembly of claim 3, wherein the portion of the single board that forms the at least one load-bearing wall comprises: a first additional fold line, along which said portion is bent substantially parallel to the server-size shelf, to form a top surface of the load-bearing wall to support an opposing server-sized shelf. A modular assembly according to claim 4, wherein a second additional fold line is provided along the top surface opposite the first fold line; and wherein the portion of the sheet that forms the at least one load-bearing wall extends vertically downward from the second additional fold line to the server-sized shelf of the modular accommodation unit. The modular assembly of claim 5, wherein the at least one load-bearing wall comprises: at least one lip extending from an edge of the at least one load-bearing wall closest to the server-size shelf and opposite the second additional fold line, extends; and wherein the server-sized shelf includes at least one recess disposed to receive said lip. Modular assembly according to any one of the preceding claims 2-6, wherein the stand extending from the server-sized shelf comprises: a first supporting wall and a second supporting wall, with the server-sized shelf extending therebetween. Modular assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first support wall and the second support wall are arranged on opposite sides of the shelf. A modular assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper surface of the stand and a lower surface of the modular assembly, respectively, comprise a shape adapted to engage with a lower surface and an upper surface of a stand of a other modular assembly. The modular assembly of claim 9, wherein one of the lower surface of the modular assembly and the upper surface of the stand comprises a protrusion, and the other of the lower surface of the modular assembly and the upper surface of the stand comprises a recess, which is arranged for engaging the protrusion. Modular assembly according to claim 9, wherein the recess comprises: an enlarged part for receiving the protrusion therein and a narrowed part, which is opposite the enlarged part and is adapted to lock the protrusion in a sliding manner. Modular assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the server-sized shelf comprises a number of perforations. The modular assembly of claim 12, wherein at least some of the perforations are slit-shaped. A modular assembly according to claim 13, wherein at least some of the slit-shaped perforations are arranged perpendicular to each other in their longitudinal directions. 15. Modular assembly according to any one of claims 12-14, wherein at least some of the perforations are adapted to releasably receive a cable clamp therein. A modular assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a slot provided along an edge of the server-sized shelf for receiving a wall. 17. Modular assembly according to claim 16, in which the slot is at least partly formed by a comb, which extends perpendicular to the edge 10 of the bottom. 18. Modular assembly according to claim 2 and 16 or 17, wherein the slot is at least partly formed by a front surface of the at least one supporting wall.