WO2006096105A1

WO2006096105A1 - Adapter for equipment rack

Info

Publication number: WO2006096105A1
Application number: PCT/SE2006/000110
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dan SJÖQVIST; Magnus Svensson
Original assignee: Ab Wibe
Priority date: 2005-03-09
Filing date: 2006-01-25
Publication date: 2006-09-14
Also published as: SE0500530L; SE528388C2

Abstract

An adapter (10) for fastening in an equipment rack (1) of an equipment detail such as an apparatus casing (11), including first fastening means (14) for fastening to a rack post belonging to the equipment rack, and a second fastening means (15) for fastening to said equipment detail. The adapter is distinguished in that said first and second fastening means (14, 15) each have sets of holes corresponding to fastening elements (19) on said rack post, that the adapter includes two lengthwise mutually adjustable parts (12, 13), which each includes one of said fastening means, and that the fastening means form essentially a right angle with said length direction, such that a mutual adjustment of the parts results in a parallel displacement (1 - L) of the fastening means with said sets of holes with respect of each other.

Description

ADAPTER FOR EQUIPMENT RACK

Field of the invention

The invention concerns an adapter according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background of the invention

Equipment racks or mounting racks for receiving and storing electrical appliances, such as servers, are in their basic shape constructed with four vertical posts. These are mutually connected over transversal struts of determined lengths such that the equipment rack, as concerns its dimensions, corresponds to prescribed standard measures or possibly has special dimensions prescribed by an equipment manufacturer.

Equipment that corresponds to the standard dimensions of the equipment racks is easily fastened in a previously known rack by directly screwing, with the aid of fastening screws and the like, to a mounting profile belonging to each post, each profile having fastening holes distributed along its length. An equipment casing corresponding to the standard dimension 19 inches (about 47,5 cm) is thus fastened in an equipment rack for the dimension 19 inches directly to four mounting profiles belonging to the four rack posts in a rack module unit. It should be noted that also other designs and dimensions of racks exist. For inserting apparatuses, the dimensions of which are below the basic dimensions of the equipment rack, there are in known equipment racks provided shelf planes for the placing of the apparatuses. Further it is previously known to design special solutions in the form of differently placed supporting means, "adapters" in the form of L-profiles, supporting guides or plates constructed for this particular use. The previously known solutions run the risk of causing instable positioning of expensive equipment in the racks, insecure mounting and further laborious mounting work for inserting details in an equipment rack.

Aim and most important features of the invention It is an aim of the present invention to provide an adapter as initially stated, wherein the above problems are set aside or at least relieved. In particular it is an aim to make possible a secure and flexible and easily handled solution for fastening equipment details in an equipment rack.

These aims are achieved in an adapter of the initially mentioned kind through the features of the characterizing portion of the independent claim.

Hereby it is obtained that an equipment housing or the like having dimensions that differ from the ones of the equipment rack, or equipment details that are to be positioned in the equipment rack at a chosen distance from the front side, a back side or the like, can be fitted in in a secure manner by the adapter bridging the distance between the equipment casing and fastening elements on the mounting profiles of the equipment rack. By the two parts being mutually adjustable with respect to each other, freedom to fasten equipment details of different dimensions stably and securely to the equipment racks in an easily handled and thereby time saving manner is obtained.

By the parts being mutually fixable stability in all directions of the adapter is achieved. By the parts being continuously displaceable with respect of each other full freedom is achieved with respect of fitting equipment casings and the like of various dimensions. It is preferred that the adapter is shaped such that at least one of the parts is made from a metal plate material. Preferably both parts are manufactured from a metal plate material. They are thereby producible through conventional and cost saving plate working methods.

By the parts being positionable in two directional positions with respect of each other it is achieved an increased total adjustment length regarding adjustability of the adapter and thereby increased flexibility. It is preferred that said guides are of the kind solely allowing movement in one direction, the length direction of the adapter, and that the guides prevent movements in other directions .

Further features and advantages are described in the following detailed description.

Brief description of drawings

The invention will now be described in greater detail at the background of an embodiment and with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a detail of an equipment rack wherein the invention is applicable,

Fig. 2 shows in a greater scale an adapter according to the invention positioned in an equipment rack, and

Figs 3a-3c shows different views of an embodiment of an adapter according to the invention.

Description of embodiment In fig. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a part of an equipment rack or a mounting rack for preferably electrical apparatuses such as servers and other types of computer equipment. The rack 1 can be completed sideways according to a modular system and can also be enclosed inside a rack cabinet, and in that case be provided with walls, doors etc.

The shown rack is for international 19 inches standard, but it should be noted that the invention is applicable also for other standards such as ETSI. The invention is further applicable for determined, special rack dimensions from different manufacturers.

The equipment rack 1 includes four vertical posts 2 and 3, which are interconnected over transversal profiles 4, 5 at their tops. At their lower part, the rack could be held together in a corresponding manner, be attached to a floor etc. In the rack is a shelf 7 indicated with interrupted lines. Other types of shelves of different sizes and configurations exist according to the known art. With 10 are indicated two adapters according to the invention, which are fastened to two rack posts (here basically two rear posts of the rack) . In this case these adapters are carrying a patch panel 6, which as an example can be mounted at a suitable distance into the rack instead of, as earlier, in level with the rear posts. This positioning results in better cabling with greater room for cables- and reduced risk of cable wear.

In fig. 2 is shown an adapter 10 with the parts 12 and 13 in a larger scale, fixed to a mounting profile 9 with the aid of screw fasteners 18. The mounting profile 9 provides a set of holes of, along its length extension, vertically distributed square mounting holes indicated with 19, for receiving correspondingly shaped fastening elements in the form of hook means, specially designed screw/nut fasteners etc. The adapter 10 carries, likewise with screw fasteners, said patch panel 6.

In figs 3a-3b is shown an adapter 10 in greater detail. The adapter 10 includes said first part 12 and said second part 13, which is continuously displaceably arranged on the first part 12. The first part 12 is provided with first fastening means 14 in the form of a bent plate portion, essentially at a right angle to the general extension of the part, and having holes 16 for forming a set of holes corresponding to the set of holes on the mounting profile (9 in fig. 2) .

A corresponding set of holes is also arranged on a second fastening means 15, which is likewise made from a plate portion bent at an essentially right angle to the general portion of the second part 13. The second fastening means 15 has holes 17 forming a similar set of holes as the holes 16 on the first fastening means 14.

The first part 12 and the second part 13 are, as is indicated in the figures, guided displaceably with respect to each other in order to make it possible to bridge a distance L between the first and second fastening means. Besides, which is shown in fig. 3b, the parts 12 and 13 are possible to arrange in a second position with respect of each other so that the first and second fastening means come mutually closer to each other and thereby are capable to bridge a smaller distance 1. Typical distances that can be mentioned as a guide in this connection are (only as examples) that L ranges between 100 and 220 mm, whereas 1 ranges from just above 0 mm to 100 mm. This gives a great range for the total adjustment length of the adapter with simple means.

On fig. 3a is indicated that the adapter 10 with its first fastening means 14 is arranged for fastening to a mounting profile 9 indicated with interrupted lines. At its other end, the adapter 10 is over its second fastening means 15 arranged to be connected to an apparatus casing 11, likewise indicated with interrupted lines, in order to support it at its inner end which is positioned inside the rack. The front portion of the apparatus casing is typically attached directly to the mounting profiles of the rack posts.

The adapter according to the invention can also be used for chosen positioning of other equipment details at a desired position in the rack. Compare to the patch panel in fig. 2.

In fig. 3a is shown with a double arrow in order to indicate the adjustment length of the adapter, also what is intended with the length direction of the adapter. It should be noted that the dimensions of the adapter can vary, wherefore it does not have to have the largest dimensions in these directions .

As is most clearly shown in fig. 3c, the parts 12 and 13 are guided on each other in a form-binding manner through guiding portions Sl and S2, which have a shape corresponding to dove-tail guides. That is, they allow only movement with respect of each other in the length direction of the parts and prevent movements in all other directions.

The invention can be modified within the scope of the following claims . The adapter can thus be produced from other materials and the guide portions can be constructed otherwise, although the embodiment with parts made from a plate material is preferred because of ease of ease of production and economy.

The fastening means can include more or fewer holes than what is shown in the figures, for example four holes or two holes . The shown embodiment with three holes corresponds to a height unit in the 19 inches system. An adapter according to the invention can include more or fewer than one height unit, even though the shown embodiment is preferred in most applications. In other rack systems also other units can exist .

The dimensions in different directions as well as shape and size of holes can also vary. It is preferred that the parts are lockable with respect to each other, which can be simply achieved by applying for example a locking screw which is threaded in one of the parts and presses against the other part. In figs 3a and 3b such a locking screw is indicated with 20. Also other possibilities for locking is possible as well as other solutions where the parts are not continuously displaceable with respect of each other but instead are stepwise connectable over for example a combination of hooks and hooking holes.

Claims

1. Adapter (10) for fastening in an equipment rack (1) of an equipment detail such as an apparatus casinq (11), including first fastening means (14) for fastening to a rack post belonging to the equipment rack, and a second fastening means (15) for fastening to said equipment detail, characterized in that said first and second fastening means (14, 15) each have sets of holes corresponding to fastening elements (19) on said rack post, that the adapter includes two lengthwise mutually adjustable parts (12, 13), which each includes one of said fastening means, and that the fastening means form essentially a right angle with said length direction, such that a mutual adjustment of the parts results in a parallel displacement (1 - L) of the fastening means with said sets of holes with respect of each other .

2. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the parts are lockable with respect of each other.

3. Adapter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the parts (12, 13) are continuously displaceable with respect of. each other.

4. Adapter according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the parts comprise complementary guides

(Sl, S2) in the length direction.

5. Adapter according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of the parts is made from a metal plate material.

6. Adapter according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that one of the parts (13) is adjustable and positionable in two directional positions with respect to the other one of the parts (12) .

7. Adapter according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that said guides (Sl, S2) are self-locking in directions that are not length directions R.