International Business Machines Corporation

Howard P Welz

Steven C McIntosh

Budy D Notohardjono

Madhusudan K Iyengar

Roger R Schmidt

John Saunders Corbin, Jr

Kevin R Qualters

Robert K Mullady

Aaron Roger Cox

Ronald A Smith

Roland N Zapfe

Francis R Krug, Jr

Donald W Porter

Jason E Minyard

Joni E Saylor

Paula Besterman

Matthew A Nobile

Allan R Hoeft

John G Torok

Gerard Francis Muenkel

William P Kostenko

Edward F Furey

An enhanced computer rack having sides is provided. The rack is used for housing electronic components and comprises in one embodiment of a lift rail having a plurality of multipurpose frame members capable of being engageably connected to at least one of the rack sides such that the frame members can be retracted into or extended out from the rack. In an alternate embodiment, a lift tool is provided for hoisting object into the rack. The lift tool is connected to at least one side of the rack and is capable of being retracted inside or being extended out from the rack. The two embodiments can also be combined to provide an enhanced rack with an integrated lift rails and lift tool design.

Enhanced computer rack having an integrated lift rail and/or tool design

An enhanced computer assembly and related method is provided that enables easy shipment and installation of such computing systems. In one embodiment a split top hat design is provided that can be removed. The removable split hat comprises a receiving member and an inner member that are secured to the frame in a manner that can be easily removed. In an alternate embodiment, a collapsible top hat is provided which adjusts the height of the assembly from a first to a second position. The collapsible feature has an upper portion that is connected to a plurality of pivoted side members that are capable of collapsing onto themselves.

Split- and collapsible-top hat frame height reduction features

Server front cover set

Server rack door cover

A load balancing method and incorporated frame assembly is provided for a computer frame having side walls. The frame can have at least one reinforced side, and/or a top or bottom surface comprising of a skin base plate and a counterweight plate secured to one another by side stiffener plates. In an alternate embodiment, an integral extender can also be secured to a top portion of the frame. The extender has moveable sides and a hoist for raising and lowering components into and away from the frame.

High end robust computer frame with improved load balancing design

An airflow arrester is provided and configured to reside between electronics racks disposed in a row within a data center. The airflow arrester includes a panel, which when operatively disposed, has a first vertical end, a second vertical end, and a central vertical hinge located intermediate the first and second vertical ends. The airflow arrester further includes an attachment mechanism at the first vertical end and at the second vertical end, and when operatively disposed between a first and second structures, the airflow arrester has a single V-shaped configuration, and is sized and constructed to block airflow from passing therebetween. The single V-shaped configuration provides operational stability to the airflow arrester by translating net twisting forces applied to the airflow arrester to normal forces applied to the first and second structures at the attachment points of the airflow arrester to the first and second structures.

Inter-rack airflow arresting apparatus and method for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack of a data center

An apparatus for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack is provided. The apparatus includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger and system coolant inlet and outlet plenums mounted to a door of an electronics rack. The inlet and outlet plenums are in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and respectively include a coolant inlet and coolant outlet in the top portions thereof. System coolant supply and return hoses are disposed above the electronics rack and respectively couple in fluid communication the inlet plenum to a system coolant supply header and the outlet plenum to a system coolant return header. The hoses are each flexible, partially looped and of sufficient length to allow for opening and closing of the door. Stress-relief structures are coupled to at least one end of the hoses to relieve stress on the ends of the hoses during opening or closing of the door.

Apparatus for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack through the use of an air-to-liquid heat exchanger

An airflow arresting apparatus is provided configured to reside above an electronics rack within a data center. The apparatus includes an airflow arrester and a track mechanism. The airflow arrester includes a collapsible panel sized and configured to reside above the electronics rack, and when operatively positioned above the electronics rack, to extend vertically above the electronics rack and at least partially block airflow from passing over the electronics rack between the air outlet and air inlet sides of the rack. The track mechanism is sized and configured to reside above the electronics rack, and the airflow arrester is slidably engaged with the track mechanism. Positioning of the airflow arrester at a desired location above the electronics rack is facilitated by the airflow arrester slidably engaging the track mechanism.

Airflow arresting apparatus and method for facilitating cooling of an electronics rack of a data center

An earthquake resistant frame structure which is shippable in a fully populated condition has abase member, a plurality of support members extending from the base member, a top portion disposed over the ends of the support members, a extension member disposed over the top portion, side stiffeners positioned perpendicularly between the support members, and a tie down assembly system positioned between the base member and a flooring surface. The extension member has a platform section and at least two legs depending substantially perpendicularly therefrom that slidingly engage the support members. The two legs have slots therethrough configured to receive fasteners that, when secured to support members, secure and maintain the extension member in position. First and second panels protrude laterally from the frame structure to form an extension area, from which a bracket hingedly depends. A variety of pin arrangements are used to prevent the removal of the bracket from the hinge. The tie down system includes a floor plate positionable between the frame structure and the flooring surface, a fastener extending through the frame structure, through the floor plate, and into the flooring surface, a leveling element positioned between the floor plate and the flooring surface to level the frame structure, and insulators positioned between the fastener and the leveling element to attenuate vibration.

Modular and flexible service frame enclosure

An earthquake resistant frame structure which is shippable in a fully populated condition has a base member, a plurality of support members extending from the base member, a top portion disposed over the ends of the support members, a extension member disposed over the top portion, side stiffeners positioned perpendicularly between the support members, and a tie down assembly system positioned between the base member and a flooring surface. The extension member has a platform section and at least two legs depending substantially perpendicularly therefrom that slidingly engage the support members. The two legs have slots therethrough configured to receive fasteners that, when secured to support members, secure and maintain the extension member in position. First and second panels protrude laterally from the frame structure to form an extension area, from which a bracket hingedly depends. A variety of pin arrangements are used to prevent the removal of the bracket from the hinge. The tie down system includes a floor plate positionable between the frame structure and the flooring surface, a fastener extending through the frame structure, through the floor plate, and into the flooring surface, a leveling element positioned between the floor plate and the flooring surface to level the frame structure, and insulators positioned between the fastener and the leveling element to attenuate vibration.

Integrated flexible frame tie down retention system for raised and non-raised floor applications

Modular and flexible server frame enclosure

Electronic data processing computer cabinet

Growing community of inventors

Highland, NY, United States of America

Howard P Welz