US 2014/0190639 A1Published application

Retractable computer rack aisle roof

AssigneeLDM Products, Inc.

InventorsLarry D. Mainers, Mark J. Goyen, Vincent M. Lake

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Abstract

A roof for a computer rack aisle is provided. The roof has a canopy that may be flexible and/or fire-resistant. The canopy has a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position the canopy may cover the top of an aisle between two computer racks while in the retracted position the aisle can be uncovered. A canopy retractor is provided to move the canopy from the extended position to the retracted position when a predetermined condition is met. The canopy has first and second lateral edges that are slidably received within the channels of guide tracks to facilitate the smooth movement from the extend position to the retracted position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for moving a canopy of a computer rack air containment system to a retracted position, the method comprising:

positioning an elongated canopy of a computer rack air containment system in an extended position, the computer rack air containment system comprising:
a first row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the first row of computer racks having a top surface that extends from a first end to an opposing second end;
a second row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the second row being spaced apart from the first row so that an aisle if formed therebetween that extends between a first end and an opposing second end, the second row of computer racks having a top surface that extends from a first end to an opposing second end;
a first canopy guide track bounding a channel and extending along the top surface of the first row of computer racks at least partially between the first end and the opposing second end thereof;
a second canopy guide track bounding a channel and extending along the top surface of the second row of computer racks at least partially between the first end and the opposing second end thereof;
a canopy retractor disposed at the second end of the aisle;
the elongated canopy having a first end an opposing second end with opposing side edges extending therebetween, the canopy in the extended position having the opposing side edges being slidably received with corresponding ones of the channels of the first and second canopy guide tracks so that at least a portion of the canopy horizontally spans across the aisle so as to cover the aisle, the first end of the canopy being disposed at the first end of the aisle, and the second end of the canopy being disposed at the second end of the aisle;
and
activating the canopy retractor so that the canopy retractor retracts the canopy toward the second end of the aisle into a retracted position so as to uncover the aisle when a sensor detects a predetermined condition.

6 more elements

A computer rack air containment system comprising:

a first row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the first row of computer racks having a top surface that extends from a first end to an opposing second end;
a second row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the second row being spaced apart from the first row so that an aisle if formed therebetween that extends between a first end and an opposing second end, the second row of computer racks having a top surface that extends from a first end to an opposing second end;
a first canopy guide track bounding a channel and extending along the top surface of the first row of computer racks at least partially between the first end and the opposing second end thereof;
a second canopy guide track bounding a channel and extending along the top surface of the second row of computer racks at least partially between the first end and the opposing second end thereof;
a canopy retractor disposed at the second end of the aisle;
an elongated canopy having a first end an opposing second end with opposing side edges extending therebetween, the canopy being in an extended position having the opposing side edges being slidably received with corresponding ones of the channels of the first and second canopy guide tracks so that at least a portion of the canopy horizontally spans across the aisle so as to cover the aisle, the first end of the canopy being disposed at the first end of the aisle, and the second end of the canopy being disposed at the second end of the aisle;
a sensor for detecting a predetermined condition;
and
a canopy retractor coupled with the canopy and in electrical communication with the sensor, the canopy retractor being configured to automatically retract the canopy toward the second end of the aisle into a retracted position so as to uncover the aisle when a sensor detects the predetermined condition.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/203,068Filed 10 Mar 2014
Priority: 9 Nov 2009
Published: 10 Jul 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

H05K 7/20709
Modifications to facilitate cooling, ventilating, or heating: for server racks or cabinets; for data centers, e.g. 19-inch computer racks
E04B 9/0414
Comprising slabs, panels, sheets or the like: being foldable, curvable or rollable
H05K 7/20745
Forced ventilation of a gaseous coolant: within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device
H05K
Printed circuits

Family

Application61/259,436Us provisional application · filed 9 Nov 2009
Application61/267,766Us provisional application · filed 8 Dec 2009
Application12/942,016Continuation · filed 8 Nov 2010
Application14/203,068Continuation
US 2011/0108207 A1Published application
US 8,701,737 B2Related patent
US 9,055,695 B2Related patent
US 2014/0190639 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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