# US 2018/0324983 A1 · 4-Post Rack with Integrated Intake/Exhaust Regions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0324983 A1 - Document ID: US20180324983A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/589,437 - Filed: 2017-05-08 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-08 - Assignees: Panduit Corp. - Applicants: Panduit Corp. - Inventors: Rey Bravo; Nathan A. Gleghorn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324983A1 ## CPC - H05K 7/20572: {within cabinets for removing heat from sub-racks, e.g. plenum} - H05K 7/1489: {characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence)} - H05K 7/20145: {Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides} - H05K 7/20736: {within cabinets for removing heat from server blades} - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract An electronic equipment rack has a support structure made up of post members configured to form a cage having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side and defining a space therebetween. A first plenum is arranged along the first lateral side of the support structure. A second plenum is arranged along the second lateral side of the support structure. A sealing panel defining a first wall of the first plenum has a length extending substantially from the top of the support structure to the bottom of the support structure. A portion of the first sealing member is selectively removable to define an intake port in the first plenum. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic equipment rack comprising: a support structure comprising a plurality of post members configured to form a cage having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side and defining a space therebetween; a first plenum arranged along the first lateral side of the support structure; a second plenum arranged along the second lateral side of the support structure; and a first sealing panel defining a first wall of the first plenum and having a length extending substantially from the top of the support structure to the bottom of the support structure wherein a portion of the first sealing panel is selectively removable to define an intake port in the first plenum. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic equipment rack of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of baffles located within the first plenum and adjustable to selectively delimit a first volume of an intake duct associated with the first plenum. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electronic equipment rack of claim 2 further comprising: a first adjustable cross baffle delimiting a height of the intake duct in fluid communication with the intake port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The electronic equipment rack of claim 3 further comprising: a first electrical equipment seal extending into the space from an edge of the first cross baffle and configured to engage electronic equipment supported within the space by the support structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electronic equipment rack of claim 4 further comprising: a second adjustable cross baffle further delimiting the height of the intake duct. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic equipment rack of claim 5 further comprising: a first adjustable upright baffle in the first plenum delimiting a width of the intake duct. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic equipment rack of claim 6 further comprising: a second electrical equipment seal extending into the space from an edge of the second cross baffle and configured to engage the electronic equipment supported within the space by the support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electronic equipment rack of claim 1 further comprising: a second sealing panel defining a second wall of the second plenum and having a length extending substantially from the top of the support structure to the bottom of the support structure wherein a portion of the second sealing panel is selectively removable to define an exhaust port in the second plenum. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic equipment rack of claim 8 further comprising: a third sealing panel defining a rear wall of the first plenum and positioned substantially opposite first sealing panel wherein a portion of the third sealing panel is selectively removable to define a rear intake port in the first plenum which is opposite the intake port formed in the first sealing panel; and a fourth sealing panel defining a rear wall of the second plenum and positioned substantially opposite second sealing panel wherein a portion of the fourth sealing panel is selectively removable to define a rear exhaust port in the second plenum which is opposite the exhaust port formed in the second sealing panel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electronic equipment rack of claim 9 further comprising: a pair of opposing sidewalls of a sheet material wherein a first sidewall joins the front portion to the rear portion such that the first plenum is formed between the first sidewall of the support structure and the space and between the top portion and the bottom portion, and a second sidewall joins the front portion to the rear portion such that the second plenum is formed between the second sidewall of the support structure and the space and between the top portion and the bottom portion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic equipment rack of claim 10 further comprising: a top panel of a sheet material at least partially enclosing the top portion of the rack. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electronic equipment rack of claim 1 further comprising: an air flow path in which a flow of air enters the first plenum via the intake port and across the space to an exhaust port in the second plenum; and a plurality of baffles located within the first plenum and the second plenum and adjustable to selectively delimit a first volume of an intake duct associated with the first plenum and delimit a second volume of an exhaust duct within the second plenum, wherein an electronic equipment supported within the space by the support structure provides a fluid communication between the intake duct and the exhaust duct. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electronic equipment rack of claim 12 wherein an arrangement of the plurality of baffles creates a thermal barrier between a volume of the rack delimited by the plurality of baffles and at least one of a front or rear portion of the electronic equipment supported in the space between the intake duct and the exhaust duct. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electronic equipment rack of claim 1 further comprising: a power distribution unit attached to the rack. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The electronic equipment rack of claim 1 further comprising: a vertical cable manager attached to the rack wherein one of the first plenum and the second plenum is located between the vertical cable manager and the space. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The electronic equipment rack of claim 1 wherein the first sealing panel forms a seal with portions of the rack along an edge of the first sealing panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The electronic equipment rack of claim 1 wherein the first sealing panel is a flap having an opposing free edge engaging the rack. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The electronic equipment rack of claim 1 wherein a portion of the first sealing panel is severable from the first sealing panel to form the intake port therein. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electronic equipment rack of claim 18 wherein the first sealing panel is produced from a flexible material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electronic equipment rack of claim 19 wherein the flexible material is a rubber. ### Claim 21 An electronic equipment rack comprising: a support structure comprising a plurality of post members configured to form a cage having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side and defining a space therebetween; a first plenum arranged along the first lateral side of the support structure; a second plenum arranged along the second lateral side of the support structure; and a plurality of baffles located within each plenum and adjustable to selectively delimit a first volume of an intake duct associated with the first plenum and a second volume of an exhaust duct associated with the second plenum wherein an air flow path is established from the intake duct to the exhaust duct across electronic equipment supported within the cage. ### Claim 22 An electronic equipment rack comprising: a support structure comprising a plurality of post members configured to form a cage having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, and a second lateral side and defining a space therebetween; an intake duct located along the first lateral side in fluid communication with the space; an exhaust duct located on the second lateral side in fluid communication with the intake port via the space; a baffle arrangement configured to isolate a hot side of the space associated with one of the front or back of the support structure from a cool side of the space associated with another of the front or back of the support structure by creating a thermal barrier within the space to promote a temperature differential within the space wherein a first volume of the space exhibits a first temperature which is lower than a second temperature exhibited by a second volume of the space. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The electronic equipment rack of claim 22 wherein a portion of a boundary between the hot side and the cool side is substantially defined by a back panel of electronic equipment supported within the space defined by the support structure.