(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2007/0146997 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Jun. 28, 2007
`Foster, SR.
`
`US 200701.46997A1
`
`(54) EXPANDIBLE HOUSING FOR RACK
`MOUNTED DEVICE
`
`(75) Inventor: Jimmy Grant Foster SR., Morrisville,
`NC (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`IBM CORPORATION
`PO BOX 12195
`DEPT YXSA, BLDG 002
`RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC 27709
`(US)
`
`BUSINESS
`(73) Assignee: INTERNATIONAL
`MACHINES
`CORPORATION,
`ARMONK, NY
`(21) Appl. No.:
`11/328,489
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Dec. 28, 2005
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H05K 7/20
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 361?t OO
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An enclosure for a rack mounted electronic device is
`assembled using upper and lower housings which are adjust
`able one relative to the other to provide increases in enclo
`Sure height by fractional increments of a standard unit of
`height. By providing for fractional growth in height, a user
`is enabled to upgrade processor, memory and other compo
`nents without the necessity of replacing the entirety of a
`device which is in use.
`
`100
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`124
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`125
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`Patent Application Publication Jun. 28, 2007 Sheet 1 of 3
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`US 2007/0146997 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Jun. 28, 2007 Sheet 2 of 3
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`US 2007/0146997 A1
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`Patent Application Publication Jun. 28, 2007 Sheet 3 of 3
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`US 2007/0146997 A1
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`100 N
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`124
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`125
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`Fig. 3A
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`

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`US 2007/0146997 A1
`
`Jun. 28, 2007
`
`EXPANDIBLE HOUSING FOR RACK MOUNTED
`DEVICE
`
`FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
`0001
`Recent advances in high volume server computer
`systems, typically rack mounted systems, have introduced
`advanced processors and operating systems capable of
`addressing significantly larger Volumes of memory. Addi
`tionally, the advanced processors can in Some models be
`fabricated with two or more processors on a die or on a
`common carrier and Supported in a single socket, increasing
`the power and thermal demands placed on systems.
`0002 Rack optimized server systems typically have
`mechanical elements, such as the enclosure for the electronic
`elements, based on a incremental height of 1.75 inches,
`known to the industry as 1 U or 1 unit. The 1U server is the
`one most impacted by the advances in processors, operating
`systems and memory. Users who stress their 1 U systems to
`maximum performance for extended periods of time will
`encounter thermal difficulties. In order to achieve the levels
`of performance desired while maintaining acceptable ther
`mal limits, such users may find it necessary to replace their
`1U servers with 2 Uservers, as prior to the present invention
`all rack mounted servers known to the inventors were
`incremented in height by the standard unit.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0003) With the foregoing in mind, it is a purpose of this
`invention to provide a solution which enables a user desiring
`a 1 U server to obtain Such a product while providing an
`improvement path which enables steps upward between the
`1 U and 2U embodiments. In realizing this purpose of this
`invention, an enclosure for a rack mounted server is
`assembled using upper and lower housings which are adjust
`able one relative to the other to provide increases in enclo
`sure height by fractional increments of 1 U. By providing for
`fractional growth in height, a user is enabled to upgrade
`processor and memory without the necessity of replacing the
`entirety of a server system which is in use.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`0004 Some of the purposes of the invention having been
`stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when
`taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in
`which:
`0005 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rack mounted
`device embodying the present invention;
`0006 FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are schematic end elevation
`views, from the front, of the device of FIG. 1 showing
`expansion of the housing from a collapsed position (FIG.
`2A) to first and second expanded positions (FIGS. 2B and
`2C); and
`0007 FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C are schematic side elevation
`views, from the right, of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2
`showing expansion of the housing from a collapsed position
`(FIG. 3A) to first and second expanded positions (FIGS. 3B
`and 3C).
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
`0008 While the present invention will be described more
`fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying draw
`
`ings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present inven
`tion is shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the
`description which follows that persons of skill in the appro
`priate arts may modify the invention here described while
`still achieving the favorable results of the invention. Accord
`ingly, the description which follows is to be understood as
`being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of
`skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the
`present invention.
`0009 Referring now more particularly to the accompa
`nying drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a rack and
`a rack mounted enclosure for a digital data processing
`element. Most commonly, the processing element is a server
`computer system, configured with a printed circuit board
`known as a motherboard and Sockets which accept other
`boards or cards which mount processors, memory and
`input/output (I/O) adapters. However, the processing ele
`ments may have other functions than server computer sys
`tems, such as telecommunications Switches or the like. The
`present invention contemplates that the mechanical enclo
`Sures here disclosed may serve to enclose electrical elements
`of a wide variety of types and utilities.
`0010) A rack mounted complex includes several enclo
`sures (one of which is shown at 100), to be described more
`fully hereinafter. The enclosures are mounted in a rack
`provided by a set of spaced uprights 110, 111, 112, 113
`which have a series of vertically spaced holes 115 formed in
`them. The spacing of the uprights one from another and of
`the holes along them are to a standard, to accommodate
`enclosures of standard dimensions. Typically, a rack mount
`intended to be filled or partially filled with 1 U enclosures
`will have a spacing which is intended to limit the choice of
`enclosures to be mounted to those that are 1 U. posing a
`problem for users who may encounter the need of replacing
`1 U servers.
`0011
`Each enclosure 100 has, as shown in FIG. 2, an
`upper housing 124 and a lower housing 125 engaging the
`upper housing. The upper and lower housings together
`define the enclosure 100 for a digital data processing ele
`ment as described above, the enclosure having height,
`predetermined width, and predetermined depth. The width
`and depth meet the standard for the spacing of the uprights
`110, 111, 112, 113 of the rack into which the enclosure is to
`be mounted. The upper and lower housings 124, 125 are
`adjustable one relative to the other to vary the height of the
`enclosure from a collapsed condition toward an extended
`condition by defined increments.
`0012. The enclosure has right and left mounting ears 126,
`127 (FIG. 1) projecting widthwise from opposing sides with
`the mounting ears defining mounting openings of a size and
`spacing to align with the holes or mounting openings 115
`along the uprights in a standard rack mount for electronic
`devices. Here, each ear 126, 127 has at least one hole,
`enabling the use of fasteners to secure the enclosure in a rack
`mount. The spacing of the openings in the uprights defines
`preferred increments by which the height of the enclosure is
`adjusted.
`0013 In the illustrated design for the enclosure mechani
`cals, this spacing opens the possibility of expanding the
`height of the enclosure by the amount of one or two hole
`spacings. That is, the height may be expanded by /3 U in
`each of two steps, if the full capability of the invention is
`
`

`

`US 2007/0146997 A1
`
`Jun. 28, 2007
`
`exercised. It should be understood when referring to enclo
`sures specified in increments or fractions of Uthat the actual
`enclosure dimensions should be less to maintain appropriate
`mechanical tolerances. Thus the enclosure may house pro
`cessing elements at 1 U height (FIG. 2A), at 1 and /3 U
`height (FIG. 2B), and at 1 and 2/3 U height (FIG. 2C) for a
`standard rack with three mounting holes for each 1 USpace.
`With this capability, secondary or daughter cards or boards
`or greater heights may be accommodated, enabling the
`installation of higher capability processors, memory and I/O
`adapter cards. The 1U configuration is here referred to as the
`collapsed condition, with the greater height positions being
`referred to as expanded conditions. While described with
`reference to a 1 U enclosure, the invention is equally
`applicable to enclosures of 2 U or more.
`0014. Other embodiments can support other rack stan
`dards which may exist or be developed in the future, with
`fewer or more than three holes per U. For rack standards
`with two holes per U, increments of 1 U and 1 and / U can
`be supported. For rack standards with four holes per U.
`increments of 1 U, 1 and AU, 1 and / U and 1 and 3/4 U can
`be supported. The same pattern can be extended to more
`holes per U. As another example, a 2U enclosure with a rack
`with three holes per U could accommodate enclosures which
`vary by /3 U from 2 U to 3 and 2/3 U. A 1 U enclosure can
`indeed grow beyond 1 and 2/3 U and a 2U beyond 3 and 2/3
`U with an upper housing whose sides are themselves extend
`ible or by replacing the upper housing with a taller one while
`retaining all other components.
`0.015
`Returning to the preferred embodiment of the
`present invention, in order to provide ventilation while
`protecting against undesirable entry of foreign objects and
`materials, folding end plates 129, 130 are mounted on the
`upper housing 124. The end plates are retracted against the
`inner Surface of the upper housing 124 when the enclosure
`is in the collapsed condition, by means of a pivotal connec
`tion to the housing. As the upper housing is raised relative
`to the lower housing to expand the enclosure, the end plates
`pivot downwardly to take positions shown in FIGS. 2B, 3B,
`2C and 3C. FIGS 2B and 3B illustrate the enclosure in the
`1 and /3 expanded position; FIGS. C and 3C, the 1 and 2/3
`expanded position.
`0016. The housings may be made in a number of ways to
`accommodate the expanding movement and positioning
`here described. Fasteners such as screws or bolts may be
`used to secure the housings in collapsed and expanded
`positions, or clips formed in the material of the housings
`may secure them in a tool less manner in their relative
`position.
`0017. In the drawings and specifications there has been
`set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and,
`although specific terms are used, the description thus given
`uses terminology in a generic and descriptive sense only and
`not for purposes of limitation.
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. Apparatus comprising:
`an upper housing:
`a lower housing engaging said upper housing:
`said upper and lower housings together defining an enclo
`Sure for a digital data processing element, said enclo
`Sure having height, predetermined width, and predeter
`mined depth;
`right and left mounting ears projecting widthwise from
`opposing sides of said enclosure;
`said mounting ears defining mounting openings of a size
`and spacing to align with mounting openings in a
`standard rack mount for electronic devices;
`said upper and lower housings being adjustable one
`relative to the other to vary the height of said enclosure
`from a collapsed condition toward an extended condi
`tion by increments determined by the spacing between
`said mounting openings defined by said mounting ears.
`2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upper and
`lower housings are adjustable one relative to the other to
`increase the height of said enclosure by a fraction of the
`height of said enclosure when in the collapsed condition.
`3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upper and
`lower housings are adjustable one relative to the other to
`increase the height of said enclosure by one third of the
`height of said enclosure when in the collapsed condition.
`4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upper and
`lower housings are adjustable one relative to the other to
`increase the height of said enclosure by two thirds of the
`height of said enclosure when in the collapsed condition.
`5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said upper and
`lower housings are adjustable one relative to the other to
`increase the height of said enclosure by two thirds of the
`height of said enclosure when in the collapsed condition.
`6. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising
`front and rear end plates pivotally mounted to said upper
`housing and positionable in a retracted position when said
`enclosure is in the collapsed condition and in an extended
`position when said enclosure is in the extended position.
`7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said
`end plates is formed in a plurality of pivotally connected
`portions, one of which accommodates expansion of said
`enclosure to a height of a first fraction more than the height
`of said enclosure when in the collapsed condition and a
`second of which accommodates expansion of said enclosure
`to a height of a second, larger, fraction more than the height
`of said enclosure when in the collapsed condition.
`8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said upper
`housing has side walls which are extensible for varying the
`enclosed height of said enclosure.
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