Modular rack-mounting system

A modular rack-mounting system has a rigid, lightweight frame forming a central compartment within which a sleeve is configured to fit, the sleeve having a ventilation configuration to conform with the cooling requirements of an instrument to be inserted within the sleeve. A flat, steel spring is mounted on the side of the frame so that a button extends through a hole in the side to engage a corresponding hole in the side of the sleeve when the sleeve is inserted into the compartment. For a half-rack mount a central rib is included in the frame to divide the central compartment into two compartments, the sleeve being configured to fit into either of the two compartments. Buttons on steel springs are mounted on opposing sides of the central rib to engage the corresponding holes in the sleeves when the sleeve is inserted into either compartment. To release and exchange the sleeves, the buttons at the interior of the sleeves are pushed to allow the sleeves to be removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to rack-mounting systems, and more particularly to a modular rack-mounting system that is flexible for mounting instruments having different environmental requirements.

In many instrumentation environments a plurality of instruments are mounted in large racks. In order to mount the instruments in the rack, standard sizes have been implemented regarding width and height for each rack unit. As a result the instruments are sized to fit either into a full rack mount or into a half rack mount. In the case of half rack mounts, a full rack mount is generally provided with sleeves that separate the full rack mount into half rack mounts. A typical half rack-mounting system is shown inFIG. 1where a current fixed rack-mounting system is shown having a pair of half rack sleeves welded together with a pair of bands welded around the front and back edges to provide structural stability. The sleeves have ventilation holes in them in a particular configuration to allow cooling air to circulate around the instrument according to the instrument's requirements when mounted in the rack. As long as all instruments have the same requirements for air circulation, for example, this fixed rack-mounting system is adequate. But as new instruments are developed, different air circulation requirements arise requiring different sleeve configurations.

To provide for all the different sleeve ventilation configurations to enable a user to mount instruments on the rack in any desired configuration requires an innumerable number of different rack-mounting systems.

Therefore what is desired is a flexible modular rack-mounting system that allows for the exchange of different sleeve configurations while maintaining a single rack-mounting system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly the present invention provides a flexible modular rack-mounting system that has a rigid rack frame having a top, bottom and two sides defining a central compartment, a central rib attached between the top and bottom of the frame to divide the central compartment into two compartments, and a sleeve that slides into either compartment defined by the rack frame and central rib. A hole is provided at a point along each side of the sleeve such that, when the sleeve is slid into the rack frame, a button mounted on a flat spring attached to the frame sides and/or the central rib engages the hole to hold the sleeve securely in place. To remove or replace the sleeve, the button is depressed from the interior of the sleeve and the sleeve is slid out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIG. 2a modular rack-mounting system10is shown having a frame12and a pair of interchangeable sleeves14,16. The frame12has a left and a right portion18,20and a central rib22, dividing the interior of the frame into two compartments. The left and right portions18,20may have interlocking fingers24that are press fitted together and then optionally spot welded to assure rigidity of the frame12and provide a smooth surface. The central rib22is affixed to the left and right portions18,20by any suitable means, such as rivets, screws, spot welding or the like. Each sleeve14,16has a hole26in each side. The holes26engage snap and latch systems28attached to the sides of the left and right portions18,20and both sides of the central rib22. To secure the sleeves14,16in the frame12, the sleeves are slid into the respective compartments in the frame12formed by the sides of the frame and the central rib22until the holes26engage the snap and latch systems28. To remove and exchange sleeves14,16, a button30that is part of the snap and latch system28and extends into the holes26is depressed from the interior of the sleeves to release them and allow them to be slid out of the frame12. In this manner any sleeve configuration may be placed in either half rack compartment formed by the frame12and central rib22in order to accommodate the environmental requirements of different instruments.

The sleeves14,16may be formed from sheet metal material that is punched and folded appropriately. The joint27where the folded ends meet to complete the sleeve14,16may be overlapped and welded as shown inFIG. 2, or may have interlocking “fingers” that are press fitted together and optionally spot welded as described above with respect to the frame12.

As shown inFIG. 3a first snap and latch system28A that is mounted on the central rib22has a support plate32having a mounting section34and an offset section36with a central hole38. A spring plate40has a support end42and a spring end44. Mounted on the spring end44is the button30using any suitable means46, such as screws, rivets or the like. The button30is mounted so that when the spring plate40is mounted between central rib22and the support plate32it protrudes through the central hole38of the offset section36. The button30has a small radius around the periphery of the protruding head, and the sleeves14,16also have a slight radius along their edges. Referring further toFIG. 4the central rib22has a pair of mounting locations41,43on either side of a through hole45. When mounted in opposing manner on opposite sides of the central rib22, as shown inFIG. 5, the spring ends44of the spring plates40are located so that, when the button30is depressed, the spring end may deform into the through hole45to allow the button to clear the hole26in the sleeve14,16.

A simpler snap and latch system28B may be mounted on the frame12itself, as shown inFIG. 6. A spring steel ribbon48has the button30mounted on it by suitable means50. The side of each frame portion18,20, as shown inFIG. 7, has a pair of opposing flanges52,54on the exterior flanking a hole56. The spring steel ribbon48is secured between the flanges52,54on the exterior of the frame portion18,20so that the button30extends through the hole56.

Although what is described above is a half-rack mounting system, where the frame12and central rib22form two compartments, the central rib may be removed to form a single compartment for a full-rack mounting system. For the full-rack mounting system the sleeves14,16are sized accordingly, and only the simpler snap and latch system28B ofFIG. 6mounted on the frame12is used to secure the sleeves in the frame.

Thus the present invention provides a modular rack-mounting system that is flexible enough to accommodate different sleeves according to environmental requirements of instruments to be mounted therein, the system having a rigid frame with a central rib and snap and latch systems mounted on the rib and frame so that the sleeves are retained in the frame when inserted into the frame, yet are releasable so they may be exchanged according to instrument requirements.