Power distribution unit retention device

The present disclosure is directed to a PDU retention device comprising a rectangular frame having a central cutout portion, a first protrusion extending from the frame into the cutout portion, a guidance fixture permitting the frame to move along a path, and a second protrusion extending from the frame away from the central cutout portion.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This disclosure relates to devices that retain Power Distribution Units on equipment racks. More specifically, this disclosure relates to devices having means to lock Power Distribution Units onto equipment racks to prevent the Power Distribution Units from moving.

BACKGROUND

Equipment racks are used to contain computers and other electronic equipment. Power may be provided to the electronic equipment through one or more Power Distribution Units (PDUs). In some known embodiments, a protrusion (known as a button) is fixed to the rear or side of the PDU, which is configured to slide into a keyhole slot on a mounting bracket that is attached to a rack. This provides tool-less mounting of PDUs, which is very convenient. However, the downside of this method is that the PDU is not rigidly fixed to the bracket, and can pop out if the PDU is jostled. This becomes an issue if the PDU is pre-installed in the rack (sometimes with other equipment) and shipped as a pre-assembled unit.

Two solutions have been used in the industry to solve this issue. The first is to use cable ties, either to tie the power cord to the bottom of the rack or to strap the PDU itself to the rack frame. This method is subject to manufacturing variations in cable tie placement and tightness and has a poor appearance. The second is to attach an “L”-shaped bracket to the top frame of the rack such that it touches to the top of the PDU and prevents it from coming up out of the keyhole slots. This method requires the use of tools to attach the bracket to the rack, and a given “L”-shaped bracket can accommodate variations in the PDU lengths of only up to around 1.5 to 2 inches.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a retention assembly includes a mount configured to receive a retention member of a power distribution unit, and a plate that is mounted to and moveable with respect to the mount. The plate further includes a locking member that engages with the retention member.

The retention assembly of this embodiment may further include an opening in the mount having a wide portion and a narrow portion for receiving the retention member. The retention assembly may further include a pin sized and shaped to engage holes in the mount and the plate. Additionally, the plate may include a central opening and two locking members, wherein one of the locking members extends across the central opening of the plate. The mount may alternatively be a frame member of a rack, or a bracket attached to a frame member of a rack. The bracket can be removably connected to the frame member of the rack via a tool-less connection. Finally, the plate may include one slot and the mount may include one boss corresponding to the slot, so that the slot is slideable around the boss.

In another embodiment, a unit for locking a PDU to a frame member of a rack includes a rectangular frame having a cutout in a middle of the frame, a first protrusion extending from the rectangular frame into the cutout portion, a guidance fixture permitting the unit to move along a path, and a second protrusion extending from the rectangular frame away from the cutout portion.

The first protrusion in this embodiment may include a pair of first protrusions and wherein the second protrusion includes a pair of second protrusions. The guidance fixture may be a slot, sized and shaped to receive a boss, or may alternatively be a protrusion adapted to fit within a slot. The unit may be integral with a bracket adapted to receive a power distribution unit, wherein the unit is moveable with respect to the bracket. Finally, the generally rectangular frame of the unit may further include a hole configured to align with a corresponding hole in a bracket, and further configured to receive a pin to fix the unit to the bracket.

In yet another embodiment, a locking assembly includes a bracket having a slot configured to receive a retention member of a PDU, a locking piece that includes a tab sized and shaped for insertion into the bracket slot, and wherein the locking piece includes a release mechanism allowing the locking piece to be selectively secured to the bracket.

The release mechanism in this embodiment may include a first hole on the locking piece that aligns with a second hole in the PDU, and may further include a pin sized and shaped to fit into the first and second holes. The pin may be a snap rivet. The slot of the bracket may be configured to align with the second hole when the assembly is installed. The assembly may further include a PDU having a retention member aligned with a second hole in the PDU. Finally, the release mechanism of this embodiment may be a fastener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a front perspective view of a mount100(also referred to as a bracket) having a PDU105attached thereto. The mount100and PDU105are attached to a frame110of a rack for receiving electronic equipment. Frame110can include any number of members and can take any form, but is generally rectangular in shape. As typically used in data centers, the frame110can receive and contain various types of electronic equipment, such as servers, computers, storage units, hard drives, and any other equipment requiring electricity. The frame110may also be used to contain other types of electronic equipment, such as audio or video components.

PDU105is affixed to frame110via installed mount100, and includes one or more outlets115. Although not shown, PDU105is connected to a power source through a separate cord, and distributes the power to electronic equipment via outlets115.

In this embodiment, mount100is “tool-less,” meaning that it can be installed and uninstalled on frame110by hand, without the use of tools. The specific attachment means are described in further detail below. In alternative embodiments (not shown), mount100can be a non “tool-less” type, such as one that requires screws or other types of fasteners to engage with frame110. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the mount can be made integral with the frame.

FIG. 2Aillustrates a rear perspective view of the mount100. Plate120in this embodiment is attached to mount100, and includes a central cutout portion125and locking members130. Plate120further includes two parallel slots135located on a top portion and a bottom portion of the plate120. In this embodiment, four locking members130are shown, two of which extend only partially across the central cutout portion125, and two of which extend at a periphery of plate120. In this embodiment, locking members130are rectangular in shape, are generally parallel to each other, and are coplanar with the plate120.

In alternative embodiments (not shown), plate can take a shape other than the one depicted inFIG. 2A, such as a triangular, polygonal, or circular shape. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), plate may include any number of locking members, and the locking members may take any shape and have any orientation with respect to one another. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), plate may include any number of slots, and the slots may take any shape and have any orientation with respect to one another. In other alternative embodiments (not shown) slots may be replaced with any guidance fixture, for example an elongated groove or a flange.

With continued reference toFIG. 2A, mount100includes one or more keyholes140shaped to receive protrusions145of PDU105(illustrated inFIG. 3). Mount100in this embodiment has four keyholes140, each keyhole140having a wider portion160and two narrower portions165.

In alternative embodiments (not shown), keyholes may take different shapes, and the plate may include more or less than four keyholes. In one known embodiment, the keyholes include one wider portion and one narrower portion. In these alternative embodiments, the only requirement of keyholes is that they be shaped to retain elongated protrusions so that the protrusions cannot slide out of keyholes when installed.

Mount100further includes guides170that are sized and shaped to fit within slots135of plate120. In this embodiment, two guides170are shown, and are circular in shape. In alternative embodiments (not shown), the guides and slots can be switched, so that the mount includes slots and the plate includes the guides. Mount100further includes a biased latch175, and hooks180for securing the mount100to frame110. Frame110includes a slot (not shown) corresponding to latch175. The slot is dimensioned such that when latch175is inserted into the slot, latch175snaps against the sides of the slot to prevent removal of the latch175. Hooks180are sized and shaped to fit into corresponding holes (not shown) in frame110, to fix mount100with respect to frame110.

Mount100further includes cable features185, which are sized and shaped to receive cables of equipment mounted in frame110. In alternative embodiments (not shown), cable features can be sized and shaped differently, or can be omitted.

FIG. 2Billustrates a front perspective view of mount100. As seen inFIG. 2B, mount100further includes a latch button190that is used to compress latch175to allow a user to remove the mount100from frame110. When pressed, latch button190opposes the biasing force of latch175and compresses the latch175so that it can be inserted or removed from its corresponding slot in frame110.

FIG. 2Bfurther shows a handle195attached to plate120, extending from the front surface of the mount100. Handle195can be used to slide plate120into a locked or unlocked position.

FIG. 2Cshows a side view of the mount100. Side profiles of latch175and latch button190can be seen in this figure. Handle195is shown extending from the front surface of mount100.

FIG. 3is a rear view of the mount100, showing details of plate120. As seen inFIG. 3, wider portions160of the keyhole140are sized to receive a flat head150of the protrusions145. Flat heads150are better seen inFIG. 4, which depicts a protrusion145from a side perspective.FIG. 4further illustrates elongated shafts155of the protrusions145, which are connected at one end to the PDU105and at the other end to the flat head150.

Returning toFIG. 3, narrower portions165of the keyhole140are sized to be smaller than the flat heads150of protrusions145, so that the flat heads150cannot pass through narrower portions165. Narrower portions165are also sized to receive the elongated shaft155of each protrusion145.

An operation of the mount100shown inFIG. 3will now be described. The mount100is fixed to frame110via fasteners or a tool-less connection such as the one discussed above. The protrusions145of PDU105are inserted into the wider portions160of keyholes140, and then moved to narrower portions165of keyholes140after the flat heads150of the protrusions145have passed completely through keyholes140. At this stage, the protrusions145cannot slide laterally out of the keyholes140, but can still move up or down within keyholes140.

Plate120is then translated laterally, such that the slots135slide along the guides170. The plate120is translated until the locking members130are positioned above elongated shafts155of protrusions145. With the plate120in this configuration, the protrusions145cannot shift upwards and out of keyholes140. When the plate120locks protrusions145in place, the PDU105is secured to the frame110and will not detach from frame110when the assembled unit is jostled and bumped during shipping.

In alternative embodiments (not shown), guides170could be replaced with removable pegs, allowing plate120to be removable.

FIG. 5depicts an alternative embodiment of mount200and plate205. In this embodiment, the mount200is integral with frame210. Otherwise, the mount200and plate205function in an identical way to the embodiment ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 6depicts another embodiment of the present disclosure, where a mount300is connected to a PDU310, to affix PDU310to the frame of a rack (not shown). Mount300includes one or more slots320in a surface of the mount300. In this embodiment, two elongated slots320are provided. Although not shown inFIG. 6, mount300includes keyhole structures (or alternatives) identical to the ones described in the embodiments ofFIGS. 1-5, to receive protrusions of PDU310. Mount300in this embodiment further includes cable features330, similar to the cable features discussed in previous embodiments.

In alternative embodiments (not shown), any number of slots may be included on mount, and the slots may take any shape, for example a circular or oblong shape. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the slots may extend only partially into mount rather than all the way through. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), cable features may be shaped differently or omitted.

A locking piece340is installed into mount300, as shown inFIG. 6, and in more detail inFIG. 7. Locking piece340includes a flat, generally square body350, two through holes360that extend through the flat, generally square body350, and a tab370extending from a lower portion of the flat, generally square body340, such that the tab370is coplanar with the generally square body350.

To install the locking piece340into the mount300, the tab370is inserted into one of the slots320. PDU310also includes two holes (not shown) that align with through holes360of locking piece340when PDU310is secured to mount300. One or more pin(s) or snap rivet(s) (not shown) is then inserted into either or both sets of aligned PDU and locking piece holes, to secure locking piece340against PDU310. In this configuration, PDU310is prevented from shifting relative to mount300. One practical advantage of securing PDU310in this manner is to prevent it from falling out of engagement with mount300when bumped or jostled during shipping.

In alternative embodiments (not shown), locking piece and PDU holes can be replaced with other structures that fix the locking piece340to PDU310, for example, slots and tabs, flanges and grooves, or snap connections. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), pins or snap rivets can be replaced with screws or bolts, and PDU holes can be threaded holes. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), locking piece can have a body of any other shape, a tab of any shape, and any number of through holes. For example, locking piece can have a circular flat body, a triangular flat body, or a trapezoidal flat body. Additionally, the tab could have any shape, such as a rounded shape, pointed, or hooked. Any number of tabs and slots may be included in alternative embodiments of locking piece and mount, respectively. For example, two or three tabs that correspond with the same number of slots may be included. In other alternative embodiments (not shown), the locking piece can include any number of through holes, for example, one, three, four, or zero holes, that correspond with the same number of holes in PDU.