Abstract:
Apparatus and method for a flip rail in a rack mount are disclosed herein. A flip rail apparatus for allowing full width electronic equipment to be slide mounted in a rack mount case includes a rack mount frame coupled to a rack mount case. The rack mount frame is configured to hold standard rack mountable electronic equipment. The frame has a first front vertical rail and a second front vertical rail. The first vertical flip rail is attached to the first vertical rail and the second vertical flip rail is attached to the second vertical rail. The first and second vertical flip rails selectively rotate outward away from the electronic equipment in order to allow electronic equipment to be removed.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/944,683 filed on Jun. 18, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Transportation of precision electronic instrumentation generally requires bulky packaging to insulate the instruments from shock or vibration. After use, the instruments must be repacked for shipping. In many circumstances, particularly in military field use, it is desirable that the instruments be as protected as possible during temporary operation. Additionally, when instruments are used intermittently at different locations it is desirable that the instruments be quickly and easily readied for transportation. 
     A rack mount case provides a sturdy protective shell for installments mounted in a shock and vibration resistant carriage. The case permits installation of rack mount instrument units without modification and permits operation of the units without removal from the case. The electronics are, however, permanently mounted into the case. Prior rack mount cases do not allow for the equipment to be easily removed and placed in a standard rack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus and method for a flip rail in a rack mount are disclosed herein. A flip rail apparatus for allowing full width electronic equipment to be slide mounted in a rack mount case includes a rack mount frame coupled to a rack mount case. The rack mount frame is configured to hold standard rack mountable electronic equipment. The frame has a first front vertical rail and a second front vertical rail. A first vertical flip rail is attached to the first vertical rail and a second vertical flip rail is attached to the second vertical rail. The first and second vertical flip rails selectively rotate outward away from the electronic equipment in order to allow electronic equipment to be removed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a rack mount frame capable of mounting standard rack mountable electronic equipment; 
         FIG. 2  shows a close-up view of a rack mount frame in a rack mount case capable of mounting standard rack mountable electronic equipment having rails; 
         FIG. 3A  shows a close-up view of a vertical rail and  FIG. 3B  shows a close-up view of a vertical rail retainer; 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of the vertical rail retainer and the vertical rail; and 
         FIG. 5  shows an example rack in a rack mount apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  shows a rack mount case  102  capable of mounting full width electronic equipment  108 . The standard rack mount case  102  is preferably formed compression molded with 40% continuous glass strand reinforced polypropylene sheet material. In alternate embodiments, other suitable materials may be used. The main body of the rack mount case  102  is stackable with other cases and has a front and rear cover. The front and rear covers preferably attach to the rack mount case  102  and facilitate a seal that may be used to preventingress of undesirable water, dust or even chemical agents. The rack mount case  102  covers are preferably equipped with a sufficient amount of latches to affect a seal. The rack mount case preferably also includes a pressure relief valve to equalize the internal and the external air pressure. The rack mount case  102  may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes including, for example, unit 3-20 sizes. 
     A flip rail inner frame  104  provides a rigid framework structure that preferably meets the dimensional requirements of CEA-310 and is mounted using a shock mount system inside the rack mount case  102 . The flip rail inner frame  104  is attached to an isolation system that is mounted inside the electronic enclosure and allows for the apparatus and equipment therein to be safely transported. The isolation system is comprised of a sufficient quantity of shock mounts to protect the enclosed equipment and the frame for safe transportation within the rack mount case. The shock mounts are preferably coupled between the frame and the case along both the top and bottom of the inner frame  104 . In the preferred embodiment, the flip rail inner frame is 19.3 inches wide, has available depths of 20 inches, 24 inches, and 30 inches, and has a height of 5.25 inches to 35 inches. The equipment  108  is mounted within the rack mount inner frame  104  using a slide system  110 . Further included on the rack mount inner frame  104  are vertical rails  106 . The vertical rails  106  are rotatably coupled to the inner frame  104  such that they may rotated outward to allow for electronics  108  to be inserted within the inner frame  104 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a close up view of a flip rail inner frame  104  in a rack mount case  102  capable of mounting full width electronic equipment  108 . The electronic equipment  108  preferably includes a front plate  109  that extends outwardly past the inner frame  104  and includes slides  110 . A female slide housing  111  is attached to the inner frame  104 , while the slide  110  is attached to the electronic equipment  108 . The interaction between the female housing  111  and the slide  110  allows for the electronic equipment  108  to be slideably mounted in the inner frame  104 . In an alternate embodiment the electronic equipment  108  may be hard mounted to the inner frame  104 . The inner frame  104  is preferably constructed using a variety of aluminum beams  114 , but may be constructed out of any metal or polymer suitable for electronics mounting. The beams  114  are configured for mounting the electronic equipment  108 . As shown the beams  114  are preferably assembled using rivets  116  to form the inner frame  104 . The inner frame  104  comprising the beams  114  can also be welded, screwed or otherwise coupled together in alternate embodiments. 
     The apparatus preferably includes vertical rails  106  (see  FIG. 3A ) that are pivotally coupled to the inner frame  104  using a vertical rail retainer  122  (see  FIG. 3B ) affixed to the inner frame  104 . Ideally the vertical rails  106  are formed through an extrusion process. The vertical rails  106  are preferably configured to pivot outwardly sufficient to allow equipment  108  to be inserted past the vertical rail  106  within the inner frame  104 . The equipment  108  is slide mounted inboard from the vertical rails  106  such that the vertical rails  106  remain concealed by the front plate  109  of the equipment  108  until the equipment  108  is pulled out to the front of the inner frame  104 . The inner frame  104  may be produced to conform to any height or depth. In a preferred embodiment, the inner frame  104  further allows for a plurality of equipment  108  to be rack mountable and is configured to be universal in accepting all rack mountable electronics  108 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows a close-up view of a vertical rail  106  and  FIG. 3B  shows a close-up view of a vertical rail retainer  122 . As shown with continuing reference to  FIG. 2 , the vertical rail  106  is preferably rotatably coupled to the inner frame  104  using the vertical rail retainer  122  of the rack mount case  102 . The vertical rails  106  are configured to be rotatable outward to allow equipment with rails to be mounted in the rack mount case and thereafter closed to hold the equipment in place. The cylindrical boss  120  is configured to fit within the groove  124  of the vertical rail retainer  122  and allows for the vertical rail  106  and the vertical rail retainer  122  to hinge together. In one embodiment, the vertical rail  106  is capable of pivoting 25 degrees outward when mounted on the inner frame. 
       FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of the vertical rail retainer  122  and the vertical rail  106 . In this illustration, the slide  110  is positioned partially within the inner frame  104  and the vertical rail  106  is shown pivoted outwardly from the slide  110 . When the slide  110  is positioned fully within the inner frame  104 , the vertical rail  106  is operative to close and hold the slide  110  in place. 
       FIG. 5  shows an alternate embodiment of an example rack mount apparatus  450 . The rack mount apparatus  450  includes the plurality of structures as described above and further contains an outer frame  452  and an inner frame  456  configured to allow for pre-loading and mounting multiple pieces of electronic equipment (not shown). The electronic equipment may be integrated with the inner frame  456  using bolts, rivets, slide mounts or any other suitable coupling means. The inner frame  456  may be slide mounted into an outer frame  452  that is coupled to a transportable rack mount case (not shown) or a permanently fixed frame in a military structure (not shown). The inner frame  456  is preferably constructed using two front vertical mounting rails  458 . These rails may be formed of various mounting surfaces of different degrees to allow the rails to interface with compatible flip rails  454  mounted to the front of the outer frame  452 . The flip rails  454  hold the inner frame  456  within the outer frame  452 . When oriented in an open configuration, the flip rails  454  allow for the inner frame  456  to be removed from the outer frame  452 . 
     In one embodiment, the rack mount apparatus advantageously incorporates a series of framework structures that allow an efficient method of transporting an array of electronic equipment. This embodiment allows for field replacement of pre-assembled sets of equipment. The rack mount apparatus preferably provides full size CEA-310 racks that slide into a flip rail rack. In alternative embodiments, the rack mount apparatus can be configured for racks of any size. The rack mount apparatus frames are easily removable from the cases and can be reinstalled in a rigid rack in mobile or fixed shelters. The outer rack may be permanently mounted or slide mounted onto shock mounts in the center body of the case. The interior rack may occupy all or part of the rack space in the outer rack, thereby leaving rack space for accessories, drawers and other rack mountable equipment. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.