Abstract:
A chassis reinforcing apparatus includes a chassis defining a component housing. A chassis reinforcing member is coupled to the chassis and comprises a bend which is directed towards the component housing. The bend is designed such that, with components housed in the component housing, the chassis reinforcing member is deflected into a substantially planar orientation.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for reinforcing an information handling system chassis. 
   As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
   Some information handling systems are housed in a chassis and may be mounted in racks for storage and/or use. As computing needs continue to grow, the information handling system components housed in the chassis increase in weight, size, and number, which leads to issues with respect to the chassis. 
   As additional and heavier components are housed in the chassis, the component support surface may begin to sag or bow from the weight of the components, causing the component support surface to deflect from a planar orientation to a bowed orientation. It is desirable to minimize the amount of space taken up by a chassis in the rack in order to mount as many information handling systems in the rack as possible, and the deflection of the component support surface to the bowed orientation may cause the chassis to deflect into space in the rack that is meant to be used by other chassis. Furthermore, the deflection of the component support surface to the bowed orientation creates a perception of low quality due to the systems sagging or bowed appearance. 
   Typically, the deflection of the component support surface to the bowed orientation is dealt with by stiffening the component support surface by fabricating a thicker component support surface. This is undesirable due to the need to minimize the space taken up in the rack by the chassis and the additional costs incurred in fabricating the thicker component support surface. 
   Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a method and apparatus for reinforcing a chassis absent the disadvantages found in the prior methods discussed above. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to one embodiment, a chassis reinforcing apparatus is provided which includes a chassis defining a component housing, and a chassis reinforcing member coupled to the chassis and comprising a bend which is directed towards the component housing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an information handling system. 
       FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a chassis reinforcing member. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the chassis reinforcing member of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a component support surface used with the chassis reinforcing member of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 3   b  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the component support surface of  FIG. 3   a.    
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a chassis cover used with the chassis reinforcing member of  FIG. 2   a  and the component support surface of  FIG. 3   a.    
       FIG. 5   a  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for reinforcing a chassis. 
       FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the component support surface of  FIG. 3   a  coupled to the chassis reinforcing member of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 5   c  is a cross sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the component support surface and the chassis reinforcing member of  FIG. 5   b.    
       FIG. 5   d  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a plurality of components positioned in the component support surface and the chassis reinforcing member of  FIG. 5   b.    
       FIG. 5   e  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the chassis cover of  FIG. 4  coupled to the component support surface and the chassis reinforcing member of  FIG. 5   d.    
       FIG. 5   f  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the chassis cover, the component support surface, and the chassis reinforcing member of  FIG. 5   d  mounted to a rack. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of a chassis reinforcing member. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of a chassis reinforcing member. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of a chassis reinforcing member. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view illustrating an alternative embodiment of a chassis reinforcing member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling system may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an information handling system may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handling system may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the information handling system may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handling system may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
   In one embodiment, information handling system  100 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a microprocessor  102 , which is connected to a bus  104 . Bus  104  serves as a connection between microprocessor  102  and other components of computer system  100 . An input device  106  is coupled to microprocessor  102  to provide input to microprocessor  102 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  108 , which is coupled to microprocessor  102 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. Information handling system  100  further includes a display  110 , which is coupled to microprocessor  102  by a video controller  112 . A system memory  114  is coupled to microprocessor  102  to provide the microprocessor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by microprocessor  102 . In an embodiment, a chassis  116  houses some or all of the components of information handling system  100 . It should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and microprocessor  102  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the microprocessor. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a chassis section  200  is illustrated. The chassis section  200  includes a chassis reinforcing member  202  which includes a front edge  202   a , a rear edge  202   b  located opposite the front edge  202   a , a top surface  202   c  extending between the front edge  202   a  and the rear edge  202   b , and a plurality of side walls  204   a  and  204  extending from opposite sides of the chassis reinforcing member  202  and between the front edge  202   a  and the rear edge  202   b . A component housing  206  is defined between the chassis reinforcing member  202  and the side walls  204   a  and  204   b . The chassis reinforcing member  202  is fabricated with a plurality of creases  208   a  and  208   b  that result in a bend  210  in the chassis reinforcing member  202  which is directed away from a plane  212  and towards the component housing  206 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2   b . A plurality of coupling apertures  214  are defined by the chassis reinforcing member  202  and are located in a spaced apart relationship on the chassis reinforcing member  202 . In an embodiment, the chassis section  200  may be fabricated from a conventional sheet metal known in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , a component support surface  300  is illustrated. The component support surface  300  includes a substantially planar base  302  having a front edge  302   a , a rear edge  302   b  located opposite the front edge  302   a , and a top surface  302   c  extending between the front edge  302   a  and the rear edge  302   b . A component mounting feature  304  extends from the top surface  302   c  of the base  302  adjacent the front edge  302   a , defines a component slot  304   a , and includes a side wall mounting section  304   b  extending from a distal end of the component mounting feature  304 . A plurality of component mounting features  306   a ,  306   b ,  306   c , and  306   d  extend from the top surface  302   c  of the base  302  in a spaced apart relationship on the top surface  302   c  of the component support surface  300 . A plurality of coupling apertures  308  are defined by the base  302  and located in a spaced apart relationship on the base  302 . In an embodiment, the component support surface  300  is fabricated from a conventional sheet metal known in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a chassis cover  400  is illustrated. The chassis cover  400  includes a substantially planar base  402  having a front edge  402   a , a rear edge  402   b  located opposite the front edge  402   a , a top surface  402   c  extending between the front edge  402   a  and the rear edge  402   b , and a plurality of side walls  404   a  and  404   b  extending from opposite sides of the base  402  and between the front edge  402   a  and the rear edge  402   b . In an exemplary embodiment, the chassis cover  400  is fabricated from a convention sheet metal known in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  5   a ,  5   b , and  5   c , a method  500  for reinforcing a chassis is illustrated. The method  500  begins at step  502  where a chassis is provided. The component support surface  300  is positioned in the component housing  206  on the chassis section  200  such that the front edge  302   a  of the component support surface  300  is adjacent the front edge  202   a  of the chassis reinforcing member  202  and the rear edge  302   b  on the component support surface  300  is adjacent the rear edge  202   b  on the chassis reinforcing member  202 . Positioning the component support surface  300  in the component housing  206  on the chassis section  200  provides a chassis  502   a . In an embodiment, the chassis  502   a  may be the chassis  116 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  5   a ,  5   b , and  5   c , the method  500  then proceeds to step  504  where the chassis  502   a  is reinforced. The component support surface  300  is coupled to the chassis reinforcing member  202  using methods known in the art such as, for example, rolling the edge of the coupling apertures  214  on the chassis reinforcing member  202  over the edge of the coupling apertures  308  on the component support surface  300 , positioning rivets through the coupling apertures  214  and  308  on the chassis reinforcing member  202  and the component support surface  300 , respectively, welding the component support surface  300  to the chassis reinforcing member  202 , combinations thereof, or a variety of other methods known in the art. In an embodiment, any apertures in the chassis  502   a  may be shielded to prevent electromagnetic interference to and from components in the chassis  502   a . Furthermore, the side wall mounting section  304   b  on the component support surface  300  is coupled to the side wall  204   a  on the chassis section  200 . By coupling the component support surface  300  to the chassis section  200 , the chassis reinforcing member  202  is held in a substantially planar orientation by the component support surface  300 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b . As a result of holding the chassis reinforcing member  202  in a substantially planar orientation, the bend  210  in the chassis reinforcing member  202  is flattened out, which creates a reinforcing force F from the chassis reinforcing member  202  which is directed towards the component housing  206  and creates a stress in the component support surface  300  directed towards the component housing  206 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b.    
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c , and  5   d , the method  500  proceeds to step  506  where components are coupled to the chassis  502   a . A power supply component  506   a  is coupled to the chassis  502   a  by positioning it in the component slot  304   a . A motherboard component  506   b  is coupled to the chassis  502   a  by positioning it between the component mounting features  306   a ,  306   c  and  306   d , and a fan component  506   c  is coupled to the chassis  502   a  by mounting it to the motherboard component  506   b . A disk drive component  506   d  is coupled to the chassis  502   a  by positioning it between the component mounting features  306   b  and  306   c , and a plurality of other components  506   e  and  506   f  are coupled to the chassis  502   a  using methods known in the art. In an embodiment, the components  506   a ,  506   b ,  506   c ,  506   d ,  506   e , and  506   f  may be components of the information handling system  100 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . In an embodiment, the bend  210  in chassis reinforcing member  202  is designed such that, with the components  506   a ,  506   b ,  506   c ,  506   d ,  506   e , and  506   f  coupled to the chassis  502   a , the force F provided by the chassis reinforcing member  202  counteracts the weight of the components  506   a ,  506   b ,  506   c ,  506   d ,  506   e , and  506   f  and the component support surface  300  and the chassis reinforcing member  202  are oriented in a substantially planar orientation, as illustrated in  FIG. 5   c.    
   Referring now to  FIGS. 4 ,  5   a ,  5   d , and  5   e , the method  500  proceeds to step  508  where the chassis cover  400  is coupled to the chassis  502   a . The chassis cover  400  is positioned adjacent the chassis  502   a  such that the front edge  402   a  on the chassis cover  400  is adjacent the front edge  202   a  of the chassis reinforcing member  202  and the rear edge  402   b  of the chassis cover  400  is adjacent the rear edge  202   b  of the chassis reinforcing member  202 . The side walls  404   a  and  404   b  on the chassis cover  400  may then be coupled to the side walls  204   a  and  204   b , respectively, on the chassis section  200 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5   e , using methods known in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   d ,  5   e , and  5   f , the method  500  proceeds to step  510  where the chassis  502   a  is mounted in a rack. A rack  510   a  including a plurality of spaced apart supports  510   aa  and  510   ab  is provided. The chassis  502   a  may then be mounted in the rack  510   a  by engaging the sides of the chassis section  200  which are adjacent each of the side walls  204   a  and  204   b  with the supports  510   aa  and  510   ab , respectively. With the chassis  502   a  mounted in the rack  510   a , the chassis reinforcing member  202  remains in a substantially planar orientation and substantially parallel to the chassis cover  400 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5   f . The bend  210  in the chassis reinforcing member  202  prevents the chassis  502   a  from sagging or bowing between the supports  510   aa  and  510   ab  due to the weight of the components  506   a ,  506   b ,  506   c ,  506   d ,  506   e , and  506   f  in the component housing  206 , which results in the chassis  502   a  taking up minimal space in the rack rather than sagging or bowing into a space reserved for another chassis, and provides an appearance of chassis strength and quality due to the chassis  502   a  holding its structure when mounted between the supports  510   aa  and  510   ab  in rack  510   a . While the component support surface  300  has been illustrated as a chassis floor, the chassis support surface  300  and chassis reinforcing member  202  may be located in different positions and orientation on the chassis  502   a  where additional support is needed. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in an alternative embodiment, a chassis section  600  is substantially similar in design and operation to the chassis section  200 , described above with reference to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  4 ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ,  5   d ,  5   e , and  5   f , with the provision of a modified crease  602  and a modified bend  604  replacing the creases  208   a  and  208   b  and the bend  210 . The crease  602  is centrally located on the chassis reinforcing member  202  and results in the bend  604  in the chassis reinforcing member  202  which is directed away from the plane  212  and towards the component housing  206 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In an embodiment, the crease  602  and bend  604  in the chassis section  600  may be modified to provide different reinforcing forces for different component and weight distributions in the chassis. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , in an alternative embodiment, a chassis section  700  is substantially similar in design and operation to the chassis section  200 , described above with reference to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  4 ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ,  5   d ,  5   e , and  5   f , with the provision of a plurality of modified creases  702   a ,  702   b , and  702   c  and a modified bend  704  replacing the creases  208   a  and  208   b  and the bend  210 . The creases  702   a ,  702   b , and  702   c  are located on the chassis reinforcing member  202  in a spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship and result in the bend  704  in the chassis reinforcing member  202  which is directed away from the plane  212  and towards the component housing  206 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In an embodiment, the creases  702   a ,  702   b , and  702   c  and bend  704  in the chassis section  700  may be modified to provide different reinforcing forces for different component and weight distributions in the chassis. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , in an alternative embodiment, a chassis section  800  is substantially similar in design and operation to the chassis section  200 , described above with reference to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  4 ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ,  5   d ,  5   e , and  5   f , with the provision of a modified bend  802  replacing the creases  208   a  and  208   b  and the bend  210 . The bend  704  creates an arcuate section of the chassis reinforcing member  202  between the side walls  204   a  and  204   b  which is directed away from the plane  212  and towards the component housing  206 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In an embodiment, the bend  804  in the chassis section  800  may be modified to provide different reinforcing forces for different component and weight distributions in the chassis. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 9 , in an alternative embodiment, a chassis section  900  is substantially similar in design and operation to the chassis section  200 , described above with reference to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3   a ,  3   b ,  4 ,  5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c ,  5   d ,  5   e , and  5   f , with the provision of a plurality of modified creases  902   a ,  902   b ,  902   c , and  902   d  and a plurality of modified bends  904   a  and  904   b  replacing the creases  208   a  and  208   b  and the bend  210 . The creases  902   a ,  902   b ,  902   c , and  902   d  are located on the chassis reinforcing member  202  in a spaced apart and substantially parallel relationship and result in the plurality of bends  904   a  and  904   b  in the chassis reinforcing member  202  which are spaced apart and substantially parallel and are directed away from the plane  212  and towards the component housing  206 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In an embodiment, the creases  902   a ,  902   b ,  902   c , and  902   d  and bends  904   a  and  904   b  in the chassis section  900  may be modified to provide different reinforcing forces for different component and weight distributions in the chassis. 
   Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.