Abstract:
A blanking panel is provided for blocking an aperture in a rack for mounting multiple hardware components. The panel includes: a frame having a first pair of parallel sides connected orthogonally to a second pair of parallel sides, where at least one of the pairs of parallel sides is adjustable in length; an attachment means provided on at least one of the pairs of parallel sides for removable attachment of the blanking panel to the rack; and a screen formed of a flexible and stretchable material extending between at least one of the pairs of parallel sides where the flexible and stretchable material stretches as the pair of parallel sides are moved apart thereby blocking the aperture.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This invention relates to the field of blanking panels for datacentre racks. In particular, the invention relates to an adjustable blanking panel for datacentre racks. 
         [0002]    Datacenters are reliant on appropriate airflow to keep servers and infrastructure cool and operating within known system limits. Some servers have to run within certain temperature thresholds otherwise system degradation may occur. 
         [0003]    Datacenters typically use rows of racks with cold and hot aisles, whereby at the front of the rack, cold air is blown up from a raised floor into the path of the fans of the servers contained within the rack. The cold air is sucked through the server, heated (via the natural process of the internal components) and then pushed out the rear of the rack into the hot row. 
         [0004]    In order for devices to work efficiently, the air supplied needs to be at a constant temperature. Currently hot and cold air can mix in any unfilled spaces between devices in the racks, warming the cold air supplied to the devices. The temperature of the cold air rises forcing devices to work harder to maintain a constant temperature. In turn, this affects the efficiency of the datacentre (as described in the points below) as well as the local environment due to extra power usage and the site carbon footprint. The cost of running a room with set temperatures and humidity is high as air conditioning and fan speeds all add to the general electrical use of the room. This is now a global problem with datacenters often measured on a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) scale and CO2 based levels. 
         [0005]    Higher supply temperatures are also a factor in causing the following problems:
       Premature component failure;   Reduced processing power by going into a state of degradation;   Hotter exhausts which the room air conditioning handlers (computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units) have to try lower to maintain room environment, potentially exceeding room capacity;   More electrical usage by a server to ramp-up fans and cooling technologies; and   More electrical usage by datacenter air handlers to ramp-up fans to supply suitable temperatures.       
 
         [0011]    To prevent air mixing, rack panels (also known as blanking panels) are used to fill any voids within the rack to prevent air circulation or mixing. There are several versions typically supplied by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). 
         [0012]    Current blanking panels are typically of standard sizes and do not fill non-standard spaces and thus cannot reduce mixing within these spaces. The term “U” is an industry set space within a typical rack. 
         [0013]    Existing known blanking panels have the following problems:
       Blanking panels are traditionally fixed 1U or 3U sizes, and cannot combat odd spaces, for example, a third of a U, or at the side of a system.   They are solid, made with thick plastic, metal or other solid material, which causes issues with storage when they are not installed in the rack, often resulting in many datacenter owners throwing them out, later finding they should have installed the panels.   Existing blanking panels only block the horizontal spaces any leave any vertical spaces empty.   They cannot bend round shapes, for implementations of rack furniture that do not use standard installations.   All prior art blanking panels require connections on both sides of the rack.       
 
         [0019]    Therefore, there is a need in the art to address the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0020]    In one illustrative embodiment, a blanking panel is provided for blocking an aperture in a rack for mounting multiple hardware components. In the illustrative embodiment, the blanking panel comprises a frame having a first pair of parallel sides connected orthogonally to a second pair of parallel sides, where at least one of the pairs of parallel sides is adjustable in length. In the illustrative embodiment, the blanking panel comprises an attachment means provided on at least one of the pairs of parallel sides for removable attachment of the blanking panel to the rack. In the illustrative embodiment, the blanking panel comprises a screen formed of a flexible and stretchable material extending between at least one of the pairs of parallel sides, where the flexible and stretchable material stretches as the pair of parallel sides are moved apart thereby blocking the aperture. 
         [0021]    In another illustrative embodiment, a rack is provided for mounting multiple hardware components including vertical sides and at least one shelf for supporting the hardware components. In the illustrative embodiment, a blanking panel is provided for blocking an aperture in the rack in which no hardware component is housed. In the illustrative embodiment, the blanking panel comprises a frame having a first pair of parallel sides connected orthogonally to a second pair of parallel sides, where at least one of the pairs of parallel sides is adjustable in length. In the illustrative embodiment, the blanking panel comprises an attachment means provided on at least one of the pairs of parallel sides for removable attachment of the blanking panel to the rack. In the illustrative embodiment, the blanking panel comprises a screen formed of a flexible and stretchable material extending between at least one of the pairs of parallel sides, where the flexible and stretchable material stretches as the pair of parallel sides are moved apart thereby blocking the aperture. 
         [0022]    In yet another illustrative embodiment, a method is provided for blocking apertures in a rack for mounting multiple hardware components. The illustrative embodiment provides a blanking panel that comprises a frame having a first pair of parallel sides connected orthogonally to a second pair of parallel sides, where at least one of the pairs of parallel sides is adjustable in length; an attachment means provided on at least one of the pairs of parallel sides for removable attachment of the blanking panel to the rack; and a screen formed of a flexible and stretchable material extending between at least one of the pairs of parallel sides, wherein the flexible and stretchable material stretches as the pair of parallel sides are moved apart thereby blocking the aperture. The illustrative embodiment attaches a first side of the frame of the panel to a portion of the rack adjacent a first side of the aperture. The illustrative embodiment extends a second side of the frame opposite to the first side to a second side of the aperture thereby stretching the screen of the panel to cover the aperture. The illustrative embodiment attaches the second side of the frame to a portion of the rack adjacent the second side of the aperture. 
         [0023]    The described aspects of the invention provide the advantage of providing blanking panels to support non-standard rack items, and non-complete U sized spaces. This has the advantage of reducing hot and cold air mixing within the racks, preventing compromised airflows, and helping the site ‘green’ stance. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in, or will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of, the following detailed description of the example embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features, and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0025]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings in which: 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is cross-sectional view of a datacentre as known in the prior art; 
           [0027]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram showing a front view of a rack in a datacentre having spaces as known in the prior art; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2B  is the schematic diagram of  FIG. 2A , showing blanking panels in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are diagrams showing a first embodiment of a blanking panel in accordance with the present invention in an expanded and a contracted position; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C are diagrams showing a second embodiment of a blanking panel in accordance with the present invention in expanded and contracted positions; 
           [0031]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are diagrams showing a third embodiment of a blanking panel in accordance with the present invention in an expanded and a contracted position; 
           [0032]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams showing a fourth embodiment of a blanking panel in accordance with the present invention in a vertical and a horizontal position; 
           [0033]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C are diagrams showing the fourth embodiment of a blanking panel in accordance with the present invention in an expanded and a contracted position and as a side cross-sectional view; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8A  is a schematic diagram showing the airflow in a rack having an open space as known in the prior art; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 8B  is a schematic diagram showing the rack of  FIG. 8A  have a blanking panel and the associated airflow. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]    It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numbers may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous features. 
         [0037]    In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0038]    An adjustable blanking panel for filling spaces in a rack of a datacentre is provided. The adjustable blanking panel is a versatile blanking panel able to be expanded or contracted to fill standard and non-standard spaces in a rack. Spaces in a rack may be caused by hardware components being stored in the rack which are not standard sizes. The described blanking panel may also provide a “sock” and/or seal around racked devices to aid airflow. 
         [0039]    The described adjustable blanking panel has an adjustable frame that encompasses or surrounds a stretchable material. For example, the stretchable material may be rubber latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric. The frame may be removably attached to the rack, for example, by clips or bolts between the frame and the rack. 
         [0040]    The adjustable frame may have at least two opposing adjustable sides. The other two opposing sides may be of fixed dimensions, detachable, or also adjustable. 
         [0041]    At time for installation, one side of the frame may be clipped or bolted to the rack, and the panel pulled to the opposite side of the space in the rack, thus stretching the internal material across the space&#39;s void. In addition, the same may carried out in the orthogonal direction attaching a third side of the frame to the rack and extending the fourth side. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a datacentre  100  is shown in cross-section as known in the prior art. A datacentre  100  typically has multiple racks  101 ,  102 ,  103  for housing hardware components. The racks  101 - 103  are often mounted on a raised floor  104  having perforated tiles so that an under-floor cold air supply can be provided between the racks  101 - 103 . 
         [0043]    A typical arrangement is to have alternating cold aisles  112 ,  114  and hot aisles  111 ,  113  between the racks  101 - 103 . The racks  101 - 103  may be arranged so that their fronts face a cold aisle  112 ,  114  and their backs face a hot aisle  111 ,  113 . The perforated tiles or other form of air inlet  115  from the raised floor  104  are positioned below the cold aisles  112 ,  114 . 
         [0044]    In practice, the cold air rises  120  through the raised floor into the cold aisles  112 ,  114  and cools the fronts of the racks  101 - 103 . Hot air may be expelled from the back of the racks  101 - 103  into the hot aisles  111 ,  113  where it rises  121  and dissipates. 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , a schematic diagram  200  shows a front view of a rack  201 . A rack  201  has vertical supports and, typically, regularly positioned horizontal shelves on which hardware components may be mounted. The hardware components (shown with diagonal hashing fill)  221 - 225  may include hardware components which are non-standard sizes and therefore do not fit snuggly in the rack  201  on the horizontal shelves leaving spaces or apertures (shown with dotted fill)  211 - 214  at the sides and tops of some of the hardware components  221 - 225 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 2B  shows a schematic diagram  250  of the rack  201  of  FIG. 2A  with adjustable blanking panels  231 - 235  as described herein filling the spaces  211 - 214  between the hardware components  221 - 225 . The adjustable blanking panels  231 - 235  may be positioned in the front vertical plane of the rack  201  which is typically facing a cold aisle which is ventilated with cold air. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 3B ,  4 A,  4 B and  4 C,  5 A and  5 B, three example embodiments are shown of an adjustable blanking panel. All three embodiments have a panel  300 ,  400 ,  500  having a frame  301  and an internal screen formed of a flexible, expandable material  302 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  shows a first example embodiment of a panel  300  in which the frame  301  is provided in the form of adjustable clips  311 - 318 ,  321 - 328  on each of the four sides  331 - 334  of the frame  301 . In the example illustrated, three sliding clips  311 - 318 ,  321 - 328  may be provided on each side  331 - 334  of the frame  301  and may be expanded or contracted (as shown by the block arrows) by sliding the clips and locking them in different positions. 
         [0049]    The panel  300  may have attachment means  351 - 354  at each corner of the frame  301  for attachment to the rack. In this example, the attachment means  351 - 354  are shown in the form of eyelets which may be attached to a rack by bolts. 
         [0050]      FIG. 3A  shows the panel  300  in an expanded form with all four sides  331 - 334  extended.  FIG. 3B  shows the panel in a contracted form with two opposite sides  332 ,  334  contracted. 
         [0051]    The first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  shows an optional feature of the internal material  302  having slits  341 ,  342  or an opening to enable the material  302  to stretch around a hardware component to provide a tight seal. Further details of this aspect are shown in later figures. The slits  341 ,  342  may have a perpendicular pattern (for example, as shown as a multiple cross, as an I shape, or as a diagonal cross) to accommodate a hardware component. 
         [0052]    In one example, a frame  301  may be adjustable from ⅓ of a U (three holes per U) to the limit of the expandable frame. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C show a second example embodiment of a panel  400 . This is similar to the panel  300  of the first embodiment, with the difference that two opposite sides  432 ,  434  are detachable or separable enabling the panel  400  to only be attached to a rack on two opposing sides  431 ,  433 . This enables the panel  400  to be stretched beyond the limit of the length of its sides to reach across a wide space in a rack.  FIG. 4B  shows that some of the sections  401 - 406  forming the frame  301  may be completely removed, resulting in panel  400  of  FIG. 4C . 
         [0054]    Datacentre racks generally have bolt holes on either side of the rack (usually three holes per U), which would allow the panel  400  to be bolted in all four corners providing the covering of the space as required. Subject to the expandable material  302  of the screen, the airflow may create a small sail-type effect by puffing out the material which may bridge any gaps around the material  302 . 
         [0055]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  show a third example embodiment of a panel  500 . In this embodiment, the frame  301  is provided with adjustable sides  531 - 534  which have a concertina form (for example, similar to a “bendy straw”) to allow expansion and contraction. The adjustable sides  531 - 534  may have a concertina form of a semi-circular cross-section allowing maximum contact and strength with the rack and ensuring an air-tight fit. The sides  531 - 534  may have sliders and locks on the rear, fiat side of the frame sides  531 - 534  to hold the sides  531 - 534  in the desired expansion or contraction. 
         [0056]    The third embodiment does not show the optional slits in the material  302 , however, theses may also be provided with this embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B , a panel  600  having a frame  301  and internal material  302  may include slits  641 ,  642  and the panel  600  may be rotated to position the slits  641 ,  642  appropriately for a given hardware component. 
         [0058]    Referring to  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C, a panel  700  having a frame  301  and internal material  302  may include slits  741 ,  742  and the panel  700  may be rotated to position the slits  741 ,  742 , and then contracted ( FIG. 7B ) to accommodate a hardware component  701 .  FIG. 7C  shows a side view of the hardware component  701  with the material  302  stretching around the hardware component  701  providing a seal. 
         [0059]    The internal material  302  having slits or cut-outs enables a surround or sock affect to occur to provide as much of an air tight seal  303  as possible. This is similar to vacuum forming, whereby an object is pushed through providing a seal. 
         [0060]      FIG. 7C  also shows bolts  702 ,  703  attaching the frame  301  to the rack. 
         [0061]    The frame may be adjusted to cover a wide range of spaces. Multiple panels are traditionally used on one rack and this would not change. However, the described adjustable panels may be installed where previous forms of rack panels would not fit. 
         [0062]    Due to the collapsible frame, storage space required for the adjustable panel when it is not in use is minimal. 
         [0063]    With purpose added slits within the material, an adjustable panel allows a non-standard hardware components (for example, desktops/towers) to be racked within a traditional 19″ rack without exposing considerable gaps and compromising airflow. 
         [0064]    The adjustable panel may be scaled to a very small unit for small spaces in a rack. 
         [0065]    In a further embodiment, there may be provided an additional material that can also stretch with the inner material with suitable eyelets for installation into rack. 
         [0066]    A frame of a panel surrounding the screen of flexible material may be sufficiently stable that it supports the material in a given position of expansion/contraction of the frame. The panel may be installed with not all four corners attached to a rack; however, once the frame is expanded and locked at a selected size, the frame may be sufficiently rigid or have friction enough to support the material. This would provide a method to block gaps vertically and horizontally without support from the opposite side of the rack. For example, this arrangement may be used in an arrangement of a desktop that fits snuggly between two shelves with gaps on either side. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , a schematic cross-section of a rack  800  is shown with two servers  801 ,  802  and a space  803  in the front  804  of the rack  800  adjacent a cold aisle  805 . The servers  801 ,  802  suck in cold air  810  from the cold aisle  805  and expel hot air  811  from the rear of the servers  801 ,  802  into a hot aisle  806 . 
         [0068]    In  FIG. 8A , no panel is used to fill the space  803  and therefore hot air may mix  812  from the hot aisle  806  inside the rack  800  and escape  813  through the space  803  into the cold aisle  805  where it mixes with the cold air. The servers  801 ,  802  therefore receive warmer air and their fans must work harder to maintain system temperature. 
         [0069]      FIG. 8B , shows an adjustable panel  820  used to cover the space  803 . The adjustable panel  820  is attached to the rack  800  by bolts and stretched to fill the space  801 . Now, cold air  810  from the cold aisle  805  may enter the servers  801 ,  802  and be expelled  811  into the hot aisle  806 . The hot air does not mix within the rack and is not allowed to find its way back to the cold aisle  805 . Therefore, the air in the cold aisle  805  remains cold and effective cooling is carried out. 
         [0070]    The described adjustable panels for datacentre racks have the following advantages:
       Help datacentre owners meet heating and ventilation standards;   Save money and decrease carbon footprint of a datacentre;   Less packaging and storage space needed;   Better seals around non-standard shaped equipment;   Reusable;   Could become industry standard for catering for non-standard equipment;   Longer machine life as running at cooler temperature.   Improvements and modifications can be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present invention.