Patent Publication Number: US-2015062788-A1

Title: Rack-mount server assembly with cable management apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a rack-mount server assembly including a cable management apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A rack-mount server assembly includes a rack, a plurality of server modules received in the rack, and a switch generally mounted on a top of the rack. Many cables are connected between the server modules and the switch for transferring signals or providing power. However, connectors of the server modules and connectors of the switch are not located at the same side, thus, a space is needed between the switch and the server modules for the cables to extend through. However, the space may influence the heat dissipation effectiveness in the rack. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a rack-mount server assembly, wherein the rack-mount server assembly includes a cable management apparatus. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, enlarged view of the cable management apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another perspective. 
         FIG. 4  is an assembled, isometric view of the cable management apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled, isometric view of  FIG. 1 , showing the cable management apparatus in use. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the circled portion VI of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of a rack-mount server assembly  100 . The rack-mount server assembly  100  includes a rack  20 , a plurality of server modules  50  received in the rack  20 , a switch  30  received in the rack  20  positioned above the server modules  50 , and a cable management apparatus  60 . The switch  30  includes a plurality of first connectors  32  positioned at a rear side of the switch  30 . Each server module  50  includes a plurality of second connectors (not shown) located at a front side of the server module  50  opposite to the first connectors  32 . A space  70  is defined between the switch  30  and the server module  50 . The rack  20  defines two screw holes  22  adjacent to two opposite ends of the space  70 . 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  show the cable management apparatus  60  including a frame  62 , a sliding member  65 , and an air shield member  67 . 
     The frame  62  includes a rectangular mounting plate  621 , and two L-shaped flanges  623  firstly extending from two opposite sides of the mounting plate  621  toward the same direction and then extending toward each other. The mounting plate  621  and the flanges  623  cooperatively bound a receiving slot  625 . First and second ends of the mounting plate  621  define two mounting holes  626 . The first end of the mounting plate  621  defines a long through hole  6212  extending along a lengthwise direction of the mounting plate  621 . A row of latching blocks  6213  protrudes from the second end of the mounting plate  621  toward the receiving slot  625 . The latching blocks  6213  are arrayed along the lengthwise direction of the mounting plate  621 . Each latching block  6213  defines a slanting guiding surface  6215  opposite to the through hole  6212 . A stopping piece  6231  protrudes from each flange  623  toward the receiving slot  625 , adjacent to the first end of the mounting plate  621 . 
     The sliding member  65  includes a sliding bar  652  and two guiding bars  653  extending out from two opposite sides of the sliding bar  652 . The sliding bar  652  is substantially U-shaped in cross section. An inner side of the sliding bar  652  facing the frame  62  defines a guiding slot  654  extending along a lengthwise direction of the sliding bar  653 . A first end of the sliding bar  652  defines a latching hole  655 . A second end of the sliding bar  652  defines a rectangular slot  656 . A resilient tongue  658  extends into the slot  656  from an end wall bounding an end of the slot  656  adjacent to the latching hole  655 . The tongue  658  includes a resilient extending portion  6582  extending into the slot  656  from the sliding bar  652 , a guiding portion  6583  slantingly extending from a distal end of the extending portion  6582  away from the extending portion  6582 , and a latching portion  6585  extending from a distal end of the guiding portion  6583  along the same direction with the extending portion  6582 . A U-shaped operation portion  657  protrudes out from an outer surface of the tongue  658  opposite to the guiding portion  6583 . 
     In the embodiment, the air shield member  67  is a brush. The air shield member  67  includes a handle  672  and a brush portion  674 . A tab  675  protrudes out from a side of the handle  672  away from the brush portion  674 . A pin  676  perpendicularly extends out from the tab  675 . 
       FIG. 4  shows that in assembly of the cable management apparatus  60 , the air shield member  67  is placed to the first end of the sliding member  65 , with the tab  675  received in the guiding slot  654  and the pin  676  latched in the latching hole  655 . The air shield member  67  is inserted in the receiving slot  625  from the second end of the frame  62 . The guiding bars  653  and two opposite ends of the handle  672  are slidably engaged with inner surfaces of the flanges  623 . The latching blocks  6213  are received in the guiding slot  654  of the sliding member  65 , and the tongue  658  aligns with the latching blocks  6213 . The guiding portion  6583  is slidably abutted against the guiding surface  6215  of each latching block  6213 , deforming the extending portion  6582 , until the latching portion  6585  moves across the latching block  6213 . The extending portion  6582  is restored to bias the latching portion  6585  to latch with the corresponding latching block  6213 . A combination of the air shield member  67  and the sliding member  65  is slid in the receiving slot  625 , until the handle  672  is stopped by the stopping pieces  6231 . Therefore, the through hole  6212  of the frame  62  is covered through the sliding member  65  and the air shield member  67 . 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show that in use, the cable management apparatus  60  is placed on a rear end of the rack  20 , with the mounting plate  621  and the mounting holes  626  of the frame  62  aligning with the space  70  and the screw holes  22  of the rack  20 , respectively. Two screws extend through the mounting holes  626 , to be screwed in the screw holes  22 . Therefore, the mounting plate  621 , the sliding member  65 , and the brush  67  cover the space  70  of the rack  20 . The operation portion  657  is pulled outward, deforming the extending portion  6582 , until the latching portion  6585  is detached from the corresponding latching block  6213 . The sliding member  65  is slid away from the stopping pieces  6231 , exposing a part of the through hole  6212 . First ends of a plurality of cables  80  are connected to the first connectors  32  of the switch  30 , and second ends of the cables  80  extend through the through hole  6212  and the space  70  to be connected to the second connectors of the server modules  50 . The operation portion  657  is operated, the brush portion  674  is moved to cover the through hole  6212 , and the cables  80  are positioned in the brush portion  674 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.