Patent Publication Number: US-2015077930-A1

Title: Data processing rack unit

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP/2012/064119, filed May 31, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Technology disclosed herein relates to a data processing rack unit. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Known data processing rack units include a rack with plural columns, and with data processing devices that are mounted by insertion into the rack from a front face side of the rack. Such data processing rack units include a data processing rack unit in which a water pipe, through which cooling water flows, is formed at a column positioned at a back face side out of the plural columns of the rack. Cooling water supplied through the water pipe cools an internal portion of the data processing device. 
     RELATED PATENT DOCUMENTS 
     Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-374086 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of the embodiments, a data processing rack unit includes: a rack including plural columns; a data processing device that is mounted by insertion into the rack from one side in a horizontal direction; a cable leading out from the data processing device to an opposite side from the one side; a coupling member that is connected to a water pipe that is formed at a column positioned on the one side out of the plurality of columns and through which cooling water flows, and that extends toward the one side; a cooling water pipe that is provided at the data processing device and cools an internal portion of the data processing device; and a coupled-to member that is provided at a location on the one side of the data processing device, that is connected to the cooling water pipe, that extends toward the opposite side from the one side, and that is coupled to the coupling member accompanying insertion of the data processing device into the rack. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a data processing rack unit. 
         FIG. 2  is a horizontal cross-section illustrating a data processing rack unit. 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating relevant portions of a data processing rack unit. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view illustrating relevant portions of a data processing rack unit. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged horizontal cross-section illustrating relevant portions of a data processing rack unit. 
         FIG. 6  is an explanatory drawing to explain how a coupling member and a coupled-to member couple together. 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory drawing to explain how a coupled state of a coupling member and a coupled-to member is released. 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory drawing to explain a cooling water circulation system in a data processing rack unit and cooling water supply device. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Explanation follows regarding an exemplary embodiment of technology disclosed herein. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a data processing rack unit  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a rack  12 , plural data processing devices  14 , and plural data processing devices  15 . 
     The rack  12  includes plural columns  16 A to  16 D, a top panel  18 , and a bottom frame  20 . The plural columns  16 A to  16 D are disposed at positions corresponding to four corner portions of the data processing devices  14 ,  15 . The top panel  18  is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view, and has a larger external profile than the data processing devices  14 ,  15 . 
     The rack  12  is provided with plural outer columns  22 A to  22 D at the outside of the plural columns  16 A to  16 D (see also  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 ). The plural outer columns  22 A to  22 D are disposed at positions corresponding to the four corner portions of the top panel  18 . The plural outer columns  22 A to  22 D and the plural columns  16 A to  16 D are respectively joined to the top panel  18  and the bottom frame  20 . The outer column  22 A and the outer column  22 C, and the outer column  22 B and the outer column  22 D, are also respectively coupled together by side frames  23  extending along the front-rear direction of the rack  12 . 
     The plural data processing devices  14  illustrated in  FIG. 1  have substantially the same external profile as each other. The plural data processing devices  14  are stacked in the height direction of the rack  12 . Each of the data processing devices  14  is mounted into the rack  12  by insertion from a front face side (arrow FR side) of the rack  12 . Cables  24  lead out from back faces of each of the data processing devices  14  to a back face side (arrow RR side) of the rack  12 . The plural data processing devices  14  are connected to an external device through the cables  24 . The front face side of the rack  12  is an example of one side in a horizontal direction, and the back face side of the rack  12  is an example of an opposite side from the one side described above. 
     Note that, as described later, the plural data processing devices  14  are water-cooled, and the plural data processing devices  15  are air-cooled. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , out of the plural columns  16 A to  16 D, the columns  16 A,  16 B positioned on the front face side of the rack  12  are respectively formed with water pipes  26 , through which cooling water flows. The water pipes  26  are formed with circular cross-section profiles, and extend in the height direction of the rack  12 , forming main body portions of the columns  16 A,  16 B. The overall columns  16 A,  16 B, including the water pipes  26 , are formed by extrusion molding, and have a uniform cross-section along the length direction. The columns  16 A,  16 B are respectively disposed sideways of the data processing devices  14 . 
     The rack  12  and the data processing devices  14  are formed with substantially left-right symmetry as viewed from the front. Accordingly, in the present exemplary embodiment, explanation is chiefly given regarding configuration of the right hand side half, with explanation regarding configuration of the left hand side half omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the column  16 A including the water pipe  26  is formed with an extension portion  28  and a bent portion  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the extension portion  28  extends from a location of the column  16 A on the opposite side to the side of the data processing devices  14  (the column  16 A outside, the arrow OUT side) toward the front face side of the rack  12 . The bent portion  30  bends around from a leading end portion of the extension portion  28  towards a side of the data processing devices  14  (the rack  12  inside, the opposite side to the arrow OUT side). As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a leading end portion of the bent portion  30  is formed with plural mounting holes  32  in a row at intervals in the height direction of the rack  12 . Each of the mounting holes  32  is formed in a rectangular shape as viewed from the front. 
     A location on the rack  12  front face side of each of the data processing devices  14  is formed with a flange  34  that projects out sideways of the data processing device  14  (the arrow OUT side), and faces the bent portion  30 . An attachment screw  36  is provided passing through the flange  34 . A cage nut  38  is attached to a given mounting hole  32  out of the plural mounting holes  32 , and the flange  34  is fixed to the bent portion  30  by screwing the attachment screw  36  into the cage nut  38 . The placement of each of the data processing devices  14  in the height direction of the rack  12  is adjusted by selectively attaching the cage nuts  38  to given mounting holes  32  out of the plural mounting holes  32 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , coupling members  40  are connected to the water pipe  26 . Each coupling member  40  extends toward the front face side of the rack  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the coupling member  40  includes a through path  42  passing through along the axial direction. The through path  42  is in communication with a water path  46  inside the water pipe  26  through a connection hole  44  formed in an outer wall portion of the water pipe  26 . The bent portion  30  is formed with through holes  48  at positions corresponding to the coupling members  40 , with leading end portions  40 A of the coupling members  40  housed inside the respective through holes  48 . An end face  40 A 1  of the leading end portion  40 A of each coupling member  40  is formed in the same plane as a front face  30 A of the bent portion  30 . 
     Each of the data processing devices  14  is provided with cooling water pipes  50  for cooling the inside of the data processing device  14 . The cooling water pipes  50  are preferably made from copper, which has high thermal conductivity, however they may also be made from resin. Each cooling water pipe  50  is formed with a U-shaped portion  52  that is bent around into a U-shape. 
     The U-shaped portion  52  is disposed further to the front face side of the rack  12  than the data processing device  14  (flange  34 ), and is exposed to the outside of the data processing device  14 . One end of the U-shaped portion  52  is connected to a cooling portion  54  of the cooling water pipe  50 , housed inside the data processing device  14 . The other end of the U-shaped portion  52  is connected to a coupled-to member  56 . The U-shaped portion  52 , the flange  34 , and a front face  14 A of the data processing device  14  are covered by a front cover  57  (see  FIG. 3 ) from the front face side of the rack  12 . 
     The coupled-to member  56  is provided at the flange  34  as an example of a location on the rack  12  front face side of the data processing device  14 . The coupled-to member  56  extends toward the opposite side to the rack  12  front face side, and is coupled to the coupling member  40  accompanying insertion of the data processing device  14  into the rack  12 . More specifically, the coupled-to member  56  is coupled to the coupling member  40  in an inserted state inside the coupling member  40 . The coupled-to member  56  and the cooling water pipe  50  are formed with a flow path, not illustrated in the drawings, that is in communication with the water path  46  through the through path  42  described above. 
     A ring shaped fixing member  58  (sleeve) is mounted to a leading end outer peripheral portion of the coupling member  40 . The fixing member  58  is disposed between the water pipe  26  and the bent portion  30 , and is capable of movement along the axial direction of the coupling member  40 . The fixing member  58  is biased toward the rack  12  front face side by a resilient member such as a spring, not illustrated in the drawings. A ridge shaped engagement portion  60  is formed around the circumferential direction of an outer peripheral portion of the coupled-to member  56 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the fixing member  58  and the engagement portion  60  engage with each other in a state in which the fixing member  58  is positioned toward the front face side (arrow FR side) of the rack  12 , thereby fixing together the coupling member  40  and the coupled-to member  56 . Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the engaged state of the fixing member  58  and the engagement portion  60 , and the fixed state of the coupling member  40  and the coupled-to member  56 , are released in a state in which the fixing member  58  is positioned toward the opposite side to the front face side of the rack  12 . Note that the coupling member  40  is provided with a check valve mechanism, not illustrated in the drawings, and the through path  42  is closed off by the check valve mechanism in a state in which the coupling member  40  is not coupled to the coupled-to member  56 . 
     The fixing member  58  is further provided with an ejector  62  that extends toward the front face side of the rack  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the ejector  62  passes through the bent portion  30  and projects out toward further toward the front face side of the rack  12  than the bent portion  30 . The ejector  62  is disposed alongside the coupling member  40  in a lateral width direction of the rack  12 . Pushing the ejector  62  toward the opposite side to the front face side of the rack  12  moves the fixing member  58 , releasing the engagement between the fixing member  58  and the engagement portion  60 . 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the bent portion  30  is formed with guide holes  64 . The guide holes  64  pass through the bent portion  30  in the plate thickness direction. The flange  34  is moreover provided with guide pins  66  extending toward the opposite side to the front face side of the rack  12 . The guide holes  64  are an example of a guide portion, and the guide pins  66  are an example of a guided portion. The guide holes  64  and the guide pins  66  are provided at both the upper side and lower side of the coupling member  40  and the coupled-to member  56  respectively. A pair of the guide pins  66  are inserted into the respective guide holes  64  and guided by the guide holes  64  accompanying insertion of the data processing device  14  into the rack  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a pair of connection pipes  68 A,  68 B are provided at a lower portion of the rack  12 . One of the connection pipes  68 A is connected to a lower portion of the one water pipe  26  of the column  16 A illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and the other of the connection pipes  68 B is connected to a lower portion of the other water pipe  26  of the column  16 B illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Welding, for example, is employed for the connection between the pair of connection pipes  68 A,  68 B and the respective water pipes  26 . Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a leading end portion of the one connection pipe  68 A configures a water inlet  70 A, and a leading end portion of the other connection pipe  68 B configures a water outlet  70 B. 
     The pair of connection pipes  68 A,  68 B extend out toward the back face side (arrow RR side) of the rack  12  and are connected through members including the connection hoses  74 A,  74 B to a cooling water supply device  72  (see  FIG. 8 ) that supplies cooling water. The pair of connection pipes  68 A,  68 B are disposed below the data processing device  14  that is bottommost out of the plural data processing devices  14 . Note that the connection hoses  74 A,  74 B connected to the connection pipes  68 A,  68 B may lead out to the outside of the rack  12  from the back face of the rack  12 , or may lead out to the outside of the rack  12  from a bottom face of the rack  12 . 
     When cooling water is conveyed from the cooling water supply device  72  illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the cooling water is supplied to one cooling water pipe  50  through the one connection pipe  68 A, the water pipe  26  of the one column  16 A, and the coupling member  40  and coupled-to member  56  connected to the water pipe  26 . Supplying the cooling water to the cooling water pipe  50  supplies cooling water to a cooling board  76  provided inside the data processing device  14 , thereby cooling a heat generating member  78  that is disposed in close proximity to the cooling board  76 . 
     The cooling water that has passed through the inside of the data processing device  14  is returned to the cooling water supply device  72  through the coupled-to member  56  and coupling member  40  connected to the other cooling water pipe  50 , the water pipe  26  of the other column  16 B, and the other connection pipe  68 B. The above operation is performed non-stop, cooling the heat generating member  78  continuously. 
     Explanation follows regarding operation and advantageous effects of the present exemplary embodiment. 
     As described in detail above, the rack  12  includes the water pipes  26  through which cooling water flows, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The water pipes  26  are formed at the columns  16 A,  16 B positioned on the front face side of the rack  12  (on the opposite side to the side provided with the cables  24 ) out of the plural columns  16 A to  16 D. Placement space for the water pipes  26 , the coupling members  40 , and the coupled-to members  56  can accordingly be simply secured, since it is possible to prevent the water pipes  26 , the coupling members  40  and the coupled-to members  56  from interfering with the cables  24 . A reduction in size of the rack  12  can accordingly be achieved. 
     Moreover, as illustrated in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , the coupling member  40  extends from the water pipe  26  toward the front face side (arrow FR side) of the rack  12 , and the coupled-to member  56  extends from the location on the rack  12  front face side of the data processing device  14  toward the opposite side to the front face side of the rack  12 . The coupling member  40  and the coupled-to member  56  are coupled together accompanying insertion of the data processing device  14  into the rack  12 . Accordingly, the coupling member  40  and the coupled-to member  56  have a simple coupling operation, since it is sufficient to insert the data processing device  14  into the rack  12  in order to couple together the coupling member  40  and the coupled-to member  56 . The data processing rack unit  10  can accordingly be made user-friendly (for example, in terms of ease of operation when performing maintenance or adding data processing devices  14 ). 
     The location on the rack  12  front face side of the data processing device  14  is formed with the respective flanges  34  that project out sideways of the data processing device  14  and are fixed to the columns  16 A,  16 B. The coupled-to members  56  are provided at the flanges  34 . A member to support the coupled-to members  56  is thereby rendered unnecessary, enabling the structure to be simplified. 
     The flanges  34  face the bent portions  30  and are fixed to the bent portions  30 . The flanges  34  can accordingly be easily fixed to the bent portions  30 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the bent portions  30  are formed with the through holes  48  at positions corresponding to the coupling members  40 . The leading end portions  40 A of the coupling members  40  are housed inside the through holes  48 . The leading end portions  40 A of the coupling members  40  can thus be protected by peripheral edge portions of the through holes  48 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the bent portions  30  are formed with the guide holes  64 , and the flanges  34  are provided with the guide pins  66  that extend toward the opposite side to the front face side of the rack  12 . When inserting the data processing device  14  into the rack  12 , the guide pins  66  are guided by the guide holes  64  accompanying this insertion. Guiding the guide pins  66  with the guide holes  64  enables positioning of the coupling members  40  and the coupled-to members  56  to be performed, thereby enabling coupling of the coupling members  40  and the coupled-to members  56  to be facilitated. 
     Specifically, the guide holes  64  and the guide pins  66  are respectively provided at both the upper side and lower side of the coupling member  40  and the coupled-to member  56 . This enables more precise positioning of the coupling members  40  and the coupled-to members  56 , thereby enabling coupling of the coupling members  40  and the coupled-to members  56  to be made even easier. 
     The coupling member  40  is provided with the fixing member  58  that fixes and releases the fixing between the coupling member  40  and the coupled-to member  56 . The ejector  62  extends from the fixing member  58  toward the front face side of the rack  12 . Pushing the ejector  62  in toward the opposite side to the front face side of the rack  12  moves the fixing member  58  and releases the engagement between the fixing member  58  and the engagement portion  60 . Since a pulling out direction of the coupled-to member  56  from the coupling member  40  (the arrow FR direction) is set as the opposite direction to the pushing in direction of the ejector  62 , good ease of operation can be achieved when pulling the coupled-to member  56  out after pushing the ejector  62  in. 
     Moreover, the ejector  62  is disposed alongside the coupling member  40  in the lateral width direction of the rack  12 . Good ease of operation can accordingly be achieved for the ejector  62  when pulling the coupled-to member  56  out from the coupling member  40  (when pulling the flange  34  away from the bent portion  30 ). 
     The fixing member  58  is disposed between the water pipe  26  and the bent portion  30 . Since the fixing member  58  can be protected by the water pipe  26  and the bent portion  30 , unintentional movement of the fixing member  58  to a fixing release position (a position toward the opposite side to the front face side of the rack  12 ) can be suppressed. The ejector  62  moreover passes through the bent portion  30 , and projects out further toward the front face side of the rack  12  than the bent portion  30 . Good ease of operation can accordingly be secured for the ejector  62 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the respective water pipes  26  form the main body portions of the columns  16 A,  16 B, such that the rigidity of the respective columns  16 A,  16 B can be increased by the water pipes  26 . 
     The columns  16 A,  16 B are respectively formed with the extension portion  28  that extends toward the front face side of the rack  12 , and the bent portion  30  that is bent round from the leading end portion of the extension portion  28 , as well as the water pipe  26 . The rigidity of the respective columns  16 A,  16 B can accordingly be further increased, since the extension portion  28  and the bent portion  30  form an L-shape in plan view. 
     The connection pipes  68 A,  68 B that are connected to the cooling water supply device  72  (see  FIG. 8 ) extend out toward the back face side of the rack  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The connection hoses  74 A,  74 B connected to the connection pipes  68 A,  68 B can accordingly be prevented from interfering with the water pipes  26 , the coupling members  40 , and the coupled-to members  56 . 
     The connection pipes  68 A,  68 B are disposed below the bottommost of the plural data processing devices  14 , namely in a dead space of the rack  12 . The dead space of the rack  12  can accordingly be effectively used, enabling a reduction in size of the rack  12  (in particular, the height of the rack  12  can be suppressed). 
     The overall columns  16 A,  16 B are formed by extrusion molding, enabling a reduction in manufacturing costs of the columns  16 A,  16 B. 
     Explanation follows regarding modified examples of the present exemplary embodiment. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the data processing devices  14  are mounted by insertion into the rack  12  from the front face side of the rack  12 , however the data processing devices  14  may be mounted by insertion into the rack  12  from another side, as an example of one side in the horizontal direction. 
     The guide holes  64  and the guide pins  66  are employed as an example of a guide portion and a guided portion, however other structures may also be employed. 
     The columns  16 A,  16 B include the extension portion  28  and the bent portion  30  as well as the water pipe  26 , however the columns  16 A,  16 B may be formed with another cross-section profile. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the extension portion  28  extends toward the front face side of the rack  12  from a location on the opposite side of the column  16 A to the side of the data processing devices  14  (the outside of the column  16 A, the arrow OUT side). However, the extension portion  28  may extend toward the front face side of the rack  12  from a location on the data processing device  14  side of the column  16 A (the inside of the column  16 A, the opposite side to the arrow OUT side). In such a configuration, the bent portion  30  may bend around from the leading end portion of the extension portion  28  toward the opposite side to the data processing device  14  side (the outside of the rack  12 , the arrow OUT side). 
     One aspect of technology disclosed herein has been described above, however the technology disclosed in the present application is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications may be implemented within a range not departing from the spirit of the technology disclosed herein. 
     The technology disclosed herein enables a reduction in the size of a rack, and enables improved user-friendliness in a data processing rack unit. 
     All cited documents, patent applications and technical standards mentioned in the present specification are incorporated by reference in the present specification to the same extent as if the individual cited documents, patent applications and technical standards were specifically and individually incorporated by reference in the present specification. 
     All examples and conditional language provided herein are intended for the pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the art, and are not to be construed as limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that the various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.