Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/371,727, filed Feb. 13, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to shelving systems and equipment storage management and more particularly to a structurally integrated building-block shelf frame system for storing electronic and non-electronic equipment that can be mechanically interconnected with minimal labor content to assemble the resultant structure without the requirement of equipment rack cabinets. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Datacenters are designed and constructed to optimize power and cooling requirements for a plurality of electric components such as power supplies, memory units, network appliances and servers. Since their introduction into datacenters, most of these electric devices have been adapted to fit into rack mountable appliance chassis. Rack mountable electric appliance chassis are typically constructed of steel sheet metal which adds considerable weight and mass to the overall electric component. In datacenters, the steel appliance chassis housing the electric components are then mounted into standardized equipment racks. 
     In general, equipment racks are produced in standard sizes such as “full height” that are approximately six feet in height, or “half high” racks that are approximately three feet in height. The equipment racks are designed to receive electronic appliances of variable height based upon a standardized scale referred to as the “Rack Unit”, “RU” or “U”, a unit of measure equal to 1.75 inches (44.45 mm). Thus, a standard full height 42 U equipment rack could store forty-two 1 U, or twenty-one 2 U electronic component appliance chassis. The 19″ rack mounting fixture includes two parallel metal strips (referred to as “posts” or “panel mounts”) standing vertically. The posts are 0.625 inches (15.88 mm) wide, and separated by a distance of 17.75 inches (450.85 mm) for the mounting of the electronic equipment chassis, thus giving an overall rack width of 19 inches (482.6 mm) and effectively limiting the maximum width of equipment to 17.75″ (450.85 mm) with a minimum height of 1 U or 1.75 inches (44.45 mm). 
     Known initially as “relay racks,” equipment racks were adapted by the telecommunications and computer industry from 19 inch signaling equipment racks standardized originally by the railroad industry in the early 20th century. Equipment racks initially included two posts and were, therefore, commonly known as “two-post racks.” To accommodate larger electronic components, two sets of racks were implemented to support the front and back of larger electronic equipment and were known as “four-post racks.” Ultimately, four-post equipment racks were integrated into steel cabinets that have a standardized 24″ (610 mm) wide footprint, and are typically 800 mm or 1000 mm in depth. The industry standard four-post racks commonly found in datacenters today are enclosed in a steel cabinet, and positioned in rows on 24-inch centers. A difficulty of such a cabinet system is that the cabinet is typically shipped in assembled form with a significant cost of shipping at a fixed standard height to fit through the average door. This legacy equipment rack design effectively limits horizontal and vertical space utilization in the datacenter. It requires each 17.75 inch wide stack of equipment appliance chassis to occupy 24 inches of horizontal floor space, and limits vertical space utilization to the height of the equipment rack installed, not the ceiling height, or cooling capabilities of the datacenter. 
     Many other difficulties also exist between the independent design requirements of equipment chassis and rack cabinet architectures. Although the typical steel box construction of each rack mountable equipment chassis is very rigid and crush resistant, once mounted into the equipment rack, the mass of the chassis becomes surplus weight that must be supported by the equipment rack. The steel electronic component chassis is not intended to add any additional structural integrity to the equipment rack. Inversely, due to the unknown variable mass of rack-mountable electronic equipment that may be installed into an equipment rack, equipment rack cabinets are engineered to be structurally independent monolithic structures capable of withstanding a maximum potential payload at a fixed height. These independent design approaches further cause excessive material use and unnecessarily add to overall structural mass further impacting datacenter efficiency and utilization. 
     Though much has changed in computing and telecommunications equipment over the past decades, there has been relatively little change in equipment rack design to better address the densities and efficiencies of modern electronic components and how they are utilized. This not only affects the size, but also the total mass of existing rack cabinet systems, significantly impacting material usage and floor space utilization. As datacenters adopt virtualization and cloud computing to achieve higher levels of efficiencies utilizing large arrays of homogeneous power-efficient equipment, the current art of rack and chassis-based electronic equipment significantly limits more efficient datacenter designs as well as the utilization of existing facilities. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to a first aspect, a modular storage system, comprising a plurality of modules coupled together, is provided. Each module includes a top panel and a bottom panel, each of the top panel and bottom panel comprising first and second opposed edges. Each of first and second side members includes: a top edge and a bottom edge, the top edges of the first and second side members being attached to the opposed edges of the top panel, and the bottom edges of the first and second side members being attached to the opposed edges of the bottom panel; and a longitudinal attachment feature running along a length of the side member along a longitudinal axis of the side member, longitudinal attachment features of first and second modules enabling the coupling together of the first and second modules. 
     In some embodiments, the longitudinal attachment feature comprises a channel formed in at least one of the first and second side members. In some embodiments, the channel has a trapezoidal shape in cross-section. In some embodiments, each side member is an extrusion. In some embodiments, for each of the first and second side members, cross-sections taken in parallel planes orthogonal to the longitudinal axis are the same along the entire length of the longitudinal attachment feature. 
     In some embodiments, for each of the first and second side members, cross-sections taken in parallel planes orthogonal to the longitudinal axis are the same along the entire length of the longitudinal attachment feature. 
     In some embodiments, each module stores electronic equipment. In some embodiments, the electronic equipment comprises one or more of computer equipment, power supply equipment and cooling equipment. 
     In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one submodule for installation in at least one of the modules, the submodule comprising electronic equipment mounted in the submodule, the submodule enhancing mechanical characteristics of the modular storage system when installed in the one of the modules. 
     In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one submodule for installation in at least one of the modules, the submodule comprising: a mounting surface; a mounting bracket mounted on the mounting surface; at least one device mounted to the mounting bracket; and at least one anti-vibration bobbin between the mounting bracket and the mounting surface. In some embodiments, the mounting surface defines at least one aperture through the mounting surface; and the at least one device is mounted to the mounting bracket such that at least a portion of the device penetrates the at least one aperture. In some embodiments, the at least one device is a fan. 
     In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one submodule for installation in at least one of the modules, the submodule comprising: a mounting surface, the mounting surface defining at least one aperture through the mounting surface; a mounting bracket mounted on the mounting surface; and at least one device mounted to the mounting bracket such that at least a portion of the device penetrates the at least one aperture. In some embodiments, the at least one device is a fan. 
     In some embodiments, the system further comprises at least one electronic bus rail for installation in at least one of the modules, the electronic bus rail comprising at least one electrical connection element for connecting to electronic equipment, the electronic bus rail enhancing mechanical characteristics of the modular storage system when installed in the one of the modules. In some embodiments, the at least one electrical connection element comprises an electrical connector, the electrical connector being connectable to a submodule installed in at least one of the modules, the submodule comprising electronic equipment mounted in the submodule. 
     In some embodiments, the system further comprises an anchor bracket secured to at least one of the first and second side members for securing the module to a supporting surface. In some embodiments, the supporting surface is below the module. 
     In some embodiments, the system further comprises a side bracket comprising a mating element which mates with the longitudinal attachment feature of at least one of the side members to attach the side bracket to the at least one side member, the side bracket being adapted to permit mounting of the module at the at least one side member. 
     According to another aspect, a module for a modular storage system is provided. The module includes: a top panel and a bottom panel, each of the top panel and bottom panel comprising first and second opposed edges; and first and second side members. Each of the first and second side members includes: a top edge and a bottom edge, the top edges of the first and second side members being attached to the opposed edges of the top panel, and the bottom edges of the first and second side members being attached to the opposed edges of the bottom panel; and a longitudinal attachment feature running along a length of the side member along a longitudinal axis of the side member, longitudinal attachment features of first and second modules enabling coupling together of the first and second modules. 
     In some embodiments, the longitudinal attachment feature comprises a channel formed in at least one of the first and second side members. In some embodiments, the channel has a trapezoidal shape in cross-section. In some embodiments, each side member is an extrusion. In some embodiments, for each of the first and second side members, cross-sections taken in parallel planes orthogonal to the longitudinal axis are the same along the entire length of the longitudinal attachment feature. 
     In some embodiments, each module stores electronic equipment. In some embodiments, the electronic equipment comprises one or more of computer equipment, power supply equipment and cooling equipment. 
     In some embodiments, the module further comprises at least one submodule for installation in at least one of the modules, the submodule comprising electronic equipment mounted in the submodule, the submodule enhancing mechanical characteristics of the modular storage system when installed in the one of the modules. 
     In some embodiments, the module further comprises at least one submodule comprising: a mounting surface; a mounting bracket mounted on the mounting surface; at least one device mounted to the mounting bracket; and at least one anti-vibration bobbin between the mounting bracket and the mounting surface. In some embodiments, the mounting surface defines at least one aperture through the mounting surface, and the at least one device is mounted to the mounting bracket such that at least a portion of the device penetrates the at least one aperture. In some embodiments, the at least one device is a fan. 
     In some embodiments, the module further comprises at least one submodule comprising: a mounting surface, the mounting surface defining at least one aperture through the mounting surface; a mounting bracket mounted on the mounting surface; and at least one device mounted to the mounting bracket such that at least a portion of the device penetrates the at least one aperture. In some embodiments, the module further comprises at least one submodule the at least one device is a fan. 
     In some embodiments, the module further comprises at least one electronic bus rail for installation in at least one of the modules, the electronic bus rail comprising at least one electrical connection element for connecting to electronic equipment, the electronic bus rail enhancing mechanical characteristics of the modular storage system when installed in the one of the modules. 
     In some embodiments, the at least one electrical connection element comprises an electrical connector, the electrical connector being connectable to a submodule installed in at least one of the modules, the submodule comprising electronic equipment mounted in the submodule. 
     In some embodiments, the module further comprises an anchor bracket secured to at least one of the first and second side members for securing the module to a supporting surface. In some embodiments, the supporting surface is below the module. 
     In some embodiments, the module further comprises a side bracket comprising a mating element which mates with the longitudinal attachment feature of at least one of the side members to attach the side bracket to the at least one side member, the side bracket being adapted to permit mounting of the module at the at least one side member. 
     According to another aspect, a modular storage method, comprising coupling a plurality of modules together, is provided. The coupling comprises: providing a top panel and a bottom panel, each of the top panel and bottom panel comprising first and second opposed edges; and providing first and second side members, each of the first and second side members comprising a top edge and a bottom edge; attaching the top edges of the first and second side members to the opposed edges of the top panel, and attaching the bottom edges of the first and second side members to the opposed edges of the bottom panel, and providing a longitudinal attachment feature running along a length of the side member along a longitudinal axis of the side member, longitudinal attachment features of first and second modules of the plurality of modules enabling the coupling together of the first and second modules. 
     In some embodiments, providing the first and second side members comprises performing an extrusion process. 
     In some embodiments, the longitudinal attachment feature comprises a channel formed in at least one of the first and second side members. In some embodiments, the channel has a trapezoidal shape in cross-section. 
     In some embodiments, each module stores electronic equipment. In some embodiments, the electronic equipment comprises one or more of computer equipment, power supply equipment and cooling equipment. 
     According to another aspect, a method of making a module for a modular storage system is provided. The method comprises: providing a top panel and a bottom panel, each of the top panel and bottom panel comprising first and second opposed edges; providing first and second side members, each of the first and second side members comprising a top edge and a bottom edge; attaching the top edges of the first and second side members to the opposed edges of the top panel, and attaching the bottom edges of the first and second side members to the opposed edges of the bottom panel; and providing a longitudinal attachment feature running along a length of the side member along a longitudinal axis of the side member, longitudinal attachment features of first and second modules enabling the coupling together of the first and second modules. 
     In some embodiments, providing the first and second side members comprises performing an extrusion process. 
     In some embodiments, the longitudinal attachment feature comprises a channel formed in at least one of the first and second side members. In some embodiments, the channel has a trapezoidal shape in cross-section. 
     In some embodiments, each module stores electronic equipment. In some embodiments, the electronic equipment comprises one or more of computer equipment, power supply equipment and cooling equipment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent from the more particular description of preferred aspects, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  contain a perspective view and an exploded perspective view, respectively, of one shelf frame module enclosure, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  contain an exploded cross-sectional view, a partially exploded cross-sectional view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a coupling and alignment system of side members and top and bottom members, in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C  contain perspective views of coupling variations of a plurality of shelf frame modules in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B  contain schematic cross-sectional views illustrating variations of side member coupling configurations in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  contain a schematic partially exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view, respectively, of one shelf frame module, one optional equipment subframe node and optional fitments front loaded in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7C  contains a detailed view of the circled region illustrated in  FIG. 7B , according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  contain a schematic partially exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view, respectively, of one shelf frame module, one optional equipment subframe node and optional fitments rear loaded in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8C  contains a detailed view of the circled region illustrated in  FIG. 8B , according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  contain schematic partially exploded perspective views of a reduced height ruggedized mounting configuration for coupling sub-components, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9C  contains a schematic perspective assembled view of the reduced height ruggedized mounting configuration for coupling sub-components illustrated in  FIGS. 9A and 9B , in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9D  is a schematic perspective view of an anti-vibration bobbin used in the reduced height ruggedized mounting configuration for coupling sub-components illustrated in  FIGS. 9A-9C , in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present description relates to shelving systems and equipment storage management and more particularly to a structurally integrated building-block shelf frame system for storing electronic and non-electronic equipment subframes that can be mechanically interconnected with minimal labor content to assemble the resultant structure without the requirement of equipment racks or equipment rack cabinets. The present description is given to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and is provided in the context of a patent application and its requirements. Various modifications to the embodiments described herein and the generic principles and features described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. For instance, although a finite number of shelf frame structure configurations are illustrated in the embodiments, it is clear that any number or even one shelf frame unit could be utilized. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, the modular building-block shelf frame system comprises extruded side members designed to withstand and transfer the vertical load of a plurality of stacked shelf frame modules. Extruded side members include a plurality of symmetrical and non-symmetrical geometric mating features to facilitate module assembly and alignment, the incremental stacking of a plurality of shelf frame modules, and the interlocking and self-alignment of a plurality of shelf frame modules without the need for additional tooling. A symmetrical top and bottom shelf member includes features to facilitate initial shelf frame module assembly alignment with side members, the alignment of electronic or non-electronic equipment subframes in the shelf frame module, and a system for securing optional equipment subframes to the shelf frame module that efficiently adds additional structural integrity to the overall shelf frame system. An optional electronic equipment subframe system includes features to facilitate securing equipment subframes to the top and bottom members and also provides additional structural integrity to the shelf frame module system. The system also provides ruggedized mounting of standard 1 U electronic components in less than 1.75″ (44.5 mm) on an optional electronic equipment subframe. The system also provides electrical connectivity to a plurality of optional equipment subframes in an efficient manner that also provides additional structural integrity to the shelf frame module system. 
     The resultant structurally integrated building-block shelf frame module can be optionally populated with electronic or non-electronic equipment subframe modules, then individually shipped to a location and stacked to an optimal height and density for a given facility without the use of equipment racks, or can be optionally configured for mounting into legacy equipment racks. 
     An equipment storage system can be constructed incrementally using structurally integrated shelf frame modules. Each module is adapted to couple to another module side-to-side on plane, or side-to-side on a staggered plane to form a plurality of mated module columns, or to additional side members to form an individual column, or to mounting brackets to enable mounting into standard equipment racks. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a perspective view and an exploded perspective view, respectively, of one shelf frame module  100 , in accordance with an embodiment. As shown, two extruded side members  110  are coupled perpendicularly to a top and bottom member  120  with a plurality of self-tapping screws  130  to form shelf frame module  100 . Due to the symmetrical design of the side members  110 , both side members utilize one common part in the present embodiment. Similarly, due to the symmetrical design of the top and bottom members  120 , both top and bottom members utilize one common part in the present embodiment. Therefore, side members  110  and top and bottom members  120  are economical to manufacture since they represent singular elements needed to implement both side members, and both top and bottom members, respectively. For purposes of illustration, the shelf frame module  100  has a front  100   a  and back  100   b . Due to the symmetrical design of the side members  110  and the top and bottom members  120 , the front  100   a  and back  100   b  are identical in the resultant assembly  100 . 
     While the height, width and depth of shelf frame module  100  is largely a design choice, in some particular embodiments, the height Y of each shelf frame module  100  is 4 Us high (7 inches or approximately 178 mm), the width X is 17.75 inches wide (approximately 450 mm, leaving an internal usable shelf width of approximately 420 mm), and a depth Z of 900 mm as illustrated in the present embodiment to facilitate optional mounting in 19″ standard equipment racks. One skilled in the art could readily deduce that proportionate symmetrical adjustments could be made in the design of the extrusion profile of side member  110  to accommodate other heights. One skilled in the art could also readily deduce that adjustments could be made in the design width X and depth Z of top and bottom member  120  to facilitate mounting into 23″ equipment racks, or to attain any other desired equipment shelf width or depth if mounting into legacy equipment racks is not a requirement. 
     To facilitate shelf frame module assembly, alignment and coupling of side members  110  with the top and bottom members  120 , each side members  110  has an alignment feature  140  integrated into the top and bottom edge of each extruded side member  110  to mate with a plurality of embossed countersink features  150  on top and bottom members  120  that are then secured with self-tapping screws  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B .  FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C  contain an exploded cross-sectional view, a partially exploded cross-sectional view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a coupling and alignment system of side members and top and bottom members, in accordance with an embodiment.  FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C  illustrate the system of alignment and assembly to facilitate coupling of side members  110  to top and bottom members  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2A , feature surface  241   a  and  241   b  located at each end of side member  110 , establish a parallel set of alignment planes with surface  242  on top and bottom member  120  creating a perpendicular orientation between top and bottom member  120  and side member  110 , thereby fixing the X and Y axis for assembly. Symmetrical surface features  245   a  and  245   b  on the end of each side member  110  are set at a predetermined distance and angle to one another to create a set of alignment planes that receive a plurality of conical emboss countersink alignment features  150 , located on top and bottom member  120 , thereby fixing the Z axis for final assembly as shown in  FIG. 2B . Insertion of a plurality of self-tapping screws  130  through emboss countersink features  150  into the self-tapping feature channel  210  secure the bottom and top member  120  to side members  110  into a fully aligned assembly as seen in  FIGS. 2C and 1B . 
       FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C  contain perspective views of coupling variations of a plurality of shelf frame modules in accordance with some embodiments. To facilitate shelf frame module  100  coupling and alignment with other shelf frame modules into single columns, as shown in  FIG. 3A , or a plurality of coupled columns, as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3C , each side member  110  has a pair of shelf frame alignment and coupling feature systems  160  integrated into the profile of each extruded side member  110  at a predetermined position, as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
       FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B  contain schematic cross-sectional views illustrating variations of side member coupling configurations in accordance with some embodiments.  FIGS. 4A and 4B  provide a detail front perspective view of side members  110  in a mated view, and an aligned and fully assembled view, respectively, to illustrate the shelf frame alignment and coupling feature systems  160  developed to facilitate the coupling of a plurality of shelf frame modules  100 . Shelf frame module coupling and alignment feature system  160  comprises a longitudinal attachment feature  160   a , which in some embodiments is a female trapezoid feature or channel  160   a , and a set of self-tapping coupling and alignment channels  160   c  as shown in  FIG. 4A . Two shelf frame alignment and coupling feature systems  160  can be mated with joint member  310  or  315  as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 3A . The mating illustrated in  FIG. 4A  results in a partially coupled and aligned set of female trapezoid features  160   a  and partially aligned pair of self-tapping coupling and alignment channels  160   c . The insertion of self-tapping screws  130  into each pair of self-tapping coupling and alignment channels  160   c  secures the joint member  310  or  315  with the set of female trapezoid features  160   a  in a fully aligned assembly as illustrated in  FIG. 4B . The predetermined positioning of self-tapping screws into self-tapping and alignment channels  160   c  is designed to accommodate accessory attachment such as wire management brackets and security doors (not shown), in addition to providing coupling and alignment for a plurality of shelf frame modules  100 . 
     In another embodiment, a female trapezoid feature  160   a  in side member  110  can be mated directly to a male gendered side member  111  containing a male gendered trapezoid feature  160   b  as shown in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B .  FIG. 5A  illustrates a female trapezoid feature  160   a  on side member  110  mated with partially coupled with a male trapezoid feature  160   b  on side member  111 . Referring to  FIG. 5B , the insertion of self-tapping screws  130  into each pair of self-tapping coupling and alignment channels  160   c  secures the side member  110  with male gendered side member  111  into a fully aligned assembly without the use of joint member  310  or  315 . 
     In another embodiment that further reduces part count, an asymmetrically gendered side member  112  is utilized as shown in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B . As illustrated in  FIG. 6A , a female trapezoid feature  160   a  of one dual-gender side member  112  is mated and partially coupled with a male trapezoid feature  160   b  of another dual-gender side member  112 . Referring to  FIG. 6B , the insertion of self-tapping screws  130  into each pair of self-tapping coupling and alignment features  160   c  secures side both side members  112  into the a fully aligned assembly with only the use of a singular side member part. 
     It should be noted that a trapezoidal shape is described above in connection with the coupling of the side members. The feature shape can be other than trapezoidal. That is, the mating shape between side members need not be trapezoidal. For example, in some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the mating features may be L-shaped, T-shape or any shape which allows for the interlocking mating described herein. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a partially exploded view of three shelf frame modules  100  comprised of side members  110  coupled with additional side members  115 , joint members  310  and  315 , and anchor brackets  320  secured with self-tapping screws  130  to form a single column  300   a .  FIG. 3B  illustrates a side-by-side two-column assembly  300   b  of six shelf frame modules  100  comprised of side member  110  coupled on a common plane to additional side members  110 , joint members  310  and anchor brackets  320  secured with self-tapping screws  130 .  FIG. 3C  illustrates a side-by-side three column assembly  300   c  of nine shelf frame modules  100  comprised of side members  110  coupled on a staggered plane with additional side members  110 , joint members  310  and anchor brackets  320  secured with self-tapping screws  130 . 
     Anchor bracket  320  can be attached to side members  110  at the bottom of any column for horizontal stability and floor anchoring, as shown in  FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C , or at the top of any column for overhead structural support anchoring attachment (not shown). A plurality of anchor holes  321  in anchor bracket  320  can be used for anchor bolts to secure a shelf module column to a floor, or for optional rolling casters (not shown) to provide mobility to shelf module column  300   a.    
       FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C  illustrate one shelf frame module  100  with optional fitments in an isometric exploded view, isometric assembled view, and an enlarged detailed view, respectively. The optional fitment embodiments include four rack adapter brackets  170 , an equipment subframe example node  180 , and a structurally integrated electronic bus rail  190 . For purposes of illustration, the shelf frame module  100  has a front  100   a  and back  100   b .  FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C  include the same illustrations of the shelf frame module  100  and fitments of  FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C , respectively, with the fitments being installed from the rear  100   b  of the shelf frame module  100 . 
     If a particular implementation requires installation of shelf frame module  100  into equipment racks, each shelf frame module  100  can be installed into standard equipment racks with optional rack adapter brackets  170  as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C . Rack adapter bracket  170  is designed to slide into longitudinal attachment feature  160   a , such as female trapezoid features or channels  160   a  in side member  110  to the depth required for any given equipment rack implementation as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B . To that end, the rack adapter bracket  170  may include a feature, such as a male trapezoidal feature  160   b  described above in connection with  FIGS. 5A and 6A , which mates with the features, such as the female trapezoidal features  160   a  described above in connection with  FIGS. 5A and 6A , in the side members  110 . The front rack adapter brackets  170  can then be secured to side member  110  with set screws  171  as show in  FIG. 8C , then mounted to an equipment rack through mount holes  172 . The rear rack adapter brackets  170  can then be installed from the rear and secured (as described above) and then mounted to the rear rails of an equipment rack for additional support. Optionally, the set of four rack adapter brackets  170  can be installed on the four rails of an equipment rack at a predetermined height, and then a shelf frame module  100  can be slid to the desired depth and secured with set screws  171 . 
     To facilitate optional equipment subframe node  180  insertion alignment in a shelf frame module  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , each top and bottom member  120  has a plurality of rows of alignment features  710  located at predetermined positions, as shown in  FIG. 7C . These rows of alignment feature  710  are placed by design symmetrically and equidistantly from one another to maintain the symmetry of top and bottom member  120 . To facilitate optional equipment coupling to shelf frame module  100 , each top and bottom member  120  also has a plurality of rows of embedded threaded fasteners  720  located at predetermined positions, as shown in  FIG. 7C . The rows of embedded threaded fasteners  720  are also placed by design symmetrically and equidistantly from one another to maintain the symmetry of top and bottom member  120 . The combined symmetry of alignment feature  710  and embedded threaded fasteners  720  enable a singular part to be utilized in production of top and bottom member  120 . 
     Each optional equipment subframe node  180  is designed to be structurally complementary to the shelf frame module  100 . As can be seen in  FIG. 8A , each equipment subframe node  180  can be formed in a C-shape from one contiguous piece of material with a vertical equipment mount surface  830  and a symmetrical top and bottom plate support surface  835  creating an open frame. By creating an open frame and eliminating one side surface, material usage is minimized, and the total width of the optional equipment subframe node  180  is reduced. Each end of the optional equipment subframe node  180  may include a symmetrical box rib feature  840  to add additional rigidity at each end of the subframe. The tab ends  850  of each end of the top and bottom have captive screws  855  installed for threaded structural fastening of the equipment subframe node  180  to embedded threaded fasteners  720  in the top and bottom plate  120 , as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7C . The structurally integrated symmetrical design of the equipment subframe node  180  with the shelf frame module  100  enables the equipment subframe node  180  to be installed in any orientation at a variety of depths while adding structural integrity to the overall shelf frame system. As an example, the complementary symmetrical design of frame module  100  and the equipment subframe node  180  enables the equipment subframe node  180  to be installed and structurally coupled in a shelf frame module  100  from front  100   a , or back  100   b  regardless of shelf frame module  100  orientation, as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 8A . Vertical equipment mount surface  830  can be utilized to mount a wide array of equipment types, as an example, printed circuit boards for compute intensive applications, or storage drives and controllers for storage intensive applications along with device sub components such as power supplies and cooling fans to meet the requirements of a given node. 
     The overall size and depth of the of each optional equipment subframe nodes  180  can be selected based on parameters of the shelf frame module  100  to accommodate any desired size. In the present particular exemplary embodiment, a width in the present preferred embodiment of 42 mm enables up to ten optional equipment frames to be installed. 
     A system for device mounting according to some embodiments accommodates the ruggedized mounting and coupling of existing 1 U (1.75 inches/44.5 mm) electronic device sub-components such as 1 U power supply units (not shown) and cooling fans  875 , in an optional equipment subframe node  180  designed with an equipment mounting clearance of less than 1.75 inch (44.5 mm), as shown in  FIGS. 7A, 8A and 9A-9C . 1 U device sub-components are typically designed to fit just within a 1 U equipment chassis and lack the additional oscillation clearances required for anti-vibration bobbins used to isolate a vibrating component in a ruggedized environment, or to protect a component mounted in a harsh environment prone to vibration and shock. 
       FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C  include a fully exploded, partially exploded and assembled isometric view, respectively, of equipment subframe node  180  lying flat, with cooling fans  875   a - 875   c , as an example, to illustrate the system of ruggedized mounting and coupling  900  devised to solve this problem.  FIG. 9D  illustrates an anti-vibration bobbin  985  that includes two metal anti-vibration mount plates  986  separated by an elastic rubber or polymer  987  used to prevent shock and vibration from transferring between two isolated planes, each of which is mechanically coupled to one of the anti-vibration mount plates  986 . Anti-vibration mount plates  986  may contain a threaded hole  988  or a threaded shaft  989  to facilitate coupling. As illustrated in  FIG. 9A , individual cooling fans  875   a - 875   c  are mounted into an anti-vibration adapter bracket  980 , secured with a plurality of fan screws  981 . Anti-vibration bobbins  985  are coupled to anti-vibration adapter bracket  980  through threaded mount holes  986  located in the anti-vibration adapter bracket  980  to form an anti-vibration fan sub-assembly  950  and complete the first part of the system, as shown in  FIG. 9B . The exemplary anti-vibration adapter bracket  980  is designed to mount the standard 1 U fans at a height that is lower than vertical equipment surface  830  to provide the additional clearances required for anti-vibration oscillation and low clearance mounting. To accommodate a negative depth mount design, the vertical equipment surface  830  has a plurality of relief cutouts or apertures  990  and mounting holes  995  located in predetermined positions, as shown in  FIG. 9B . The anti-vibration fan sub-assembly  950  is coupled to the equipment subframe node  180  with mounting screws  996  through mounting holes  995  to couple the assembly and complete the system of device mounting, as shown in  FIGS. 8A, 9B and 9C . 
     The mounting system of  FIGS. 9A through 9D  allows for the additional clearances required for anti-vibration mounting and the oscillation of components for ruggedized mounting. It also reduces the mounting height required of a standard 1 U electronic device sub-component, thereby allowing 1 U standard electronic sub-components to be mounted in an equipment subframe  180 , or other chassis that is less than 1.75″ (44.5 mm). 
     In some exemplary embodiments, the equipment subframe node  180  has an optional male electronic connector  870 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8A , that can be connected to an external cable or cables (not shown) for power or data termination. The male electronic connector  870  on the equipment subframe node  180  may also be terminated into the electronic bus rail  190 . The electronic bus rail  190  is designed to reduce cabling and provide additional structural integrity to the overall shelf frame module  100 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8A , electronic bus rail  190  comprises a pair of coupled plates  191  that create a structurally integrated wire enclosure with a plurality of female electronic bus connectors  192  placed at predetermined locations to align and mate with electronic bus connector  870  on the equipment subframes  180  when inserted into the shelf frame module  100 . To facilitate coupling to the top and bottom member  120  of the shelf frame module  100 , captive screws  871  are located on the electronic bus rail  190  to align with the embedded threaded fasteners  720  on the top and bottom member  120 . Once coupled to top and bottom member  120  of a shelf frame  100  module, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , equipment subframes  180  may be inserted into the shelf frame module  100  for consolidated power or data termination in as shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8C , while adding structural integrity to the overall shelf frame system. 
     According to some embodiments, a structurally integrated modular shelf frame equipment storage system can be built according to a user&#39;s specific needs that best utilize the capability of given facility. The systems, modules and methods described herein provide an efficient approach to storing equipment and reducing infrastructure cost. The flexibility and scalability of the structurally integrated modular shelf frame systems, modules and methods described herein satisfy those needs, as well as others. 
     For instance, in some embodiments, because the structurally integrated frame system is modular, shelf frame modules can be fully pre-populated with equipment and wire management, and then shipped to a given location. There they can be modularly stacked and coupled without the need for existing equipment rack infrastructure, or optionally mounted into existing equipment racks. Additionally, this modularity aids in the task of physically relocating equipment by eliminating the need to remove individual components. 
     Although the present invention has been described in accordance with the embodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and those variations would be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, the shelf frame modules described in detail above could be coupled using another method or using alternative geometric shapes to those described above, or the height and width of the members can vary depending on the user&#39;s needs. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: h