Modular data center support rack system and installation method

{
  "publication_number": "US10863646B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Modular data center support rack system and installation method",
  "abstract": "A modular data center support rack system and installation method whereby system includes a plurality of modular support racks formed from bracket-like rack members that support data center electrical power components, and a transportable fixture that detachably holds the rack members into an assembly position. The transportable fixture remains detachably connected to the assembled modular support rack during the transportation thereof to an installation location to reinforce the modular support rack. Each modular support rack includes an arrangement of data center electrical power supply components that are registrable with and connectable the data center electrical power supply components on another of the modular support racks. In the installation method, the modular support racks are serially interconnected into an appropriate electrical supply configuration for a row of servers located beneath the row of modular support racks.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A modular data center support rack system, comprising: a plurality of modular support racks configured to support data center electrical power components, each of which includes at least one rack member, and at least one transportable fixture configured to facilitate the assembly of at least first and second modular support racks and to reinforce the completed modular support racks during transportation and installation in a data center building, the transportable fixture including: a base, and a frame mounted on the base configured to detachably connect to the at least two rack members to facilitate assembly of the first modular support rack, and that reinforcingly engages the first modular support rack during the transportation and installation thereof in the data center building such that the frame of the transportable fixture is disconnected from the first modular support rack after the installation thereof and recycled for use in facilitating assembly and reinforcingly engaging the second modular support rack.",
    "2. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of modular support racks includes an arrangement of data center electrical power supply components that are mechanically and electrically registrable with and connectable to another arrangement of data center electrical power supply components on another of the plurality of modular support racks.",
    "3. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 2, wherein the data center electrical power components include one or more from the group consisting of bus bars, switch boxes, cable trays, cables, and conduits.",
    "4. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 1, wherein the base of the at least one transportable fixture includes a portion for receiving a lifting and lowering member of a vehicle that transports the at least one transportable fixture with a modular support rack detachably connected thereto.",
    "5. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 1, wherein each of the modular support rack includes at least two rack members that are vertically-oriented and also includes at least one pair of horizontally-oriented support arms, and wherein each of the plurality of modular support racks further includes at least one tying member that interconnects the at least two vertically-oriented rack members, and wherein the frame of the at least one transportable fixture holds the at least two rack members into a position for the assembly of the tying member to the at least two rack members.",
    "6. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 5, wherein the frame of the at least one transportable fixture includes connecting members that are alignable with and detachably connectable to the at least one pair of support arms of each of the rack members.",
    "7. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 6, further comprising fasteners for affixing the connecting members of the frame of the at least one transportable fixture to the at least one pair of support arms of the vertically-oriented rack members after the connecting members and at least one pair of support arms are slid together.",
    "8. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 5, wherein the connecting members of the frame of the at least one transportable fixture are slidably connectable to the at least one pair of support arms of each of the rack members.",
    "9. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 5, wherein the connecting members of the frame of the at least one transportable fixture are elongated, tubular members that are slidable over the at least one pair of support arms of each of the rack members.",
    "10. A modular data center support rack system, comprising: a plurality of modular support racks configured to support data center electrical power components, each of which includes at least two vertically-oriented rack members, each of which includes at least one pair of horizontally-oriented support arms vertically spaced apart from one another, and at least one transportable fixture for assembling and transporting each of the modular support racks, the fixture including a base including a portion for receiving a lifting and lowering member of a vehicle, and a frame mounted on the base that detachably connects to the at least two rack members into a position for assembly of the modular support rack, and that remains detachably connected to a modular support rack during the transportation thereof to an installation location to reinforce the mechanical strength of the modular support rack.",
    "11. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of modular support racks includes an arrangement of data center electrical power supply components that are mechanically and electrically registrable with and connectable to another arrangement of data center electrical power supply components on another of the plurality of modular support racks.",
    "12. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 10, wherein the data center electrical power components include one or more from the group consisting of bus bars, switch boxes, cable trays, cables, and conduits.",
    "13. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of modular support racks further includes at least one tying member that interconnects the at least two vertically-oriented rack members, and wherein the frame of the at least one transportable fixture holds the at least two rack members into a position for the assembly of the tying member to the at least two rack members.",
    "14. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 10, wherein the frame of the at least one transportable fixture includes connecting members that are detachably connectable to the at least one pair of support arms vertically spaced apart from one another of the vertically-oriented rack members.",
    "15. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 14, wherein the connecting members of the at least one transportable fixture are elongated members that are slidably connectable to the at least one pair of support arms of each of the vertically-oriented rack members.",
    "16. The modular data center support rack system defined in claim 15, wherein the connecting members of the at least one transportable fixture are elongated, tubular members that are slidable over or within the at least one pair of support arms of each of the vertically-oriented rack members.",
    "17. A method for assembling a modular data center support rack system that includes a plurality of modular support racks configured to support data center electrical power components, wherein each of the plurality of modular support racks includes at least two vertically-oriented rack members, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one transportable fixture including a base, and a frame mounted on the base that detachably connects to the at least two rack members into a position for assembly; (b) detachably connecting the transportable fixture to at least two vertically-oriented rack members to assemble a modular support rack that includes an array of electrical power components, and (c) lifting and transporting the at least one transportable fixture and the modular support rack detachably connected thereto to a support wall such that the mechanical strength of the modular support racks is reinforced during transportation.",
    "18. The method for assembling a modular data center support rack system of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of modular support racks further includes at least one horizontally-oriented tying member that interconnects the at least two vertically-oriented rack members, and further including the steps of (i) using the frame of the at least one transportable fixture to hold the at least two rack members into a position for the assembly of the tying member to the at least two rack members, and (ii) connecting the tying member to the at least two rack members.",
    "19. The method for assembling a modular data center support rack system of claim 17, wherein a first modular support rack includes an arrangement of data center electrical components that are mechanically registrable with and electrically connectable to an arrangement of data center electrical power components on a second of the plurality of modular support racks that has been mounted on the support wall, further comprising the steps of: (a) transporting the first modular support rack and transportable fixture to the support wall adjacent to the second modular support rack; (b) mounting the arrangement of data center electrical power components of the first modular support rack in alignment with the arrangement of data center electrical power components of the second modular support rack; (c) detaching and removing the transportable fixture from the first modular support rack, and (d) electrically and mechanically connecting the arrangement of data center electrical power components of the first modular support rack with the arrangement of data center electrical power components of the second modular support rack.",
    "20. A modular data center support rack system, comprising: a plurality of modular support racks configured to support data center electrical power components, each of which includes at least one rack member, and at least one transportable fixture for facilitating the assembly of the plurality of modular support racks and reinforcing the modular support racks during transportation and installation in a building, the transportable fixture including: a base, and a frame mounted on the base configured to connect to the at least one rack member of one of the plurality of modular support racks to facilitate assembly of the modular support rack, and to reinforcingly engage the modular support rack during the transportation and installation thereof in the building, and further configured to disconnect from the modular support rack after the installation thereof in the building such that the transportable fixture forms no part of the installed modular support rack."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention generally relates to overhead-mounted data center rack systems for supporting the cables, bus bars, and switches necessary to power the servers and other digital equipment in a data center. It is specifically directed toward a support rack system formed from individual modular racks assembled onto a transportable fixtures in a factory that reinforce the modular racks during transportation to a data center.\n\nSystems for supporting the electrical components necessary to power the large amounts of computer equipment in data centers are known in the prior art. Such prior art systems typically include rows of support brackets mounted either on the ceilings or support walls of the data center above the rows of server racks and other data-processing equipment. The support brackets may have multiple pairs of horizontally-oriented support arms that support bus bars, manual switch boxes, and cable trays holding multiple electrical power and communication cables. Such electrical power support systems are usually installed by first mounting the support brackets on the ceilings or support walls over the server racks and other data-processing equipment. Next, the brackets are unitized into long, shelf-like structures by the installation of cable trays and support rails between the support arms of adjacent brackets. Bus bars are connected between adjacent brackets, and switch boxes and other components are then lifted up and secured across the unitized support brackets.",
  "cpc": [
    "H05K 7/1491",
    "A47B 61/02",
    "A47F 5/108",
    "G06F 1/181",
    "G06F 1/189",
    "H05K 5/0247",
    "H05K 7/1488",
    "H05K 7/1489"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A47B 61/02",
    "A47F 5/10",
    "G06F 1/18",
    "H05K 5/02",
    "H05K 7/14"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "MC Dean Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Walter Edward Rampey",
    "Qiang Gu"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2019-07-18",
  "publication_date": "2020-12-08",
  "grant_date": "2020-12-08",
  "priority_date": "2019-07-18",
  "application_number": "US-201916515714-A",
  "family_id": "73653730",
  "cited_by_count": 21,
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