Apparatus and method for maximizing equipment storage density
View Patent ↗A mounting mechanism for mounting a enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails disposed so as to define an equipment storage region is disclosed. The mounting mechanism includes a first portion configured to be attached to the enclosure-mountable device, and a second portion configured to be attached to one or more of the vertical mounting rails. The first and second portions are configured such that the enclosure-mountable device may be disposed in a first position outside the equipment storage region and a second position outside the equipment storage region.
1. A mounting mechanism for mounting an enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a first portion configured to be attached to the enclosure-mountable device; and
a second portion configured to be attached to at least one of the vertical mounting rails, wherein the first and second portions are configured such that the enclosure-mountable device is configurable to be in a first substantially horizontal position outside the equipment storage region and a second substantially vertical position outside the equipment storage region, wherein a first side of the enclosure-mountable device faces upward when the enclosure-mountable device is in the first substantially horizontal position, and wherein the first side of the enclosure-mountable device faces the equipment storage region when the enclosure-mountable device is in the second substantially vertical position.
2. The mounting mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to rotate from the first position to the second position.
3. A mounting mechanism for mounting an enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a first portion configured to be attached to the enclosure-mountable device;
a second portion configured to be attached to at least one of the vertical mounting rails, wherein the first and second portions are configured such that the enclosure-mountable device is configurable to be in a first position outside the equipment storage region and a second position outside the equipment storage region; and
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to rotate from the first position to the second position, wherein the hinging mechanism comprises a curved slot in the first portion, the curved slot comprising a first endpoint and a second endpoint.
4. The mounting mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a securing mechanism for securing the enclosure-mountable device in the second position.
5. A mounting mechanism for mounting an enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a first portion configured to be attached to the enclosure-mountable device;
a second portion configured to be attached to at least one of the vertical mounting rails, wherein the first and second portions are configured such that the enclosure-mountable device is configurable to be in a first position outside the equipment storage region and a second position outside the equipment storage region; and
a securing mechanism for securing the enclosure-mountable device in the second position, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a female fastener attached to the second portion, the female fastener being configured to receive a male fastener attached to the enclosure-mountable device.
6. The mounting mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure mountable device comprises a power outlet configured to be connected to an electronic device.
7. The mounting mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the electronic device comprises a node in a computer cluster.
8. A mounting mechanism for mounting an enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a first portion configured to be attached to the enclosure-mountable device;
a second portion configured to be attached to at least one of the vertical mounting rails, wherein the first and second portions are configured such that the enclosure-mountable device is configurable to be in a first position outside the equipment storage region and a second position outside the equipment storage region, wherein the enclosure-mountable device comprises a power outlet configured to be connected to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a node in a computer cluster, and wherein the enclosure-mountable device further comprises a monitoring port configured to be connected to a peripheral card that is connected to an expansion slot within the node and a serial access port configured to be connected to a serial port within the node.
9. A mounting mechanism for mounting an enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to attach the enclosure-mountable device to at least one of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disclosed outside the equipment storage region in a first substantially horizontal position, wherein a first side of the enclosure-mountable device faces upward when the enclosure-mountable device is in the first substantially horizontal position;
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to be rotated from the first substantially horizontal position to a second substantially vertical position outside the equipment storage region, wherein the first side of the enclosure-mountable device faces the equipment storage region when the enclosure-mountable device is in the second substantially vertical position; and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the enclosure-mountable device in the second position.
10. A mounting mechanism for mounting an enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to attach the enclosure-mountable device to at least one of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to be rotated from the first position to a second position outside the equipment storage region, wherein the hinging mechanism comprises a curved slot in the mounting bracket, the curved slot comprising a first endpoint and a second endpoint; and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the enclosure-mountable device in the second position.
11. A mounting mechanism for mounting an enclosure-mountable device to an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the mounting mechanism comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to attach the enclosure-mountable device to at least one of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to be rotated from the first position to a second position outside the equipment storage region; and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the enclosure-mountable device in the second position, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a female fastener attached to the mounting bracket, the female fastener being configured to receive a male fastener attached to the enclosure-mountable device.
12. The mounting mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the enclosure mountable device comprises a power outlet configured to be connected to an electronic device.
13. The mounting mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the electronic device comprises a node in a computer cluster.
14. The mounting mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the enclosure-mountable device further comprises:
a monitoring port configured to be connected to a peripheral card that is connected to an expansion slot within the node; and
a serial access port configured to be connected to a serial port within the node.
15. An equipment enclosure for storing an enclosure-mountable device, comprising:
a plurality of vertical mounting rails disposed so as to define an equipment storage region;
an enclosure-mountable device;
a plurality of power outlets in a side of the enclosure-mountable device; and
a mounting mechanism, comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to attach the enclosure-mountable device to two of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to be rotated from the first position to a second position, wherein the side of the enclosure-mountable device that comprises the plurality of power outlets is facing the equipment storage region when the enclosure-mountable device is in the second position; and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the enclosure-mountable device in the second position.
16. An equipment enclosure for storing an enclosure-mountable device, comprising:
a plurality of vertical mounting rails disposed so as to define an equipment storage region;
an enclosure-mountable device; and
a mounting mechanism, comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to attach the enclosure-mountable device to two of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to be rotated from the first position to a second position, wherein the hinging mechanism comprises a curved slot in the mounting bracket, the curved slot comprising a first endpoint and a second endpoint; and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the enclosure-mountable device in the second position.
17. An equipment enclosure for storing an enclosure-mountable device, comprising:
a plurality of vertical mounting rails disposed so as to define an equipment storage region;
an enclosure-mountable device; and
a mounting mechanism, comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to attach the enclosure-mountable device to two of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to be rotated from the first position to a second position; and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the enclosure-mountable device in the second position, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a female fastener integral with the mounting bracket, the female fastener being configured to receive a male fastener attached to the enclosure-mountable device.
18. The equipment enclosure of claim 15 , wherein the electronic device comprises a node in a computer cluster.
19. An equipment enclosure for storing an enclosure-mountable device, comprising:
a plurality of vertical mounting rails disposed so as to define an equipment storage region;
an enclosure-mountable device; and
a mounting mechanism, comprising:
a mounting bracket configured to attach the enclosure-mountable device to two of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the enclosure-mountable device to be rotated from the first position to a second position; and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the enclosure-mountable device in the second position, wherein the enclosure-mountable device comprises a power outlet configured to be connected to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a node in a computer cluster, and wherein the enclosure-mountable device further comprises a monitoring port configured to be connected to a peripheral card that is connected to an expansion slot within the node and a serial access port configured to be connected to a serial port within the node.
20. A method for maximizing equipment storage density within an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the method comprising:
mounting an enclosure-mountable device to two of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
rotating the enclosure-mountable device from the first position to second position outside the equipment storage region, wherein a side of the enclosure-mountable device that comprises a plurality of power outlets is facing the equipment storage region when the enclosure-mountable device is in the second position; and
securing the enclosure-mountable device in the second position.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the electronic device comprises a node in a computer cluster.
22. A method for maximizing equipment storage density within an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the method comprising:
mounting an enclosure-mountable device to two of the vertical mounting rails such that the enclosure-mountable device is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
rotating the enclosure-mountable device from the first position to second position outside the equipment storage region; and
securing the enclosure-mountable device in the second position, where in the enclosure-mountable device comprises a power port configured to be connected to an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises a node in a computer cluster, and wherein the enclosure-mountable device further comprises a monitoring port configured to be connected to a peripheral card that is connected to an expansion slot within the node and a serial access port configured to be connected to a serial port within the node.
23. An enclosure-mountable cluster management apparatus for mounting on an equipment enclosure having a plurality of vertical mounting rails, the vertical mounting rails being disposed so as to define an equipment storage region, the cluster management apparatus connecting to a plurality of nodes for management of the nodes, the enclosure-mountable cluster management apparatus comprising:
a cluster management apparatus comprising a plurality of ports for facilitating at least one of sending data to and receiving data from the plurality of nodes;
a mounting bracket configured to attach the cluster management apparatus to two of the vertical mounting rails such that the cluster management apparatus is disposed outside the equipment storage region in a first position;
a hinging mechanism configured to allow the cluster management apparatus to be rotated from the first position to a second position outside the equipment storage region; and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the cluster management apparatus in the second position.
24. The enclosure-mountable cluster management apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the hinging mechanism comprises a slot in the mounting bracket, the slot comprising a first endpoint and a second endpoint.
25. The enclosure-mountable cluster management apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises a female fastener attaches to the mounting bracket, the female fastener being configured to receive a male fastener attached to the cluster management apparatus.
26. The enclosure-mountable cluster management apparatus o claim 25 , wherein the cluster management apparatus comprises a plurality of power outlets for providing power to the plurality of nodes.