Information technology rack ambient temperature visualization
A rack assembly for physically supporting information technology (IT) devices is disclosed. The rack assembly includes a plurality of interconnected panels forming a volumetric space having a front access and a rear access with opposing side panels. The front access and the rear access extend from a bottom edge to a top edge. The plurality of interconnected panels allow air to flow in either direction between the front access and the rear access. An ambient temperature indicator is mounted adjacent to the front access or the rear access. The ambient temperature indicator is configured to visually indicate temperature values between the top edge and the bottom edge.
1 . A rack assembly comprising:
a plurality of interconnected panels that form a volumetric space which has a front access and a rear access with opposite side panels, wherein the front access and the rear access extend from a bottom edge to a top edge;
a door mounted in the front access, wherein the door comprises a vented grille configured to allow air to flow through the door and into the volumetric space; and
an ambient temperature indicator comprising a sticker mounted to a hinge-side portion of the door, the ambient temperature indicator configured to visually indicate values of air temperatures between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the sticker comprises a temperature-sensitive ink or paint that changes color, shade, or tone at different temperatures and a plurality of holes in the sticker configured to align with holes in the vented grille.
2 . The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ambient temperature indicator further comprises a continuous band of temperature-sensitive ink or paint.
3 . The rack assembly of claim 2 , wherein the continuous band of temperature-sensitive ink or paint extends from the bottom edge to the top edge.
4 . The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ambient temperature indicator further comprises localized regions configured to change color based upon temperature in each localized region, to enable visual detection of localized airflow anomalies.
5 . The rack assembly of claim 4 , wherein temperature in each localized region corresponds to a temperature of air flow into the rack assembly.
6 . The rack assembly of claim 4 , wherein temperature in each localized region corresponds to a temperature of air flow out of the rack assembly.
7 . The rack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rack assembly further comprises the ambient temperature indicator mounted adjacent to the vented grille, wherein the vented grill has a vented grille side edge parallel to a length of the vented grille.
8 . A method to make a rack assembly, the method comprising:
interconnecting a plurality of panels to form a volumetric space which has a front access and a rear access with opposite side panels, wherein the front access and the rear access extend from a bottom edge to a top edge;
mounting a door in the front access, wherein the door comprises a vented grille configured to allow air to flow through the door and into the volumetric space; and
mounting an ambient temperature indicator comprising a sticker to a hinge-side portion of the door, the ambient temperature indicator configured to visually indicate values of air temperatures between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the sticker comprises a temperature-sensitive ink or paint that changes color, shade, or tone at different temperatures and a plurality of holes in the sticker configured to align with holes in the vented grille.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises configuring the ambient temperature indicator with a continuous band of temperature-sensitive ink or paint.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises extending the continuous band of temperature-sensitive ink or paint from the bottom edge to the top edge.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises configuring the ambient temperature indicator with localized regions configured to change color based upon temperature in each localized region, to enable visual detection of localized airflow anomalies.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises configuring temperature in each localized region to correspond to a temperature of air flow into the rack assembly.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises configuring temperature in each localized region to correspond to a temperature of air flow out of the rack assembly.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises mounting the ambient temperature indicator adjacent to the vented grille, wherein the vented grill has a vented grille side edge parallel to a length of the vented grille.
15 . A rack assembly kit comprising:
a plurality of interconnectable panels configured to form a volumetric space which has a front access and a rear access with opposite side panels, wherein the front access and the rear access extend from a bottom edge to a top edge;
a door configured to be mounted in the front access, wherein the door comprises a vented grille configured to allow air to flow through the door and into the volumetric space; and
an ambient temperature indicator comprising a sticker configured to be mounted to a hinge-side portion of the door, the ambient temperature indicator configured to visually indicate values of air temperatures between the top edge and the bottom edge, wherein the sticker comprises a temperature-sensitive ink or paint that changes color, shade, or tone at different temperatures and a plurality of holes in the sticker configured to align with holes in the vented grille.