Pallet interface for data center and rack information handling systems
A data center, a rack information handling system (RIHS) delivery kit, and a method provide for removing an RIHS from and delivering an RIHS to a data center. The data center includes an enclosure having a raised floor and a lateral opening. The lateral opening has a bottom edge that is aligned with the raised floor in order to transfer a rack information handling system (RIHS) through the lateral opening for a selected one of: (i) removing the RIHSs from the raised floor; and (ii) delivering the RIHS to the raised floor. The data center includes a pallet interface coupled to or integrated into an exterior edge of the raised floor and vertically presented to abut and engage a lateral edge of a roll-off rack shock pallet that supports the RIHS during transport.
1. A data center comprising:
an enclosure having a raised floor and a lateral opening having a bottom edge that is aligned with the raised floor in order to transfer a rack information handling system (RIHS) through the lateral opening for a selected one of: (i) removing the RIHSs from the raised floor; and (ii) delivering the RIHS to the raised floor; and
a pallet interface that extends from an exterior edge of the raised floor and is presented to abut and engage a lateral edge of a roll-off rack shock pallet that supports the RIHS during transport.
2. The data center of claim 1 , wherein the pallet interface comprises:
at least one top guide extending from the pallet interface to contact a top surface of the roll-off rack shock pallet; and
at least one bottom guide that engages a downward surface of the roll-off rack shock pallet, the at least one top guide and the at least one bottom guide receiving and aligning the roll-off rack shock pallet.
3. The data center of claim 1 , further comprising a loading platform located between the pallet interface and the raised floor, the loading platform having a first edge that is engageable to the raised floor of the enclosure and having a second edge that comprises the pallet interface.
4. The data center of claim 3 , further comprising a docking alignment plate attachable to the raised floor, wherein a selected one of the docking alignment plate and the first edge of the loading platform comprises male engagement features and the other one of the docking alignment plate and the first edge of the loading platform comprises female engagement features have a complementary shape to the male engagement features to horizontally receive and align the upper surface of the loading platform to the raised floor of the enclosure.
5. The data center of claim 3 , further comprising a transition plate positionable in an opening between the raised floor and an upper surface of the loading platform to provide a level sliding surface.
6. The data center of claim 3 , further comprising two or more height adjustable supports extendable downward from the loading platform in order to level the loading platform.
7. The data center of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a container of a modular data center (MDC) that is transportable to a deployed location.
8. A rack information handling system (RIHS) delivery kit comprising:
a docking alignment plate attachable to a raised floor of an enclosure of a data center, the enclosure having the raised floor and a lateral opening having a bottom edge that is aligned with the raised floor in order to transfer an RIHS through the lateral opening for a selected one of: (i) removing the RIHSs from the raised floor; and (ii) delivering the RIHS to the raised floor, the docking alignment plate horizontally alignable with the lateral opening of the enclosure at an exterior edge of the raised floor; and
a loading platform having a first edge engagement to the docking alignment plate to align an upper surface of the loading platform with the raised floor of the enclosure, the loading platform having a second edge that comprises a pallet interface that is vertically presented to abut and engage a lateral edge of a roll-off rack shock pallet that supports the RIHS during transport.
9. The RIHS delivery kit of claim 8 , wherein the pallet interface comprises:
at least one top guide extending from the pallet interface to contact a top surface of the roll-off rack shock pallet; and
at least one bottom guide that engages a downward surface of the roll-off rack shock pallet, the at least one top guide and the at least one bottom guide receiving and aligning the roll-off rack shock pallet.
10. The RIHS delivery kit of claim 8 , wherein a selected one of the docking alignment plate and the first edge of the loading platform comprises male engagement features and the other one of the docking alignment plate and the first edge of the loading platform comprises female engagement features that have a complementary shape to the male engagement features to horizontal receive and align the upper surface of the loading platform to the raised floor of the enclosure.
11. The RIHS delivery kit of claim 8 , further comprising a transition plate positionable in the opening between the raised floor and an upper surface of the loading platform to provide a level sliding surface.
12. The RIHS delivery kit of claim 8 , further comprising two or more height adjustable supports extendable downward from the loading platform in order to level the loading platform.
13. The RIHS delivery kit of claim 8 , further comprising a rack forklift sized to move the RIHS through the lateral opening in the enclosure.
14. A method of removing a rack information handling system (RIHS) from and delivering an RIHS to a data center, the method comprising:
horizontally aligning a docking alignment plate with a lateral opening to an enclosure having a raised floor, the lateral opening having a bottom edge that is aligned with the raised floor in order to transfer an RIHS through the lateral opening for completing a selected one of: (i) removing the RIHS s from the raised floor; and (ii) delivering the RIHS to the raised floor;
attaching the docking alignment plate to an exterior edge of the raised floor beneath the lateral opening;
engaging a first edge of a loading platform to the docking alignment plate that aligns an upper surface of the loading platform to the raised floor;
engaging a lateral edge of a roll-off rack shock pallet to a second edge of the loading platform; and
translating an RIHS between the roll-off rack shock pallet and the loading platform.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising supporting the roll-off rack shock pallet with a forklift engaged to the roll-off rack shock pallet on a side of the roll-off rack shock pallet opposite to the loading platform.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein engaging the lateral edge of the roll-off rack shock pallet to the second edge of the loading platform comprises:
horizontally moving the roll-off rack shock pallet between at least one top guide and at least one bottom guide, the at least one top guide extending from the pallet interface to contact a top surface of the roll-off rack shock pallet, and the at least one bottom guide contacting a downward surface of the roll-off rack shock pallet.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein engaging the first edge of the loading platform to the docking alignment plate comprises engaging male engagement features of a selected one of the docking alignment plate and the first edge of the loading platform to female engagement features of the other one of the docking alignment plate and the first edge of the loading platform to align the upper surface of the loading platform to the raised floor of the enclosure.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising positioning a transition plate in an opening between the raised floor and an upper surface of the loading platform to provide a level sliding surface.
19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting two or more height adjustable supports extendable downward from the loading platform in order to level the loading platform.
20. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transferring he RIHS through the lateral opening using a rack forklift sized for the lateral opening.