US2013000736A1PendingUtilityA1

Adjustable and directional flow perforated tiles

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Assignee: IBMPriority: Jun 29, 2011Filed: Jun 29, 2011Published: Jan 3, 2013
Est. expiryJun 29, 2031(~5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Patrick A. CoicoDavid P. GraybillAllan R. HoeftMadhusudan K. IyengarRoger R. SchmidtGerard V. Weber, Jr.
Y10T137/6851H05K 7/20745H05K 7/20836H05K 7/20181H05K 7/20Y10T137/0324F17D 3/00
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Claims

Abstract

An air flow control assembly, system, and method for controlling air flow to a server rack. An example air flow control assembly includes a retractable barrier configured to block the air flow, at least partially, from passing through a perforated floor tile to the server rack. The air flow control assembly also includes a barrier mount configured to secure the retractable barrier proximate the perforated floor tile.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An air flow control assembly for controlling air flow to a server rack, comprising:
 a retractable barrier configured to block the air flow, at least partially, from passing through a perforated floor tile to the server rack; and   a barrier mount configured to secure the retractable barrier proximate the perforated floor tile.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier mount is secured to the perforated floor tile. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insert coupled to the perforated floor tile, the insert configured to change, at least in part, at least one of a speed and a direction of the air flow.   
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the insert includes a plurality of flow control units, each of the flow control units from the plurality of flow control units configured to individually control at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through the respective flow control unit. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the insert is alterable to cause a change to at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through at least one flow control unit from the plurality of flow control units. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an adjustment unit configured to modify, based on thermal properties of the server rack, the at least one flow control unit to cause a change to at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through the at least one flow control unit.   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier mount includes:
 a spring-loaded roller configured to reel in and store the retractable barrier; and   a tension device connected to the retractable barrier, the tension device configured to unreel the retractable barrier from the spring-loaded roller.   
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retractable barrier is made from a flexible material. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling air flow to a server rack, comprising:
 securing an air flow control assembly between a perforated floor tile and a plenum chamber, the air flow control assembly including a retractable barrier configured to block air flow from the plenum chamber, at least partially, from passing through the perforated floor tile to the server rack; and   controlling the air flow from the plenum chamber to the server rack by retracting and advancing the retractable barrier.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 securing the air flow control assembly to the perforated floor tile.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 coupling an insert to the perforated floor tile, the insert configured to change, at least in part, at least one of a speed and a direction of the air flow.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the insert includes a plurality of flow control units, each of the flow control units from the plurality of flow control units configured to individually control at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through the respective flow control unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 altering the insert to cause a change to at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through at least one flow control unit from the plurality of flow control units.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 configuring an adjustment unit to modify, based on thermal properties of the server rack, the at least one flow control unit to cause a change to at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through the at least one flow control unit.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 configuring a spring-loaded roller to reel in and store the retractable barrier; and   connecting a tension device to the retractable barrier, the tension device configured to unreel the retractable barrier from the spring-loaded roller.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the retractable barrier is made from a flexible material. 
     
     
         17 . A system for controlling air flow to a server rack, comprising:
 a perforated floor tile;   a retractable barrier configured to block the air flow, at least partially, from passing through the perforated floor tile to the server rack; and   a barrier mount configured to secure the retractable barrier proximate the perforated floor tile.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the barrier mount is secured to the perforated floor tile. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an insert coupled to the perforated floor tile, the insert configured to change, at least in part, at least one of a speed and a direction of the air flow.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the insert includes a plurality of flow control units, each of the flow control units from the plurality of flow control units configured to individually control at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through the respective flow control unit. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the insert is alterable to cause a change to at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through at least one flow control unit from the plurality of flow control units. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an adjustment unit configured to modify, based on thermal properties of the server rack, the at least one flow control unit to cause a change to at least one of the speed and the direction of the air flow through the at least one flow control unit.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the barrier mount includes:
 a spring-loaded roller configured to reel in and store the retractable barrier; and   a tension device connected to the retractable barrier, the tension device configured to unreel the retractable barrier from the spring-loaded roller.   
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the retractable barrier is made from a flexible material.

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