Plenum Kit

Abstract

A plenum assembly for a shallow chassis in a rack-mount system. The rack mount system includes a first set of posts at a first end of the rack, a second set of posts at a second end of the rack, and guide rails that extend between the first and second sets of posts. A shallow chassis mounted on the guide rails extends from the first end of the rack to an intermediate location, between the first and second ends of the rack. The plenum assembly is also mounted on the guide rails, and extends from the second end of the rack to the intermediate location, providing an airway from the second end of the rack to the shallow chassis. The plenum assembly can include telescoping sections to extend various lengths. Alternately, the plenum assembly can have a two piece construction, which is assembled after routing cables to the shallow chassis.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A plenum assembly comprising:
 a box having a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end, opposite the first end, wherein a hollow pathway extends between the first opening and the second opening;   a set of mounting elements located at the first end of the box, wherein the set of mounting elements are configured to engage a first set of posts of a rack; and   a pair of mounting slots located at the second end of the box, wherein the pair of mounting slots are configured to engage with a pair of guide rails that extend between the first set of posts of the rack and a second set of posts of the rack.   
     
     
         2 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the box has a first length between the first end and the second end, and wherein the rack has a second length between the first set of posts and the second set of posts, wherein the first length is less than the second length. 
     
     
         3 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the set of mounting elements comprise:
 a first tab that extends from a first surface of the box at the first end of the box; and   a second tab that extends from a second surface of the box, opposite the first surface of the box, at the first end of the box.   
     
     
         4 . The plenum assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of mounting slots comprise:
 a first mounting slot located in the first surface of the box at the second end of the box; and   a second mounting slot located in the second surface of the box at the second end of the box.   
     
     
         5 . The plenum assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first mounting slot comprises:
 a tapered lead-in region continuous with the first end of the box; and   a parallel slot region continuous with the tapered lead-in region.   
     
     
         6 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second opening of the box has the same dimensions as an end of a chassis mounted on the pair of guide rails. 
     
     
         7 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening and the second opening are rectangular. 
     
     
         8 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a support strut attached to the box within the hollow pathway. 
     
     
         9 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more openings formed through one or more surfaces of the box. 
     
     
         10 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the box comprises telescoping sections that slide along one another to vary a length of the box between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         11 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the box comprises:
 a tray;   a lid; and   means for manually engaging and disengaging the lid and the tray, wherein the lid and the tray form the hollow pathway when the lid is engaged with the tray.   
     
     
         12 . The plenum assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the box comprises:
 a tray that forms three continuous surfaces of the box, wherein the tray includes slots on two opposing surfaces; and   a lid inserted into the slots of the tray, thereby forming a fourth surface of the box.   
     
     
         13 . The plenum assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first connector attached to the tray at the first end of the box; and   a second connector attached to the lid at the first end of the box; and   a fastener that attaches the first connector to the second connector.   
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a rack;   a first set of guide rails extending from a first end of the rack to a second end of the rack;   a first chassis mounted on the first set of guide rails, wherein the first chassis extends from the first end of the rack to an intermediate location between the first end of the rack and the second end of the rack; and   a plenum assembly mounted on the first set of guide rails, wherein the plenum assembly extends from the second end of the rack to the intermediate location.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plenum assembly includes a hollow pathway that extends from the second end of the rack to the first chassis. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plenum assembly further includes a support strut that extends across the hollow pathway. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the plenum assembly comprises:
 a tray; and   a lid that slides into the tray, thereby forming the hollow pathway.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a second set of guide rails extending from the first end of the rack to the second end of the rack; and   a second chassis mounted on the second set of guide rails, wherein the second chassis extends between the first end of the rack and the second end of the rack.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plenum assembly includes a plurality of slots that are engaged with protrusions on the first set of guide rails. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plenum assembly includes telescoping sections that slide over one another, thereby enabling the plenum assembly to be adjusted to extend from the second end of the rack to the intermediate location.