Data center rack door

Abstract

A data center rack door having a curved permeable member is disposed vertically along a front-face of a data center rack. The curved permeable member provides an increase in surface area that provides for additional openings, increasing airflow through the data center rack. The curved permeable member also provides an increase in volume of space in the data center rack.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A door for a data center rack, the door comprising:
 a vertical frame member opposite another vertical frame member;   a horizontal frame member fixed between the vertical frame members, the horizontal frame member comprising:
 a first end opposite a second end; and 
 a curved surface extending from the first end to the second end, 
   the horizontal frame member being fixed between the vertical frame members and defining a curved front surface of the door; and   a permeable member interposed between the curved surface of the horizontal frame member and the vertical frame members,   wherein the permeable member substantially conforms to the curved surface of the horizontal frame member.   
     
     
         2 . The door of  claim 1 , wherein the permeable member comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         3 . The door of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh is formed of a metal, a plastic, or a composite. 
     
     
         4 . The door of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh comprises mesh members having a substantially round cross-sectional profile. 
     
     
         5 . The door of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh includes precrimped wires, intercrimped wires, welded wires, or flat top weave wires. 
     
     
         6 . The door of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh includes mesh members having a thickness of at least about 0.03 inches to at most about 0.1 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The door of  claim 2 , wherein the mesh includes mesh members separated by a distance of at least about 0.1 inches to at most about 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         8 . A data center rack comprising:
 a rack for removably receiving data center equipment; and   a door coupled to the rack to protect the data center equipment, the door comprising:
 a frame comprising a horizontal member having a curved surface, the curved surface extending from a first end of the horizontal member to a second end of the horizontal member, and defining a curved front surface of the door, wherein the curved front surface extends away from the rack when the door is arranged flush against the rack in a closed position; and 
 a permeable member interposed by first and second vertical frame members of the frame and coplanar to the curved front surface of the door. 
   
     
     
         9 . The data center rack of  claim 8 , wherein the first vertical frame member is fixed to the first end of the horizontal member, and the second vertical frame member is fixed to the second end of the horizontal member, each of the first and second vertical frame members including a channel to receive an edge of the permeable member. 
     
     
         10 . The data center rack of  claim 9 , wherein the frame further comprises an array of horizontal support ribs distributed vertically between a top and bottom of the rack, and extending between the first and second vertical frame members, the permeable member coupled to and conforming with the horizontal support ribs. 
     
     
         11 . The data center rack of  claim 10 , wherein the frame further comprises a front strip arranged vertically between the first and second vertical frame members, and disposed adjacent to the permeable member opposite to the array of horizontal support ribs, and wherein the front strip and the array of horizontal support ribs cooperate to retain the permeable member in the curved front surface of the door. 
     
     
         12 . A door for a data center rack, the door comprising:
 a vertical frame member opposite another vertical frame member;   a plurality of horizontal frame members having a curved surface arranged between a first end opposite a second end, wherein
 the first and second ends of the plurality of horizontal frame members are fixed to the vertical frame members; 
 the plurality of horizontal frame members are distributed along the vertical frame members; and 
 the curved surfaces of the plurality of horizontal frame members define a curved front surface of the door; and 
   a permeable member interposed between the vertical frame members, and disposed adjacent to the curved surfaces of the plurality of horizontal frame members, wherein the permeable member conforms to the curved front surface of the door.   
     
     
         13 . The door of  claim 12 , further comprising a front strip arranged vertically between the vertical frame members, and disposed adjacent to the permeable member opposite to the curved surfaces of the plurality of horizontal frame members, and wherein the front strip and the plurality of horizontal frame members cooperate to retain the permeable member in the curved front surface of the door. 
     
     
         14 . The door of  claim 13 , further comprising a bumper strip removeably coupled to the front strip. 
     
     
         15 . The door of  claim 14 , wherein the bumper strip comprises wood, plastic, or rubber. 
     
     
         16 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the curved surface of the plurality of horizontal frame members arranged between the first and second ends of the plurality of horizontal frame members has a radius of at least about 30 inches and at most about 50 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The door of  claim 12 , further comprising a top cap fixed to a top edge of the door and a bottom cap fixed to a bottom edge of the door, wherein the top and bottom caps cover top and bottom voids produced by the curved front surface of the door. 
     
     
         18 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the vertical frame members include cooperating inner and outer components, the cooperating inner and outer components having a channel arranged between the inner and outer components to receive a portion of the permeable member. 
     
     
         19 . The door of  claim 18 , wherein the inner component comprises a cross-sectional profile having a substantially asymmetrical S shape, and the outer component comprising a cross-sectional profile having a substantially asymmetrical U shape, a portion of the inner component fixed to a portion of the outer component. 
     
     
         20 . The door of  claim 18 , wherein the inner component comprises a plurality of apertures arranged in the inner component to receive the plurality of horizontal frame members.