JP2011040527A - Power supply structure, and rack having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply structure and rack, capable of improving ease of operation for an operator. <P>SOLUTION: In the power supply structure for supplying power to an electronic device 13 mounted on the rack 400 from a power supply device 12, a supporting member 11 forming a frame body of the rack 400 has hollow parts 14 and 15, and bus bars 16 are contained in the hollow parts 14 and 15 of the supporting member 11. The bus bars 16, the power supply device 12 and the electronic device 13 are electrically connected by power cables 19 and 20 through a hole 18 formed in the supporting member 11. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply structure and a rack having a power supply structure.

  In general, a server rack is used to aggregate and install a plurality of electronic devices in a communication facility or the like. In addition, power is supplied from a power supply device to a plurality of electronic devices that are installed in an integrated manner.

  However, as the number of electronic devices mounted on the server rack increases, the proportion of the space occupied by the electronic devices increases and the proportion of the space occupied by the power cable connected to the electronic devices increases. Therefore, in the server rack, a laying area for installing a new cable and a space for performing work are reduced. As a result, the cable wiring work in the server rack by the operator becomes complicated.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for supplying power from a power supply device to a printed circuit board externally attached to a column of a server rack and supplying power from the printed circuit board to an electronic device. According to this, compared with connecting a power supply device and an electronic circuit unit directly with a cable, wiring can be organized.

  In recent years, bus bars have been used as power supply paths instead of printed circuit boards. By using a bus bar, it is possible to reduce wiring resistance and improve heat dissipation efficiency. Furthermore, in order to improve the workability of the worker and improve the reliability of the power supply path, Patent Documents 2 to 4 disclose a technique in which a bus bar is built in a column.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-053881 JP 2003-078258 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-102590 JP 2005-512655 A

  However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the printed circuit board is attached in an externally exposed state along the support column, and does not reduce the risk of electric shock to the operator.

  In the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 2 to 4, cables for supplying power from a bus bar to a plurality of electronic devices are connected to the bus bar inside the column. Therefore, when connecting the cable to the bus bar, the bus bar may be accidentally contacted to cause an electric shock.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply structure and a rack that can improve the workability of an operator.

  One aspect of the power supply structure according to the present invention is a structure for supplying power from a power supply device to an electronic device mounted on a rack, and the support material forming the frame of the rack has a hollow portion, A power supply structure in which a bus bar is built in a hollow portion of the support material, and the bus bar, the power supply device, and the electronic device are electrically connected by a power cable through a hole formed in the support material. It is.

  One aspect of the rack according to the present invention is a rack on which an electronic device is mounted, wherein the support material forming the frame of the rack has a hollow portion, and a bus bar is provided in the hollow portion of the support material. The built-in bus bar is a rack that is electrically connected to the power supply device and the electronic device with a power cable through a hole formed in the support member.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the power supply structure and rack which can aim at an operator's workability | operativity improvement can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows roughly the structure of the rack using the power supply structure concerning Embodiment 1 of invention. It is the perspective view which expanded the part of the support material of the power supply structure concerning Embodiment 1 of invention. It is AA sectional drawing of the support material of the power supply structure concerning Embodiment 1 of invention. It is BB sectional drawing of the support material of the power supply structure concerning Embodiment 1 of invention. It is a perspective view which shows roughly the power supply structure concerning Embodiment 2 of invention. It is CC sectional drawing of the support material of the power supply structure concerning Embodiment 2 of invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the structure of a rack using the power supply structure according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 1, the hollow portion 14 side is the front side of the rack, and the hollow portion 15 side is the rear side of the rack. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the support member of the power supply structure according to the first embodiment.

The rack 400 according to the first embodiment is a server rack on which electronic devices are mounted, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the rack 400 includes a frame including the base portion 10 and the support material 11, and a shelf 17 supported by the support material 11.
The base unit 10 has a flat area in which electronic devices and power supply devices can be satisfactorily stored in the rack 400. Each of the support members 11 is erected at each corner on the front side of the base portion 10. The support material 11 supports the shelf 17. A power supply device 12 and an electronic device 13 are placed on the shelf 17.
The support material 11 has hollow portions 14 and 15. A bus bar 16 is built in the hollow portions 14 and 15. The bus bar 16, the power supply device 12, and the electronic device 13 are electrically connected by power cables 19 and 20 through holes 18 formed in the support material 11. That is, when the worker connects the power cables 19 and 20 to the bus bar 16, the support material 11 is interposed between the worker and the bus bar 16. Therefore, when an operator connects the power cables 19 and 20 to the bus bar 16, the possibility of electric shock can be reduced. In addition, the operator can connect the power supply device 12 and the electronic device 13 only by connecting the power cables 19 and 20 to the bus bar 16 through the hole 18 of the support member 11. Therefore, the rack using such a power supply structure can improve the workability of the operator when connecting the power supply device 12 and the electronic device 13.

Below, the more preferable form of the rack 400 of Embodiment 1 is demonstrated.
The support member 11 is formed by connecting column members 111 and 112 having a substantially U-shaped cross section to form a substantially S-shaped cross section. One column member 111 has an opening portion arranged inward of the rack 400. The other column member 112 has an opening portion facing the outside of the rack 400. Here, the column member 111 is disposed on the front side of the rack 400, and the column member 112 is disposed on the back side of the rack 400. Thus, the operator can freely attach and detach the bus bar 16 to and from the column member 111 from the inside of the rack 400 before the shelf 17 and the electronic device 13 are installed. In addition, when a problem occurs in the bus bar 16, the operator can freely attach and detach the bus bar 16 to and from the column member 111 from the inside of the rack 400 by removing the shelf 17 and the electronic device 13 installed in the rack 400. Can do.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of support holes 21 for supporting the shelf 17 are formed on the surface of the column 112 facing the opening. The support hole 21 has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape and serves as a hole for attaching an S-shaped metal fitting or a screw hole. The shelf 17 is supported on the support member 11 by S-shaped metal fittings, screws, or the like. Thereby, the column material 112 can attach the shelf 17 satisfactorily while incorporating the bus bar 16 in the hollow portion 15.
Incidentally, it is preferable that a plurality of support holes 21 for supporting the power supply device 12 and the electronic device 13 are also formed on the front surface side of the rack 400 of the column member 111.
Note that the support holes 21 may be provided at locations other than the front surface side of the rack 400 of the pillar material 111 and the surface facing the opening of the pillar material 112.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the support member of the power supply structure according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the power supply structure according to the first embodiment, taken along the line B-B.
A plurality of holes 18 are formed in the support material 11. A plurality of hole portions 18 are formed on one surface sandwiching a surface facing the opening in the column member 111, that is, on the front surface side of the rack 400 in this embodiment. Further, a plurality of hole portions 18 are formed on one surface sandwiching the surface of the columnar material 112 facing the opening, that is, the surface on the back side of the rack 400 in this embodiment. The shape of the hole 18 is a shape suitable for fixing the connector 22 when the connector 22 included in each of the power cables 19 and 20 is fitted, and is typically substantially rectangular.
It is desirable that the size of the hole 18 is small enough that an operator's finger does not accidentally enter the hole 18 and touch the connection terminal 161.
The number of the holes 18 is the same as the number of connection terminals 161 included in the bus bar 16, and it is desirable that all the holes 18 and the connection terminals 161 face each other. However, the number of holes 18 may be larger than the number of connection terminals 161.

The bus bar 16 includes m (m is an integer of 2 or more) connection terminals 161 and conductors 162. The conductor 162 is typically a long and thin rod-shaped metal plate and has a substantially rectangular cross section. Further, the plurality of connection terminals 161 are provided on the conductor 162 as convex portions.
When installing the bus bar 16 on the support member 11, the bus bar 16 is typically inserted from the opening of the support member 11 and fixed to the support member 11 by the non-conductive fixing jig 32. At this time, the bus bar 16 is installed so that the connection terminal 161 faces the hole 18 provided in the support material 11, and the power cables 19 and 20 can be connected to the connection terminal 161 through the hole 18. .
Here, the connection terminal 161 connected to the power cable 19 connected to the power supply device 12 is a first connection terminal 1611, and the connection terminal 161 connected to the power cable 20 connected to the electronic device 13 is a second connection terminal 161. Assuming that the connection terminal 1612 is used, the first connection terminal 1611 and the second connection terminal 1612 are electrically connected by a conductor 162. That is, the bus bar 16 includes m connection units each including a first connection terminal 1611, a second connection terminal 1612, and a conductor 162 that connects the first connection terminal 1611 and the second connection terminal 1612. Accordingly, the power supply from the power supply device 12 to the electronic device 13 is via the power supply cable 19 from the power supply device 12, the first connection terminal 1611 of the bus bar 16, the conductor 162, the second connection terminal 1612, and the power supply cable 20. This can be done.
Note that the first connection terminal 1611 and the second connection terminal 1612 may have different shapes.
The connection terminal 161 and the conductor 162 of the bus bar 16 are in a state of being built in the hollow portions 14 and 15 of the support material 11. At this time, the tip of the connection terminal 161 is disposed inward with respect to the hole 18. That is, the distal end portion of the connection terminal 161 is arranged inside the hollow portion so that the operator does not touch the hole portion 18 and the connector of the power cable can be inserted. Therefore, the connection terminal 161 is not exposed to the outside of the support member 11, and the risk of an operator touching the connection terminal 161 by mistake and receiving an electric shock is reduced.
In addition, the bus bar 16 can be provided on each of the plurality of support members 11. Further, a plurality of bus bars 16 may be built in one support material 11.

Of the m connection terminals 161, n (n is an integer of 2 or more and m or less) of the connection terminals 161 are close to each other. Further, the n connection terminals 161 that are close to each other are formed so as not to be arranged in a substantially straight line in the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 16. Therefore, even if one of the connection terminals 161 is bent due to some shock, the bent connection terminal 161 does not touch the other connection terminal 161, and the bus bar 16 is not electrically short-circuited.
Note that the bus bar 16 and the support material 11 are not electrically connected, and even if an operator touches the support material 11, there is no electric shock.

  The power supply device 12 supplies power to the bus bar 16. The power supply from the power supply device 12 to the bus bar 16 is performed by connecting a power cable 19 electrically connected to the power supply device 12 to the first connection terminal 1611 through the hole 18. The power supply device 12 may be installed outside the frame body of the rack 400 instead of being installed inside the frame body of the rack 400 to supply power to the bus bar 16.

  The electronic device 13 is supported by the support member 11 or the shelf 17 supported by the support member 11 and installed inside the frame body of the rack 400. The power supply to the electronic device 13 is performed by connecting the power cable 20 electrically connected to the electronic device 13 to the second connection terminal 1612 of the bus bar 16 through the hole 18.

The power cables 19 and 20 have a connector 22 at at least one end. The connector 22 is fitted and fixed to the connection terminal 161 through the hole 18 when the power cables 19 and 20 are connected to the bus bar 16 built in the support member 11.
The connector 22 is partially concave, and the convex connection terminal 161 is fitted therein. Typically, the connector 22 includes a conductive member inside, and electrically connects the power cables 19 and 20 and the connection terminal 161.
Note that the connector 22 having a matching shape can be used depending on the shape of the hole 18 and the shape of the connection terminal 161. Further, the connector 22 can be provided with a knob or the like for facilitating removal from the state where it is fitted in the hole 18.

According to the power supply structure and the rack provided with the power supply structure according to the first embodiment described above, the bus bar is built in the support material, and the connection terminal of the bus bar and the power cable are inserted through the hole formed in the support material. In this case, a support member is interposed between the worker and the bus bar. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the risk of an operator touching the bus bar accidentally and receiving an electric shock, and connect the power supply device and the electronic device.
In addition, the operator can easily arrange the power cables, and the installation area occupied by the power cables in the frame is reduced. Thereby, the complexity of the wiring work of the operator can be suppressed, and the workability can be improved.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a structure of a rack 500 using the power supply structure according to the second embodiment. Since the rack 500 according to FIG. 5 is the same as the configuration of the rack 400 shown in the first embodiment except for the structure according to the support member 23, the description of the overlapping parts is omitted.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of the support member of the power supply structure according to the second embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rack 500 according to the second embodiment forms a frame by adding a support member 23 to the base portion 10 and the support member 11. The support material 23 forms a beam material. That is, the support member 23 is disposed substantially horizontally with respect to the ground in the longitudinal direction, and connects the adjacent column members 111 and 111.

  The support member 23 has a hollow portion 24 inside. A bus bar 25 is built in the hollow portion 24. The bus bar 25 and the bus bar 16 are electrically connected by a power cable 30 through a hole portion 26 formed in the support member 23 and a hole portion 18 formed in the support member 11. The bus bar 25 and the electronic device 13 are electrically connected by a power cable 33 through a hole 26 formed in the support member 23. Therefore, the worker connects the power cables 30 and 33 to the bus bar 25 through the hole 26 of the support member 23, and the support member 23 is interposed between the worker and the bus bar 25 at that time. Therefore, when an operator connects the power cables 30 and 33 to the bus bar 25, the possibility of electric shock can be reduced.

The bus bar 25 includes m connection terminals 251 and conductors 252 that electrically connect the connection terminals 251. The plurality of connection terminals 251 are provided as protrusions on the conductor 252 as shown in FIG.
When installing the bus bar 25 on the support member 23, typically, the bus bar 25 is inserted from the opening of the support member 23 and fixed to the support member 23 by a non-conductive fixing jig (not shown). . At this time, the bus bar 25 is installed so that the connection terminal 251 faces the hole 26 provided in the support member 23, and the power cables 30 and 33 can be connected to the connection terminal 251 through the hole 26. .
The connection terminal 251 and the conductor 252 of the bus bar 25 are in a state of being built in the hollow portion 24 of the support member 23. At this time, the tip of the connection terminal 251 is disposed inward with respect to the hole 26. That is, the distal end portion of the connection terminal 251 is arranged inside the hollow portion so that the operator does not touch the hole portion 26 and the connector of the power cable can be inserted. Therefore, the connection terminal 251 is not exposed to the outside of the support member 23, and the risk that an operator may accidentally touch the connection terminal 251 and receive an electric shock is reduced.
Note that the bus bar 25 and the support member 23 are not electrically connected, and no electric shock is caused even if the operator touches the support member 23.

A plurality of holes 26 are formed in the support member 23. A plurality of holes 26 are formed on the surface of the support member 23 that faces the opening, that is, the surface on the front side of the rack 400 in this embodiment.
The shape of the hole 26 is a shape suitable for fixing the connector 31 when the connector 31 included in the power cable 30 is fitted, and is typically substantially rectangular.
It is desirable that the size of the hole 26 is small enough that an operator's finger does not accidentally enter the hole 26 and touch the connection terminal 251.
The number of holes 26 is the same as the number of connection terminals 251 of the bus bar 25, and it is desirable that all the holes 26 and the connection terminals 251 face each other. However, the number of holes 26 may be larger than the number of connection terminals 161.

The power cable 30 has a connector 31 at one end. The connector 31 is fitted and fixed to the connection terminal 251 through the hole 26 when the power cable 30 is connected to the bus bar 25 built in the support member 23.
The connector 31 is partially concave, and the convex connection terminal 251 is fitted therein. Typically, the connector 31 includes a conductive member on the inner side, and electrically connects the power cable 30 and the connection terminal 251.
Note that the connector 31 having a matching shape can be used depending on the shape of the hole 26 and the shape of the connection terminal 251. Further, the connector 31 can be provided with a knob or the like for facilitating removal from the state where the connector 31 is fitted in the hole 26.
Further, the power cable 30 includes a connector (not shown) at the other end, and electrically connects the bus bar 16 and the power cable 30 through the hole 18 of the support member 11.

  When there is a signal cable (not shown) connected to the electronic device 13, the signal cable is fixed and wired outside the support member 23, and is built in the support member 23 through the hole 26. Can be wired. Similarly, the signal cable can be guided with respect to the support member 11.

According to the power supply structure and the rack provided with the power supply structure according to the second embodiment described above, the bus bar is built in the support material, and the connection terminal of the bus bar and the power cable are inserted through the hole formed in the support material. In this case, a support material is interposed between the worker and the bus bar. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the risk of an operator touching the bus bar accidentally and receiving an electric shock, and connect the power supply device and the electronic device.
In addition, the operator can easily arrange the power cables, and the installation area occupied by the power cables in the frame is reduced. Thereby, the complexity of the wiring work of the operator can be suppressed, and the workability can be improved.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, the hole 18 may be formed only on one of the front surface side of the rack 400 in the column material 111 and the rear surface surface of the rack 400 in the column material 112. Of course, one of the column members 111 and 112 may be omitted.
Further, with respect to the column member 112, the hole 18 is formed on the inner side of the rack 400, the connection terminal 161 of the bus bar 16 is arranged toward the inner side of the rack 400, and the bus bar 16 is connected from the inner side of the rack 400. In addition, the power cables 19 and 20 may be connected.
In addition, the pillar material 111 and the pillar material 112, for example, are provided with a detachable lid at the opening, thereby preventing the operator from accidentally touching the bus bar 16 from the opening and reducing the risk of the operator being electrocuted. It is good also as a structure to do.
Further, the holes 18 and 26 are provided with a hole 18 for passing the signal cable in a shape different from that of the hole 18 via the power cables 19 and 20 in order to incorporate the signal cable in the support materials 11 and 23. Also good.
Further, the power may be supplied to the bus bar 25 by connecting the power supply device 12 and the bus bar 25 built in the support member 23 used as a beam member by the power cable 19.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Base part 11 Support material 12 Power supply device 13 Electronic device 14 Hollow part 15 Hollow part 16 Bus bar 17 Shelf 18 Hole part 19 Power cable 20 Power cable 21 Support hole 22 Connector 23 Support material 24 Hollow part 25 Bus bar 26 Hole part 30 Power cable 31 Connector 32 Fixing jig 33 Power cable 111 Column material 112 Column material 161 Connection terminal 162 Conductor 251 Connection terminal 252 Conductor 400 Rack 500 Rack 1611 First connection terminal 1612 Second connection terminal

Claims (10)

A structure for supplying power from a power supply to electronic equipment mounted on a rack,
The support material forming the frame of the rack has a hollow portion, and a bus bar is built in the hollow portion of the support material,
A power supply structure in which the bus bar, the power supply device, and the electronic device are electrically connected by a power cable through a hole formed in the support material.   The bus bar includes a first connection terminal to which a power cable on the power supply side is electrically connected, a second connection terminal to which a power cable on the electronic device side is electrically connected, and the first connection terminal. 2. The power supply structure according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of connection units each having a conductor electrically connecting the first connection terminal and the second connection terminal.   The front ends of the first and second connection terminals are formed in the holes of the support member so that the connector of the power cable inserted into the hole portion of the support member can be inserted into the first or second connection terminal. The power supply structure according to claim 2, wherein the power supply structure is disposed inside the support member with respect to a portion. The support material is a pillar material having a substantially U-shaped cross section,
A surface of the support member that faces the opening is disposed inward of the rack, and a support hole for the electronic device or the power supply device is formed on a surface of the support member that faces the opening. ,
The power supply structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the hole is formed on one surface of the support material across a surface facing the opening. The support material is a pillar material having a substantially U-shaped cross section,
The opening in the support member is arranged toward the inside of the rack, and the hole is formed on one surface across the surface facing the opening in the support member. The power supply structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A rack on which electronic devices are mounted,
The support material constituting the frame of the rack has a hollow portion, and a bus bar is built in the hollow portion of the support material,
The bus bar is a rack that is electrically connected to the power supply device and the electronic device through a hole formed in the support member with a power cable.   The bus bar includes a first connection terminal to which a power cable on the power supply side is electrically connected, a second connection terminal to which a power cable on the electronic device side is electrically connected, and the first connection terminal. The rack according to claim 6, comprising a plurality of connection units each having a conductor electrically connecting the second connection terminal and the second connection terminal.   The front ends of the first and second connection terminals are formed in the holes of the support member so that the connector of the power cable inserted into the hole portion of the support member can be inserted into the first or second connection terminal. The rack according to claim 7, wherein the rack is disposed inward of the support member with respect to a portion. The support material is a pillar material having a substantially U-shaped cross section,
A surface of the support member that faces the opening is disposed inward of the rack, and a support hole for the electronic device or the power supply device is formed on a surface of the support member that faces the opening. ,
The rack according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the hole portion is formed on one surface of a surface of the support member that faces the opening. The support material is a pillar material having a substantially U-shaped cross section,
The opening in the support member is arranged toward the inside of the rack, and the hole is formed on one surface across the surface facing the opening in the support member. The rack according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

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