Computer rack and transport pallet method for packaging a computer rack

Abstract

A layout for packaging a computer rack comprises a transport pallet ( 2 ) and a computer rack; the computer rack being associable with casters extending vertically by a first distance relatively to a lower face of the rack. The computer rack is made integral with the pallet by two anchoring means distributed on the underside of the rack on either side of a vertical median plane (P 1 ); the pallet includes two side modules and an intermediate supporting means separable from the remainder of the pallet and allowing the side modules to be connected. The side modules are removably attached to the anchoring means, so as to ensure that the computer rack is maintained in a horizontal position, and that the pallet is spaced away from the underside of the rack by a second distance (H 2 ) smaller than said first distance.

1 . A layout for packaging a computer rack, of the type transportable by a lifting device ( 50 ), comprising a transport pallet ( 2 ) and a computer rack ( 1 ) of the type capable of being supported on casters ( 31 ) extending vertically by a first determined distance (H 1 ) relative to at least one lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ), characterized in that the computer rack ( 1 ) is adapted to be anchored to the transport pallet ( 2 ) by a first and a second anchoring means ( 12 ), distributed under a lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack, on either side of a vertical median plane (P 1 ), said pallet ( 2 ) including first and second side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) and at least one intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) for connecting the side modules said intermediate supporting means being separable from a remainder of the pallet the first side module ( 21 ) of the pallet including first attachment means ( 210 ,  23 ) for removable attachment to the first anchoring means and the second ( 22 ) side module of the pallet including second attachment means ( 220 ,  23 ) for removable attachment to the second anchoring means, the first and second attachment means ( 210 ,  220 ,  23 ) of the first and second side modules ( 21 ,  22 ), respectively and said first and second anchoring means ( 12 ) being laid out facing each other so as to maintain the lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ) in the horizontal position, with a top of the pallet ( 2 ) being spaced away from the lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack by a second determined distance (H 2 ) strictly smaller than said first determined distance (H 1 ).  
   
   
       2 . The layout according to  claim 1 , including at least a first and a second removable device ( 3 ), each having casters ( 31 ) and each having a cooperative member ( 30 ) for attachment respectively to the first and the second anchoring means ( 12 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ).  
   
   
       3 . The layout according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring means ( 12 ) is disposed under the computer rack ( 1 ) and comprise respective slides, the slides including horizontal rails ( 11 ), both of the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) each having at least one plate ( 210 , 22 ) with an upper surface parallel to said plate and channels ( 23 ) adjacent to said upper surface in order to receive the end of a rail ( 11 ) of the slides.  
   
   
       4 . The layout according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one plate ( 210 ,  220 ) of each of the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) is in direct contact with a lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ).  
   
   
       5 . The layout according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second anchoring means each ( 12 ) comprise parallel slides adapted to interchangeably receive one of the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) of the transport pallet ( 2 ) or removable devices ( 3 ) with casters ( 31 ).  
   
   
       6 . The layout according to  claim 2 , wherein the first and the second removable devices ( 3 ) with casters each have at least two casters ( 31 ) and at least two vertically adjustable ground-positioning jacks ( 32 ).  
   
   
       7 . The layout according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) and the first and the second side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) of the pallet ( 2 ) include an upper horizontal face forming a top of the pallet ( 2 ), said intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) further including at least one bracket ( 200 ) on an upper face of the computer rack for supporting said lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ).  
   
   
       8 . The layout according to  claim 1 , wherein the second determined distance (H 2 ) is between 0.4 and 4 cm.  
   
   
       9 . The layout according to  claim 1 , wherein the pallet includes means ( 40 ) for locking the rack ( 1 ) in position, said means being distributed over each of the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ).  
   
   
       10 . The layout according to  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) is of a smaller thickness (e 1 ) relative to a thickness (e 2 ) of the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) so as to leave a gap (E) between a lowest level of the pallet ( 2 ) and a lower portion of the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ), said gap (E) facilitating separation of the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) from the remainder of the pallet.  
   
   
       11 . A transport pallet for computer rack ( 1 ) of the type associable with casters ( 31 ) positioned under at least one lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack characterized in that it includes: 
 at least two removable devices ( 3 ) with casters ( 31 ); and    two anchoring means ( 12 ) distributed under the lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ), on either side of a vertical median plane (P 1 ), the anchoring means ( 12 ) comprising respective parallel slides adapted both for interchangeably receiving the removable devices ( 3 ) with casters ( 31 ) and removable attachment means ( 210 ,  220 ,  23 ), so as to minimize a gap under the computer rack ( 1 ) during palletization of the rack upon removing the removable devices ( 3 ) with casters ( 31 ).    
   
   
       12 . The computer rack according to  claim 11 , wherein the slides comprise a first and a second set of horizontal guiding rails ( 11 ) connected to the lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ), the first set of rails being positioned at a front end ( 101 ) of the computer rack and the second set of rails being positioned at a rear end ( 102 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ), the slides each comprising at least one housing delimited by the rails ( 11 ) and the lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ) so as to translationally receive a corresponding attachment means.  
   
   
       13 . The computer rack according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the slides comprises a stop member ( 35 ) for marking an end of travel of the attachment means received in the slide.  
   
   
       14 . A transport pallet ( 2 ) for a computer rack ( 1 ), of the type associable with casters ( 31 ) positioned under at least one lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack characterized in that it comprises: 
 first and second side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) each including an upper face on which is mounted attachment means ( 210 ,  220 ,  23 ), said attachment means including at least one translationally sliding member ( 210 ,  220 ) mechanically cooperating with a corresponding means mounted under the computer rack ( 1 ), in order to make the computer rack integral with the pallet ( 2 ); and    at least one intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) separable from the remainder of the pallet and comprising respective fastening members ( 4 ) for connecting the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ).    
   
   
       15 . The transport pallet according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and the second side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) each include an upper surface fitted with at least one parallel plate ( 210 ,  220 ) at said upper surface, the plate having thereunder grooves or channels ( 23 ) adjacent to said upper surface.  
   
   
       16 . The transport pallet according to  claim 14 , wherein the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) and the first and the second side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) of the pallet each include an upper horizontal face forming a top of the pallet, said intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) comprising at least one bracket ( 200 ) on an upper face for supporting the lower face ( 10 ) of a computer rack ( 1 ), said intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) being of a smaller thickness (e 1 ) relative to the thickness (e 2 ) of the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) so as to leave a gap (E) between the lowest level of the pallet ( 2 ) and the lowest portion of the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ), said gap (E) facilitating separation of the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) from the remainder of the pallet ( 2 ).  
   
   
       17 . A method for packaging a computer rack ( 1 ) for transport, the computer rack being of the type associable with casters extending vertically by a first determined distance (H 1 ) relative to at least one lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ), characterized in that it is applied via a transport pallet ( 2 ) including at least first and second side modules ( 21 , 22 ) and an intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) of the separable type allowing the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) to be connected, the method including: 
 providing a first and a second distinct anchoring means ( 12 ) mounted to and integral with the computer rack ( 1 ), and distributed under the lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack, on either side of a vertical median plane (P 1 );    horizontally translating the pallet for position under the computer rack, parallel to said median plane (P 1 ); and    attaching the first ( 21 ) side module of the pallet ( 2 ) to the first anchoring means, and attaching the second ( 22 ) side module of the pallet to the second anchoring means ( 12 ), so that the top of the pallet ( 2 ) is spaced away from the lower face ( 10 ) of the computer rack ( 1 ) by a second determined distance (H 2 ) strictly smaller than said first determined distance (H 1 ).    
   
   
       18 . The packaging method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of attaching the first and second modules comprises insertion of plates ( 210 ,  220 ) in respective slides forming the anchoring means ( 12 ) under the lower face of the computer rack ( 1 ), the plates ( 210 ,  220 ) being distributed over each of the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ).  
   
   
       19 . The packaging method according to  claim 17 , comprising a step ( 51 ) for removing said intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) including a detaching of the respective side modules ( 210 ,  22 ) from the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) and the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) with horizontal translation, so as to leave an empty space between the side modules ( 21 ,  22 ).  
   
   
       20 . The packaging method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step ( 51 ) for removing the intermediate supporting means ( 20 ) is followed by a step ( 52 ) for lifting the assembly formed by the rack ( 1 ) and a remainder ( 21 ,  22 ) of the pallet attached to the computer rack ( 1 ) and by a step ( 53 ) for removing respective side modules ( 21 ,  22 ) by horizontal translation and replacing the side modules during a subsequent step ( 54 ) with removable devices ( 3 ) having casters ( 31 ) attached to the anchoring means ( 12 ) of the computer rack along with a horizontal translation movement.