Portable computer server enclosure

Abstract

A container that holds rack mountable electronics equipment includes a plurality of rack enclosures and a corresponding plurality of enclosure cooling units. Each rack enclosure is movably mounted in the container such it can move from a position abutting a front of an enclosure cooling unit to a maintenance and access position spaced apart from the enclosure cooling unit. Each enclosure cooling unit is capable of providing varying amounts of cool air to the rack enclosure it abuts, so that the interior of each rack enclosure can be maintained at a different temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for holding electronic equipment, comprising:
 a container having a floor, a ceiling and sidewalls;   at least one enclosure cooling unit mounted along a first sidewall of the container;   at least one rack enclosure that is movably mounted in the container, wherein each rack enclosure is configured to received rack-mountable electronic equipment, and wherein each rack enclosure is movable between a mounted position where a rear of the rack enclosure abuts a front of an enclosure cooling unit, and an access position wherein the rack enclosure is pulled away from an enclosure cooling unit.   
     
     
         2 . The container if  claim 1 , further comprising at least one movement unit that is movably mounted on the floor of the container, wherein each movement unit is configured to receive a rack enclosure and to move the rack enclosure between the mounted position and the access position. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one swivel mechanism, wherein each swivel mechanism is configured to allow a rack enclosure to swivel with respect to an underlying movement unit. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one umbilical cord, wherein each umbilical cord has a first end attached to a stationary power or data junction box and a second end attached to a rack enclosure, wherein each umbilical cord is configured to route power or data lines between a stationary junction box and an interior of a rack enclosure, and wherein each umbilical cord has a length that allows the rack enclosure to which it is attached to move between the mounted and access positions. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each rack enclosure comprises:
 exterior sidewalls;   a front access door;   an open rear configured to abut an enclosure cooling unit;   a rack configured to receive rack-mountable electronics equipment; and   a cool air return duct that passes along one sidewall, wherein the cool air return duct is configured to convey a flow of cooling air from a rear of the rack enclosure to a position in front of the rack.   
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each enclosure cooling unit comprises:
 at least one cooling fan;   a heat exchange unit that extends up a height of the enclosure cooling unit; and   a duct that is configured to conduct a flow of air from a position at a rear side of the heat exchange unit around a side of the heat exchange unit to a position at a front of the enclosure cooling unit.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchange unit of each enclosure cooling unit comprises:
 a cooling fluid supply line that extends up a height of the heat exchange unit;   a cooling fluid return line that extends up a height of the heat exchange unit;   a plurality of cooling fluid lines positioned at different heights along the heat exchange unit, wherein a first end of each cooling fluid line is coupled to the cooling fluid supply line and wherein a second end of each cooling fluid line is coupled to the cooling fluid return line; and   a plurality of cooling fins that surround at least the plurality of cooling fluid lines.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein each enclosure cooling unit also comprises a cooling fluid pump is that coupled to a cooling fluid supply pipe and to the cooling fluid supply line of the heat exchange unit, wherein the cooling fluid pump is configured to selectively supply cooling fluid from the cooling fluid supply pipe to the cooling fluid supply line. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein each rack enclosure comprises a temperature sensor, wherein each enclosure cooling unit comprises a controller that receives a signal from a temperature sensor located in a rack enclosure that abuts the front of the enclosure cooling unit, and wherein the controller is configured such that when a signal from the temperature sensor indicates that the temperature in the rack enclosure is higher than a first threshold temperature, the controller activates the at least one cooling fan of the enclosure cooling unit. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the controller is also configured such that when a signal from the temperature sensor indicates that a temperature in the rack enclosure is higher than a second threshold temperature, the controller activates the cooling fluid pump. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second threshold temperatures can be individually set for each rack enclosure and enclosure cooling unit pair. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is also configured to vary a speed of the at least one cooling fan based on the signal from the temperature sensor when the signal indicates that a temperature in the rack enclosure is between the first and second threshold temperatures. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the cooling fluid pump to vary a flow rate of the cooling fluid based on the signal from temperature sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein each rack enclosure comprises:
 exterior sidewalls;   a front access door;   an open rear configured to abut a front of an enclosure cooling unit;   a rack configured to receive rack-mountable electronics equipment; and   a cool air return duct that passes along one sidewall, wherein the cool air return duct is configured to convey a flow of cooling air from a rear of the rack enclosure to a position in front of the rack.   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the duct of each enclosure cooling unit is configured to deliver a flow of air into the cool air return duct of a rack enclosure that abuts the front of the enclosure cooling unit. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a transport rail mounted on a ceiling of the container; and   a hoist that is slidably mounted on the transport rail, wherein the hoist is configured to be attached to a rack enclosure and to raise and lower the rack enclosure, and wherein when the hoist has been attached to and has raised a rack enclosure, the hoist can slide along the transport rail to move the rack enclosure to different locations.   
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the transport rail is movably mounted on the ceiling of the container such that one end of the transport rail can extend outside the container, and such that when the hoist is holding a rack enclosure, the hoist can slide along the transport rail to move the rack enclosure from a position inside the container to a position outside the container, and vice versa. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling unit that is configured to supply a flow of cooling fluid to the at least one enclosure cooling unit. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each enclosure cooling unit supplies cool air only to a rack enclosure that abuts a front of the enclosure cooling unit, and wherein each enclosure cooling unit is configured to maintain a temperature in the abutting rack enclosure below a user-selectable temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each enclosure cooling unit is configured to provide selectively varying amounts of cooling to only the rack enclosure that abuts a front of the enclosure cooling unit such that a temperature within the rack enclosure can be maintained below a user-selected temperature.