초록 ▼

A roof for a computer rack aisle is provided. The roof has a canopy that may be flexible and/or fire-resistant. The canopy has a retracted position an extended position. In the retracted position, the canopy may be wound around a spool. In the extended position the canopy may cover the top of an ais

A roof for a computer rack aisle is provided. The roof has a canopy that may be flexible and/or fire-resistant. The canopy has a retracted position an extended position. In the retracted position, the canopy may be wound around a spool. In the extended position the canopy may cover the top of an aisle between two computer racks. A selectively releasable retainer holds the canopy in the extended position while releasing the canopy to return to the retracted position when a predetermined condition is met. The canopy retractor is provided to return the canopy to a retracted position. The canopy having first and second lateral edges with flanges running from a position approximate a front portion of the canopy and to a position approximate a rear portion of the canopy. The flanges can be received within a canopy guide track to facilitate the smooth movement from the extend position to the retracted position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A computer rack air containment system comprising: a first row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment;a second row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the second row being spaced apart from the first row so that an aisle is formed therebetween, the aisle havi

1. A computer rack air containment system comprising: a first row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment;a second row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the second row being spaced apart from the first row so that an aisle is formed therebetween, the aisle having a first end and an opposing second end;a canopy disposed in an extended position so that the canopy spans completely across the aisle and extends from the first end of the aisle to the opposing second end of the aisle, the canopy being movably secured to the first row of computer racks and the second row of computer racks; anda canopy retractor secured to the canopy and disposed at the first end of the aisle, the canopy retractor being configured to move the canopy from the extended position to a retracted position;a selectively releasable retainer securing a front portion of the canopy at the second end of the aisle, the releasable retainer being configured to release the canopy so that the canopy can move to the retracted position when a predetermined condition is met. 2. The computer rack air containment system of claim 1, wherein the canopy is fire-resistant. 3. The computer rack air containment system of claim 1, wherein the canopy has a length in the range from about 8 feet to about 50 feet. 4. The computer rack air containment system of claim 1, wherein the canopy has a width in the range from about 3 feet to about 8 feet. 5. The computer rack air containment system of claim 1, wherein the canopy that extends from the first end of the aisle to the opposing second end of the aisle is substantially horizontally disposed. 6. The computer rack air containment system of claim 1, wherein the canopy comprises a flat sheet of material that is sufficiently flexible that it can be wound around a spool. 7. The computer rack air containment system of claim 1, wherein the canopy has first and second lateral edges, the first and second lateral edges having a flange running from a position approximate a front portion of the canopy and to a position approximate a rear portion of the canopy. 8. The computer rack air containment system of claim 7, further comprising a first canopy guide track extending along the first row of computer racks and a second canopy guide rack extending along the second row of computer racks, the flange on the first lateral edge of the canopy being retained within the first canopy guide rack and the flange on the second lateral edge of the canopy being retained within the second canopy guide rack. 9. The computer rack air containment system of claim 1, wherein the selectively releasable retainer is a heat sensitive retainer. 10. The computer rack air containment system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined condition is an environmental temperature in the range from about 90° F. to about 225° F. 11. The computer rack air containment system of claim 9, wherein the heat sensitive retainer is a fusible link. 12. The computer rack air containment system of claim 11, wherein the fusible link is selected from the group consisting of a mechanical fusible link, a mechanical fusible chain, a mechanical fusible wire, and an electrically actuated fusible link. 13. The computer rack air containment system of claim 1, wherein the canopy retractor comprises a spool receiving the canopy thereon. 14. The computer rack air containment system of claim 13, wherein canopy retractor further comprises a retracting spring or a motor. 15. The computer rack air containment system of claim 14, wherein the canopy is substantially wound around the spool when in the retracted position and wherein the retracting spring is configured to bias the canopy toward the retracted position. 16. A computer rack air containment system comprising: a first row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the first row of computer racks having a first end and an opposing second end;a second row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the second row being spaced apart from the first row in substantially parallel alignment so that an aisle if formed therebetween, the second row of computer racks having a first end and an opposing second end;a first canopy guide track and a second canopy guide track secured to and extending along the first row of computer racks at least partially between the first end and the second end thereof and the second row of computer racks at least partially between the first end and the second end thereof, respectively;a canopy retractor at least partially disposed between the first ends of the first and second rows of computer racks; anda canopy having a first end an opposing second end with opposing side edges extending therebetween, the first end of the canopy being secured to the canopy retractor, the opposing side edges of the canopy being slidably retained within corresponding ones of the first and second canopy guide tracks, the canopy reactor being configured to move the canopy between an extended position and a the canopy between an extended position and a retracted position;a selectively releasable retainer securing a front portion of the canopy at the second end of the aisle, the releasable retainer being configured to release the canopy so that the canopy can move to the retracted position when a predetermined condition is met. 17. The computer rack air containment system of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the canopy extends from the first end of the aisle to the opposing second end of the aisle when in the extended position and that portion of the canopy is substantially horizontally disposed. 18. A computer rack air containment system comprising: a first row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the first row of computer racks having a top surface that extends from a first end to an opposing second end;a second row of computer racks housing electrical computer equipment, the second row being spaced apart from the first row in substantially parallel alignment so that an aisle if formed therebetween that extends between a first end and an opposing second end, the second row of computer racks having a top surface that extends from a first end to an opposing second end;a first canopy guide track extending along the top surface of the first row at least partially between the first end and the opposing second end thereof;a second canopy guide track extending along the top surface of the second row at least partially between the first end and the opposing second end thereof;a canopy retractor extending between the top surface of the first row and the top surface of the second row at the second end of the aisle;an elongated canopy comprised of a flexible sheet having a first end an opposing second end with opposing side edges extending therebetween, the canopy being disposed in an extended position with the first end of the canopy being secured at the first end of the aisle by a releasable retainer, the opposing side edges of the canopy being slidably retained within corresponding ones of the first and second canopy guide tracks so that at least a portion of the canopy horizontally spans across the aisle, and the second end of the canopy is secured to the canopy retractor, the canopy reactor applying a resilient spring force on the canopy so that when the releasable retainer releases the first end of the canopy, the canopy automatically retracts toward the canopy retractor. 19. The computer rack air containment system of claim 18, wherein the releasable retainer is a heat sensitive retainer that releases the first end of the canopy when a predetermined temperature is reached. 20. The computer rack air containment system of claim 19, wherein the heat sensitive retainer is a fusible link. 21. The computer rack air containment system of claim 18, wherein the canopy retractor comprises a spool about which the canopy is wound when releasable retainer releases the first end of the canopy.