Teradata Tip and Move Cabinet!

Background:

Teradata products consist of cabinets full of computer servers and disc arrays.  The new 42U model is 203.2 cm (80 inches) high and the mass of the entire cabinet with servers installed could become as high as 1000 Kilograms (2200 lbs). Door and Elevator height issues have come up at some data center sites with the release of this new model.  A device is required to safely recline the cabinet, move it through the doorway or under any other obstruction, and then return it to a full-upright position. Figure 1 shows the cabinet and the approximate weight distribution:

Figure 1: Distribution Load at the Cabinet

Objective:

The Project objective is to: Construct a moving dolly or truck specially fitted to safely tilt and transport fully loaded computer server cabinets. The value of the servers and disk arrays can exceed $300,000.

• The solution is constrained by both the equipment needing to be moved, and the size of the doorways and elevator it must pass through.

• Safety is a primary concern due to the weight and height of the equipment

• Current solution involves time-consuming removal of the servers and disc arrays in the cabinet, tilting and moving the empty cabinet, and then the re-installation of all of the cabinet computer components. A successful solution will be a device, which can be safely operated by two persons, can be reproduced, and light-weight enough to be shipped world-wide.

Final Design: The Zero Upender: Components

The Zero Upender in motion: