Computer: Storage: Removable
19" Rack mounting drinks cooler.   (+6, -3)  [vote for, against]
Shamelessly derivative.

Now, from BorgCo - a drinks cooler that fits in a 19" rack.

Has USB and Ethernet connections for status monitoring.

Holds an entire 24-can slab of half-litre beer cans.

Anonymous, undistinguished brushed-aluminium front panel with a couple of small status LEDs and a 4 x 4 keypad for entering the access code.

Beer not included.
-- 8th of 7, Dec 15 2009

19" Rackmount Fridge 19_22_20Rackmount_20Fridge
Prior Art acknowledged. [8th of 7, Dec 15 2009]

Why would someone want to cool beer?
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Dec 15 2009


In order to render tinned lager almost drinkable.
-- 8th of 7, Dec 15 2009


How is the 24-can array arranged?

At approx 3" diameter per can, you could get max 6 cans in a row, leaving another inch spare for your fridge-housing.

If 1U = 1.75", then to house 4 x 6 cans, you're going to need an 8U unit (7U for cans, and another one for bits and bobs)

This is assuming a single 'layer' of cans - make it capable of holding 2, or 3 deep - and you've got a 48, or 72 can unit.

The diameter of a barrel of beer is approx 17" so yes, that ought to be rackmountable too.
-- zen_tom, Dec 15 2009


// Why would someone want to drink lager? //

Because by 0345, all the Tippex is gone from the stationary cupboard, the whiteboard cleaning fluid has been scoffed, and desperation is setting in.

[zen_tom], you're hired.
-- 8th of 7, Dec 15 2009


Thanks 8th! Further potential lies in cheese:

A full Stilton is about 7" in diameter, allowing you room to rackmount 2 cheeses - with room to spare for crackers and cutlery.

If you forwent the cooling, you could have a compartment for brie and camembert which should be nice and gooey from the heat of your various servers etc.

A 2U wine-rack might come in handy as well.
-- zen_tom, Dec 15 2009


// Has USB and Ethernet connections for status monitoring. //

Come on [bigs], read the spec ....
-- 8th of 7, Dec 15 2009


//The diameter of a barrel of beer is approx 17" so yes, that ought to be rackmountable too.//

Question, is it better to focus on A single large Keg of Beer, or to have A Redundant Array of Individual Drinks?

(I'm rather fond of Red Stripe).
-- zen_tom, Dec 15 2009


The single large keg probably has the edge in terms of access time. The RAID approach is more spill-tolerant, in that the most you can ever lose is one canfull, whereas if the spigot on the keg fails, you could lose the lot.
-- 8th of 7, Dec 15 2009


5 minutes sounds like a reasonable lease time. High end units will implement Tuborg Carlsberg Protocol/Internet Party and Draught Heineken Cask Protocol.
-- 8th of 7, Dec 16 2009



random, halfbakery