U.S. patent application number 10/378125 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-09 for hard disc drive heat sink and sound absorbing frame.
Invention is credited to Lin, Jen-Cheng.
Application Number | 20040174673 10/378125 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32926412 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040174673 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin, Jen-Cheng |
September 9, 2004 |
Hard disc drive heat sink and sound absorbing frame
Abstract
A hard disc drive (HDD) heat sink and sound absorbing frame
comprises a sound absorbing frame, two heat sinks with multiple
heat dissipating fins and two heat conducting seals. The sound
absorbing frame has an open center and multiple through holes. Each
heat sink has an inner surface, multiple screw holes, multiple
posts with threaded holes attached to the inner surface of the heat
sink and multiple heat dissipation fins. The HDD is securely
mounted in the open center of the sound absorbing frame, and the
heat sinks are mounted on the sound absorbing frame with the HDD.
The multiple posts on the heat sinks respectively extend through
the corresponding through holes in the sound absorbing frame.
Screws screw into the threaded holes in the posts to hold the
assembly together.
Inventors: |
Lin, Jen-Cheng; (Chung-Ho
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Suite 2100
112 E. Pecan Street
San Antonio
TX
78205
US
|
Family ID: |
32926412 |
Appl. No.: |
10/378125 |
Filed: |
March 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.54 ;
361/709; G9B/33.024; G9B/33.039 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/20 20130101; G06F
1/184 20130101; G06F 1/187 20130101; G11B 33/08 20130101; G11B
33/1426 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/687 ;
361/709 |
International
Class: |
G06F 001/20 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hard disc drive (HDD) heat sink and sound absorbing frame
comprising; a first heat sink assembly adapted for a hard disk
drive (HDD) being mounted on the first heat sink assembly and
comprising: a heat sink comprising: an inner surface and an outer
surface, and the inner surface adapted for supporting the HDD;
three edges with a side formed on the heat sink; and multiple heat
dissipating fins formed on the side of the heat sink; a sound
absorbing frame supported on the heat sink of the first heat sink
assembly and having an open center where is adapted to be mounted
around a hard disc drive; and a first heat conducting seal mounted
between the heat sink of the first heat sink assembly and the sound
absorbing frame to increase heat conduction between the heat sink
and the sound absorbing frame.
2. The HDD heat sink and sound absorbing frame as claimed in claim
1, where the HDD further comprises a second heat sink assembly
mounted on the sound absorbing frame to sandwich the sound
absorbing frame between the first heat sink assembly and the second
heat sink assembly, and the second heat sink assembly comprising: a
heat sink comprising: an inner surface and an outer surface, and
the inner surface adapted for supporting the HDD; three edges with
a side formed on the heat sink; and multiple heat dissipating fins
formed on the side of the heat sink; and a second heat conducting
seal mounted between the heat sink of the second heat sink assembly
and the sound absorbing frame.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a hard disc drive heat sink
and sound absorbing frame, and the inventive device effectively
removes heat and absorbs the sound generated by a computer hard
disc drive.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a conventional computer
hard disc drive (HDD) (30) is rectangular and comprises a body (not
numbered) and a HDD housing. The body has a hard memory disc (not
numbered) and a circuit board (not numbered). The body of HDD (30)
comprises a top (not numbered), a bottom (not numbered). The HDD
housing encloses the body and comprises a top cover (not numbered)
and a bottom cover (34), and the bottom cover (34) has a
rectangular recess (38) and multiple screw holes (36). The top
cover is attached on the top of body of the HDD (30) to protect the
memory disc. The bottom cover (34) is securely attached to the
bottom of the body of the HDD (30) to protect the circuit board.
The HDD (30) is securely mounted in a computer housing.
[0005] When power is supplied to the HDD (30), the disc in the top
of the HDD (30) starts to rotate, and the disc rotation generates
heat. Part of the heat is transferred to the HDD housing. Then the
heat is radiated from the top cover of the HDD housing to the
surrounding air so part of the heat is removed from the HDD
housing. The rest of the heat dissipated is transferred to the
bottom cover (34), and the bottom cover (34) radiates the heat into
the surrounding air to release the heat. However, dissipating the
hot air created by the HDD (30) to the surrounding cold air is a
slow process. Furthermore, the temperature of the air surrounding
the HDD (30) within the computer housing increases as time passes.
Therefore, the longer the HDD (30) operates, the slower the heat
dissipates. The disadvantage of the conventional HDD is that the
heat dissipation from the top cover and the bottom cover (34) is
not very efficiency because of the limited surface area. Moreover,
the heat from the HDD (30) builds up in the air within the computer
housing, and the temperature within the computer housing goes up.
Furthermore, the heat in the air within the computer housing around
the HDD (30) is hard to exchange with the cold air outside the
computer housing.
[0006] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provide
a sound absorbing frame device in combination with a heat sink
assembly for a computer hard disc drive to mitigate the
aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an improved sound absorbing frame in combination with a heat sink
assembly for a computer hard disc drive (HDD). The inventive device
removes the heat very efficiently and absorbs the sound created
from the HDD when power is supplied to the computer HDD.
[0008] To accomplish the foregoing objective, the inventive feature
comprises mounting a sound absorbing frame and a heat sink assembly
on the computer HDD.
[0009] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment
of a hard disc drive heat sink and sound absorbing frame in
accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side plan view in partial section of the hard
disc drive heat sink and sound absorbing frame in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second
embodiment of the hard disc drive heat sink and sound absorbing
frame in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hard disc drive heat sink
with a sound absorbing frame in accordance with the present
invention mounted inside a computer housing;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional hard disc
drive heat sink in accordance with the prior art mounted inside a
computer housing; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional
hard disc drive heat sink in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] With reference to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a hard disc
drive (HDD) heat sink and sound absorbing frame comprises a sound
absorbing frame (60) and two heat sink assemblies (not numbered).
The HDD (20) comprises a top (not numbered), a bottom (not shown)
and a HDD top cover (22). The HDD top cover (22) is sealed to
protect the HDD (20) from contamination such as dust and
moisture.
[0017] The sound absorbing frame (60) is hollow and comprises an
open center (64), two opposite sides (not numbered) and multiple
thorough holes (62).
[0018] Each heat sink assembly comprises a heat conducting seal
(40) and a heat sink (80) with an inner surface (not numbered), an
outer surface (not numbered) and multiple heat dissipating fins
(82). The heat sink (80) has three edges (not numbered) and one
side (not numbered). The inner surface of the heat sink (80) has
four corners (not numbered). Two posts (84) with inner threads
(841) are securely mounted respectively near two opposite corners
on the inner surface of each heat sink (80). A screw hole (861) is
formed in each of the other two corners. Multiple heat dissipating
fins (82) are integrally formed on and extend out from the side of
the heat sink (80).
[0019] With reference to FIG. 2, the hard drive (20) with the HDD
top cover (22) is securely mounted in the open center (64) of the
sound absorbing frame (60). Furthermore, the inner surfaces of two
heat sinks (80) are securely attached to the HDD (20) with the
sound absorbing frame (60). The posts (84) on the inner surface of
one of the heat sink (80) respectively extends up and through
corresponding holes (62) in the sound absorbing frame (60). The
inner surface of the other heat sink (80) is securely mounted on
the other side of the sound absorbing frame (60). The posts (84) on
the inner surface respectively extend down and through the
corresponding holes (62) in the sound absorbing frame (60). Then
screws (86) respectively pass through the screw holes (861) in the
heat sink (80) and are screwed into the inner threads (841) in the
corresponding posts (84). The heat dissipating fins (82) on the two
heat sinks (80) abut each other and extend in the same direction.
Two heat conducting seals (40) are respectively mounted between the
HDD (20) and the heat sinks (80). Therefore, the HDD heat sink and
sound absorbing frame absorbs the sound and removes the heat
generated by the HDD (20).
[0020] With reference to FIG. 3, an exploded perspective view of a
second embodiment of hard disc drive (HDD) heat sink and sound
absorbing frame comprises one heat sink assembly instead of two
heat sink assemblies like the first embodiment. Therefore, the
second embodiment of the HDD heat sink and sound absorbing frame
also absorbs sound and removes heat generated by the HDD (20).
[0021] With reference to FIG. 4, the HDD heat sink and sound
absorbing frame is mounted inside a computer housing (11) so the
heat dissipating fins (82) protrude from the computer housing (11).
Consequently, the heat removed from the HDD does not have to be
removed from the inside of the computer housing (11).
[0022] The heat conducting seals (40) are mounted between the HDD
(20) and the heat sinks (80) to enhance the heat conduction from
the HDD (20) to the heat sinks (80). The advantage is that if the
heat generated by the HDD (20) is removed quickly and efficiently,
the heat is less likely to damage the HDD (20). Moreover, the sound
absorbing frame (60) creates an environment, which absorbs part of
the sound and blocks the sound from leaking out of the computer
housing (11). In short, use of the HDD heat sink and sound
absorbing frame creates a better working environment for people who
use computers a great deal.
[0023] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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