U.S. patent application number 11/612724 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for hard disk enclosure blade.
This patent application is currently assigned to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Kenji Hidaka, Michihiro Okamoto, Takeshi Wagatsuma.
Application Number | 20070217143 11/612724 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38517576 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070217143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wagatsuma; Takeshi ; et
al. |
September 20, 2007 |
Hard disk enclosure blade
Abstract
A hard disk enclosure blade includes an enclosure insertable
into a rack, a number of slots, a lever, and a flap. Each slot can
receive a tray holding hard disk drives. The lever allows the
enclosure to be pushed into and pulled from the rack. The lever has
an open position in which the enclosure is removable from the rack,
and a closed position in which the enclosure is not removable. The
flap has a first flap position in which the flap is disposed across
the slots and in which the lever is movable from its closed to its
open position, and a second flap position in which the lever is not
movable from the closed to the open position. Where the slots are
all empty, the flap reverts to the first flap position. Insertion
of a tray into a slot forces the flap to the second flap
position.
Inventors: |
Wagatsuma; Takeshi;
(Kanagata-ken, JP) ; Okamoto; Michihiro;
(Kanagawa-ken, JP) ; Hidaka; Kenji; (Kanagawa-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF MICHAEL DRYJA
1474 N COOPER RD #105-248
GILBERT
AZ
85233
US
|
Assignee: |
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES
CORPORATION
Armonk
NY
|
Family ID: |
38517576 |
Appl. No.: |
11/612724 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11385949 |
Mar 20, 2006 |
|
|
|
11612724 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/181 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/685 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16 |
Claims
1. A hard disk enclosure blade comprising: an enclosure insertable
into a rack; a plurality of slots, each slot receptive to a tray
capable of holding one or more hard disk drives; a lever by which
the enclosure is pushed into the rack and pulled out of the rack,
the lever having an open position in which the enclosure is
removable from the rack and a closed position in which the
enclosure is not removable from the rack; and, a flap having a
first flap position in which the flap is disposed across the slots
and the lever is movable from the closed position to the open
position, and a second flap position in which the lever is not
movable from the closed position to the open position, wherein
where the slots are all empty, the flap reverts to the first flap
position, and where insertion of a tray into one of the slots
forces the flap to the second flap position.
2. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 1, further comprising one
or more pins, the pins having a first pins position in which the
lever is movable from the closed position to the open position, and
a second pins position in which the lever is prevented from moving
from the closed position to the open position, wherein, in the
first flap position, the flap indirectly allows the lever to move
from the closed position to the open position, in that, in the
first flap position, the flap moves the pins from the second pins
position to the first pins position, and wherein, in the second
flap position, the flap indirectly prevents the lever to move from
the closed position to the open position, in that, in the second
flap position, the flap moves the pins from the first pins position
to the second pins position.
3. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 2, wherein the pins are
attached to the flap.
4. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 3, wherein, in the flap
moving from the first flap position to the second flap position,
the pins are correspondingly moved from the first pins position to
the second pins position due to their attachment to the flap, and
in the flap moving from the second flap position to the first flap
position, the pins are correspondingly moved from the second pins
position to the first pins position due to their attachment to the
flap.
5. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 2, wherein, in the first
pins position, the pins do not block the lever so that the lever is
able to move from the closed position to the open position, and in
the second pins position, the pins block the lever so that the
lever is unable to move from the closed position to the open
position.
6. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 1, further comprising a
spring to default the flap to the first flap position and to revert
the flap to the first flap position upon complete emptying of the
slots.
7. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 1, wherein insertion of a
tray into one of the slots, where the slots are previously empty,
pushes the flap so that the flap enters the second flap
position.
8. A hard disk enclosure blade comprising: an enclosure insertable
into a rack; a plurality of slots, each slot receptive to a tray
capable of holding one or more hard disk drives; a lever by which
the enclosure is pushed into the rack and pulled out of the rack,
the lever having an open position in which the enclosure is
removable from the rack and a closed position in which the
enclosure is not removable from the rack; and, means for preventing
the lever from moving from the closed position to the open position
when any of the slots is occupied by a tray capable of holding one
or more hard disk drives.
9. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 8, wherein the means
comprises a flap, the flap having a first flap position in which
the flap is disposed across the slots and the lever is movable from
the closed position to the open position, and a second flap
position in which the lever is not movable from the closed position
to the open position.
10. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 9, wherein, where the
slots are all empty, the flap reverts to the first flap position,
and where insertion of a tray into one of the slots forces the flap
to the second flap position.
11. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 8, wherein the means
comprises one or more pins, the pins having a first pins position
in which the lever is movable from the closed position to the open
position, and a second pins position in which the lever is
prevented from moving from the closed position to the open
position.
12. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 11, wherein the means
further comprises a flap, the flap having a first flap position and
a second flap position, in the first flap position the flap moves
the pins from the second pins position to the first pins position,
and in the second flap position the flap moves the pins from the
first pins position to the second pins position.
13. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 12, wherein the pins are
attached to the flap.
14. A hard disk enclosure blade comprising: an enclosure insertable
into a rack; a plurality of slots, each slot receptive to a tray
capable of holding one or more hard disk drives; a lever by which
the enclosure is pushed into the rack and pulled out of the rack,
the lever having an open position in which the enclosure is
removable from the rack and a closed position in which the
enclosure is not removable from the rack; and, a mechanism to
prevent the lever from moving from the closed position to the open
position when any of the slots is occupied by a tray capable of
holding one or more hard disk drives.
15. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 14, wherein the
mechanism comprises a flap, the flap having a first flap position
in which the flap is disposed across the slots and the lever is
movable from the closed position to the open position, and a second
flap position in which the lever is not movable from the closed
position to the open position.
16. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 15, wherein, where the
slots are all empty, the flap reverts to the first flap position,
and where insertion of a tray into one of the slots forces the flap
to the second flap position.
17. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 15, wherein insertion of
a tray into one of the slots, where the slots are previously empty,
pushes the flap so that the flap enters the second flap
position.
18. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 14, wherein the
mechanism comprises one or more pins, the pins having a first pins
position in which the lever is movable from the closed position to
the open position, and a second pins position in which the lever is
prevented from moving from the closed position to the open
position.
19. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 18, wherein the
mechanism further comprises a flap, the flap having a first flap
position and a second flap position, in the first flap position the
flap moves the pins from the second pins position to the first pins
position, and in the second flap position the flap moves the pins
from the first pins position to the second pins position.
20. The hard disk enclosure blade of claim 19, wherein the pins are
attached to the flap.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present patent application is a continuation-in-part of
the previously filed patent application entitled "Hard disk
enclosure blade," filed on Mar. 20, 2006, and assigned Ser. No.
11/385,949, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a hard disk
enclosure blade, and more particularly to such a blade that is not
removable from a rack unless it is empty of hard disk drives.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In data center and other environments, a large number of
computing peripherals are usually organized in such a way as to
efficiently use the physical space available for them. For
instance, many such peripherals are rack-mounted. Rack-mounted
peripherals have a standard width that enables them to be inserted
into industry-standard racks. Racks may themselves be seven feet or
more in height, allowing a large number of rack-mounted peripherals
to be inserted into a single rack.
[0004] A hard disk enclosure blade is a rack-mounted peripheral
that accepts a number of trays of hard disk drives. Therefore, in a
relatively small space, a large number of hard disk drives can be
stored. For instance, one type of hard disk enclosure blade accepts
eight trays. Each tray can hold three hard disk drives, such that
the hard disk enclosure itself can store a total of twenty-four
hard disk drives.
[0005] Such a hard disk enclosure blade that is fully populated
with twenty-four hard disk drives can be relatively heavy, however.
For instance, a fully populated hard disk enclosure blade can weigh
more than twenty kilograms, or more than forty-four pounds.
Administrators who are responsible for managing such rack-mounted
peripherals may not realize that such hard disk enclosure blades
are so heavy. Therefore, they may try to remove a fully populated
hard disk enclosure blade from a rack, not realizing the full
weight of the fully populated blade.
[0006] As a result, there is a real potential for the blade
accidentally dropping to the floor. While dropping any type of
rack-mounted peripheral can potentially cause damage to the
peripheral, the chance for damage is heightened with hard disk
enclosure blades, because hard disk drives are sensitive to extreme
force impacts, which can occur on their being dropped and hitting
the floor. For this and other reasons, therefore, there is a need
for the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to a hard disk enclosure
blade. In one embodiment, such a blade includes an enclosure that
is insertable into a rack. There are a number of slots, with each
slot receptive to a tray capable of holding one or more hard disk
drives. The blade includes a lever by which the enclosure is pushed
into the rack and pulled out of the rack. The lever has an open
position in which the enclosure is removable from the rack, and a
closed position in which the enclosure is not removable from the
rack. The blade includes a flap having a first flap position in
which the flap is disposed across the slots and in which the lever
is movable from its closed position to its open position. The flap
also has a second flap position in which the lever is not movable
from the closed position to the open position. Where the slots are
all empty, the flap reverts to the first flap position, and
insertion of a tray into one of the slots forces the flap to the
second flap position.
[0008] In one embodiment, the blade further includes one or more
pins. The pins have a first pins position in which the lever is
movable from the closed position to the open position, and a second
pins position in which the lever is prevented from moving from the
closed position to the open position. In the first flap position,
the flap indirectly allows the lever to move from the closed
position to the open position, in that the flap moves the pins from
the second pins position to the first pins position. In the second
flap position, the flap indirectly prevents the lever to move from
the closed position to the open position, in that the flap moves
the pins from the first pins position to the second pins position.
In one embodiment, the pins are attached to the flip.
[0009] In one embodiment, then, in the first pins position, the
pins do not block the lever so that the lever is able to move from
the closed position to the open position. In the second pins
position, the pins block the lever so that the lever is unable to
move from the closed position to the open position. In one
embodiment, the blade further includes a spring to default the flap
to the first flap position and to revert the flap to the first flap
position upon complete emptying of the slots. Insertion of a tray
into one of the slots, where the slots are previously empty, pushes
the flap so that it enters the second flap position.
[0010] Embodiments of the invention provide for advantages over the
prior art. The hard disk enclosure blade of the present invention
is not removable from a rack unless it is completely empty of hard
disk drive trays. In one embodiment, the blade weighs only about
eight kilograms, or about eighteen pounds, when it is completely
empty, as compared to more than twenty kilograms, or more than
forty-four pounds, when it is completely populated with full trays.
Therefore, there is less chance of the blade being too heavy for a
single administrator removing the empty blade from the rack.
Furthermore, even the administrator drops the blade during removal
of the blade from the rack, there is no potential for hard disk
drive damage, since the blade is only removable when it is
completely empty of hard disk drive trays, and thus completely
empty of hard disk drives.
[0011] Still other advantages, aspects, and embodiments of the
invention will become apparent by reading the detailed description
that follows, and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The drawings referenced herein form a part of the
specification. Features shown in the drawing are meant as
illustrative of only some embodiments of the invention, and not of
all embodiments of the invention, unless otherwise explicitly
indicated, and implications to the contrary are otherwise not to be
made.
[0013] FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams of a hard disk enclosure blade
with respect to a first flap position and a first pins position,
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams of a hard disk enclosure blade
with respect to a second flap position and a second pins position,
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams of a hard disk enclosure blade
in which a lever thereof is unlocked (in detail), and capable of
moving from a closing position to an open position, according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams of a hard disk enclosure blade
in which a lever thereof is locked (in detail), and not capable of
moving from a closed position to an open position, according to an
embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a hard disk enclosure blade
in which a hard disk drive tray has been inserted into one of the
slots of the blade, according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0018] FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams of a hard disk enclosure blade
in which there are no hard disk drive trays, according to an
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In the following detailed description of exemplary
embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of
illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention
may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient
detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
invention. Other embodiments may be utilized, and logical,
mechanical, and other changes may be made without departing from
the spirit or scope of the present invention. The following
detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by
the appended claims.
[0020] FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B show a hard disk enclosure blade
100, according to an embodiment of the invention. The hard disk
enclosure blade 100 includes an enclosure 102, as well as a number
of slots 104A, 104B, 104C, 104D, 104E, 104F, 104G, and 104H,
collectively referred to as the slots 104. The hard disk enclosure
blade 100 also includes a lever 106, a flap 108, and pins 110.
[0021] The enclosure 102 is adapted to be inserted into a rack of
the type that may conventionally store computing peripherals. The
enclosure 102 defines the slots 104. Each of the slots 104 is
receptive to a tray that is capable of holding one or more hard
disk drives. For instance, each such tray may hold three hard disk
drives, so that a total of twenty-four hard disk drives can be
stored by the hard disk enclosure blade 100.
[0022] The lever 106 is that by which the enclosure 102 is pushed
into the rack and pulled out of the rack. The lever 106 has a
closed position, which is specifically depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B,
in which the enclosure 102 is locked within the rack in question,
and is not removable from the rack. The lever 106 is movable to an
open position by pushing each portion of the lever 106 outwards
towards the ends of the enclosure 102, as indicated by the arrows
107. In the open position of the lever 106, the enclosure 102 is
removable from the rack within which it has been inserted.
[0023] The flap 108 has a first flap position, as shown in FIGS. 1A
and 1B in particular, in which the flap 108 is disposed across the
slots 104. In the first flap position of the flap 108, the lever
106 is ultimately movable from its closed position to its open
position. In the first flap position, the flap 108 is at
substantially a ninety-degree angle to opening within the enclosure
102. The flap 108 also has a second flap position, as shown in
FIGS. 2A and 2B in particular, in which it is pushed against and
parallel to a side of the enclosure 102 at which the lever 106 is
disposed.
[0024] When all the slots 104 are empty, and none contain a tray,
the flap 108 reverts to the first flap position. However, insertion
of a tray into any of the slots 104, where all of the slots 104 are
initially empty, pushes or forces the flap 108 to the second flap
position. Thus, when a tray is inserted into any of the slots 104,
the lever 106 is not movable from its closed position to its open
position, and the enclosure 102 is effectively locked in place.
That is, when any of the slots 104 contains a tray, the enclosure
102 cannot be removed from the rack. By comparison, when all of the
slots 104 are empty, the lever 106 is movable from its closed
position to its open position, and the enclosure 102 can therefore
be removed from the rack.
[0025] The pins 110 have a first pins position in which the lever
106 is movable from its closed position to its open position, as
well as a second pins position in which the lever 106 is prevented
from moving from the closed position to the open position. The
second pins position as particularly depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
The pins 110 are capable of moving--specifically rotating--within
corresponding slots. In the second pins position, the pins 110
block the lever 106 from moving in the direction indicated by the
arrows 107, and thus prevent the lever 106 from moving from the
closed position to the open position. By comparison, when the pins
110 are in the first pins position, such that they are rotated and
are positioned substantially flush or lower than the enclosure 102
(i.e., they do not protrude or extend from the enclosure 102), the
pins 110 no longer block the lever 106 from moving in the direction
indicated by the arrows 107. As such, the lever 106 is not
prevented from moving from the closed position to the open
position.
[0026] Stated another way, in the first pins position, the pins 110
do not block the lever 106 so that the lever is able to move from
its closed position to its open position. By comparison, in the
second pins position, the pins 110 block the lever 106 so that it
is not able to move from its closed position to its open position.
In this way, the pins 110 assist in controlling when the enclosure
102 is able to be removed from the rack.
[0027] It is noted that in the first flap position, the flap 108
indirectly allows the lever 106 to move from the closed position to
the open position, in that the flap 108 moves the pins 110 from the
second pins position to the first pins position. Furthermore, it is
noted that in the second flap position, the flap 108 indirectly
prevents the lever 106 to move from the closed position to the open
position, in that the flap 108 moves the pins 110 from the first
pins position to the second pins position. The pins 110 are
attached to the flap 108, such that movement of the former from the
first flap position to the second flap position (and vice-versa)
causes the pins 110 to move from the first pins position to the
second pins position (and vice-versa).
[0028] FIGS. 3A and 3B show in detail the hard disk enclosure blade
100 in which the lever 106 is unlocked, such that it can move from
its closed position to its open position, according to an
embodiment of the invention. Thus, in FIGS. 3A and 3B the pins 110
are in the first pins position that has been described.
Furthermore, the flap 108 is in the first flap position that has
been described. In FIG. 3A specifically, one of the pins 110 is
particularly depicted in the first pins position, which permits the
lever 106 to be moved from the closed position as shown in FIGS. 3A
and 3B to the open position that has been described. FIGS. 4A and
4B show in detail the hard disk enclosure blade 100 in which the
lever 106 is locked, such that it cannot move from its closed
position to its open position, according to an embodiment of the
invention. Thus, in FIGS. 4A and 4B the pins 110 are in the second
pins position that has been described. Furthermore, the flap 108 is
in the second flap position that has been described. No hard disk
drive trays are depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, but at least one such
tray is present in one of the slots, which is not shown for
illustrative convenience.
[0029] In FIG. 4A specifically, one of the pins 110 is particularly
depicted, in the second pins position, which prevents the lever 106
from being moved from the closed position as shown in FIGS. 4A and
4B to the open position that has been described. That is, in FIGS.
4A and 4B, the portions of the lever 106 cannot be moved outwards
as indicated by the arrows 107 of FIG. 1A. This is because the pins
110 in the second pins position prevent such movement.
[0030] In FIG. 4B specifically, the attachment of one of the pins
110 to the flap 108 is particularly depicted, within the circled
area 402. The flap 108 is in the second flap position in which it
is pushed to one side of the enclosure 102. The pins 110 are
attached at a right angle to the flap 108, and in one embodiment,
the flap 108 and the pins 110 can be considered as the same part
having a flap portion and a pins portion.
[0031] Therefore, when the flap 108 is moved or rotated from the
first flap position to the second flap position due to the
insertion of a hard disk drive tray in one of the slots of the
enclosure 102, the pins 110 are correspondingly moved from the
first pins position to the second pins position. The former
movement can be said to cause the latter movement. In the second
pins position, the pins 110 extend or protrude from their
corresponding slots, as in FIG. 4A.
[0032] Likewise, when the flap 108 is moved or rotated from the
second flap position back to the first flap position due to the
removal of all the hard disk drive trays from the slots of the
enclosure 102, the pins 110 are correspondingly moved from the
second pins position to the first pins position. The former
movement can be said to cause the latter movement. In the first
pins position, the pins 110 no longer extend or protrude from their
corresponding slots, as in FIG. 4A, but rather are flush with or
are positioned below the surface of the slots. As a result, the
lever 106 is no longer blocked by the pins 110 from moving in the
direction of the arrows 107 of FIG. 1A.
[0033] As has been described, insertion of a hard disk drive tray
in one of the slots of the enclosure 102 causes the flap 108 to
move from the first flap position to the second flap position,
because the hard disk drive tray presses against the flap 108 and
pushes it to one side. By comparison, removal of all the hard disk
drive trays from the slots of the enclosure 102 causes the flap 108
to move from the second flap position to the first flap position
due to the springs 114. The springs 114 are more generally a
spring-hinging mechanism.
[0034] The springs 114 are sprung and disposed so that they force
the flap 108 to revert and default to the first flap position as
shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. That is, it can be said that the flap 108
is spring-loaded so that it reverts and defaults to the first flap
position depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when there are no trays
forcing or causing the flap 108 to enter the second flap position.
Upon complete emptying of the slots 104, such that no hard disk
drive trays populated any of the slots 104, the springs 114 thus
cause the flap 108 to move to the first flap position. Complete
details of the springs 114 are not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;
however, such spring-type hinging mechanisms are known to those of
ordinary skill within the art.
[0035] It is noted that in one embodiment of the invention, the
flap 108, the pins 110, and/or the springs 114 can be part of a
mechanism or a means to prevent the lever 106 from moving from its
closed position to its open position when any of the slots 104 is
occupied by a tray capable of holding one or more hard disk drives.
That is, these various parts work together to prevent the lever 106
from moving to its open position when any of the slots 104 is
occupied by or contains a tray, so that the hard disk enclosure
blade 100 cannot be removed from a rack. Furthermore, these various
parts work together to allow the lever 106 to move to its open
position when all of the slots 104 are empty of trays, so that the
hard disk enclosure blade 100 can be removed.
[0036] FIGS. 5A and 5B depict insertion of a hard disk drive tray
308 into the hard disk enclosure blade 100, according to an
embodiment of the invention. That is, one of the slots 104 is in
the process of being occupied or containing a hard disk drive tray
308. In particular, the hard disk drive tray 308 is being inserted
into one of the slots 104. As a result, the flap 108 is pushed
against a side of the enclosure 102. That is, the flap 108 is
caused to move to the second flap position. Therefore, the lever
106 can no longer move from its closed position to the open
position.
[0037] By comparison, FIGS. 6A and 6B depict the hard disk
enclosure blade 100 in an open position in which it is removable
from a chassis, according to an embodiment of the invention. No
hard disk drive trays are contained within the blade 100. The lever
106 has been moved to its open position, in which the lever 106 is
extended parallel to the blade 100, as opposed to perpendicular to
the blade 100. A user can thus pull on the lever 106 to remove it
from a chassis.
[0038] It is noted that, although specific embodiments have been
illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those
of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement calculated to
achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific
embodiments shown. This application is thus intended to cover any
adaptations or variations of embodiments of the present invention.
Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited
only by the claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *