System for maintaining the environment of a self-cooled data storage library

• US 10,172,253 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2018
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Miranda Gavillan, Jose G., Goodman, Brian G., Qiu, Kenny Nian Gan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cunningham, Xanthia C
• Application Number:
  US15/979,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20180270981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 231 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/68 Automatic cassette changing arrangements; automatic tape changing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/02 Cabinets; Cases; Stands; Disposition of apparatus therein or thereon
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/142 by air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/144 by detection, control, regulation of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1488 Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20736 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20781 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20818 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades

Abstract

A barrier system configured to at least partially surround at least one access opening that permits access to an interior of a data storage library. The barrier system includes at least one side surface configured to be coupled to at least one door along a first side surface location and to the data storage library along a second side surface location. The at least one side surface may be configured to be deployable to surround the at least one access opening and form a working space when the at least one door is in an open position, and is configurable to be collapsible when the at least one door is in a closed position. The at least one side surface may also be configured to resist environmental conditions external to the data storage library from intruding into the working space when the at least one side surface is deployed.

Claims

1. A barrier system configured to at least partially surround at least one access opening that permits access to an interior of a data storage library, the at least one access opening having at least one door, the barrier system comprising:

at least one flexible surface configured to be coupled to the at least one door at least partially along a first surface location and to the data storage library along a second surface location,

wherein the at least one flexible surface of the barrier system is configured to be deployable to surround the at least one access opening when the at least one door is in an open position, and is configurable to be collapsible when the at least one door is in a closed position.

2. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible surface is configured to resist environmental conditions external to the data storage library from intruding into the data storage library through the at least one access opening when the at least one flexible surface is deployed.

3. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible surface is configured to be automatically deployed when the at least one door is in the open position.

4. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the barrier system is erected at least one of (1) prior to the at least one door being at least partially opened, and (2) after the at least one door is at least partially opened.

5. The barrier system of claim 1, further comprising at least one barrier access port in the at least one flexible surface to permit access to the at least one access opening of the data storage library.

6. The barrier system of claim 5, wherein the at least one barrier access port comprises at least one of the group consisting of a zipper, a flap, a hanging slat, a split membrane, an air curtain, a hinged door, and combinations thereof.

7. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible surface is formed of a fabric material.

8. The barrier system of claim 7, wherein the at least one flexible surface is formed of at least one of the group consisting of a nylon, polyester, canvas, cotton, silk, plastic, foil, and combinations thereof.

9. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible surface is formed of a plurality of overlapping panels.

10. The barrier system of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible surface is formed of a folded panel.

11. The barrier system of claim 1, further comprising a barrier storage mechanism, wherein the barrier storage mechanism is configured to store the at least one flexible surface when the at least one door is in the closed position.

12. The barrier system of claim 1, further comprising a bottom skirt portion configured to extend below a lower portion of the at least one flexible surface when the at least one door is in the opened position.

13. The barrier system of claim 1, further comprising a door skirt configured to extend below a lower portion of the at least one door.

14. A barrier system configured to at least partially surround at least one access opening that permits access to an interior of a data storage library, the at least one access opening having at least one door, the barrier system comprising:

at least one side surface configured to be coupled to the at least one door at a first side surface location and to the data storage library at a second side surface location,

wherein the at least one side surface of the barrier system is configured to automatically deploy when the at least one door is opened and is configured to automatically retract when the at least one door is closed, and further wherein the at least one side surface of the barrier system is configured to resist environmental conditions from the exterior of the data storage library from intruding into the interior of data storage library when the at least one side surface is deployed.

15. The barrier system of claim 14, further comprising at least one barrier access port in the at least one side surface to permit access to an interior of the barrier system and the interior of the data storage library.

16. The barrier system of claim 14, wherein the at least one side surface of the barrier system is formed of at least one of an air curtain, a flexible fabric material, a plurality of overlapping panels, a folded panel, and a plurality of hanging slats.

17. The barrier system of claim 14, further comprising at least one top surface configured to be coupled to the at least one door at a first top surface location and to the data storage library at a second top surface location.

18. A system comprising:

a data storage library, wherein the data storage library is configured to read and receive media associated with one or more data storage cartridges, and further wherein the data storage library comprises at least one access opening for servicing an interior of the data storage library and at least one access door associated with the at least one access opening;

at least one environmental conditioning unit configured to control at least one environmental condition within the data storage library; and

at least one barrier deployable to surround the at least one access opening of the data storage library when the at least one access door is opened.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one barrier comprises at least one side surface, and further wherein the at least one side surface is formed of at least one of the group consisting of a flexible fabric material, a plurality of overlapping panels, a folded panel, a plurality of hanging slats, and combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a barrier storage mechanism, wherein the barrier storage mechanism is configured to store the at least one side surface of the at least one barrier when the at least one access door is closed.