Fire Resistant Enclosure for a Data Storage Device Having Heat Sink Capabilities and Method for Making the Same

• US 20110019355A1
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John D Brush & Company Incorporated (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John D Brush & Company Incorporated (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cleveland, Terri P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,570,719 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1406 Reducing the influence of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1426 by cooling plates, e.g. fins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A fire resistant enclosure for a data storage device is provided. The enclosure includes an enclosure base comprising a base cap and a base body. The base body includes a bottom wall having a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity. The data storage device is positioned within the cavity. A fire resistant insulation material is positioned within the base cavity to encapsulate the data storage device. The base cap is coupled with the base body to enclose the data storage device within the enclosure base. The insulation material may be in intimate contact with the data storage device, or in contact with a moisture barrier surrounding the data storage device, wherein the insulation material acts as a heat sink for said data storage device to draw heat away from the data storage device to maintain a temperature of the data storage device within an acceptable operating range.

Claims

1. A method of protecting a data storage device within a fire resistant enclosure, said method comprising:

providing a base body including a bottom wall with a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a cavity;

inserting said data storage device within said cavity;

positioning a fire resistant insulation material within said cavity so that said fire resistant insulation material is in intimate contact with a substantial portion of said data storage device;

providing an enclosure cap; and

coupling said enclosure cap with said base body to enclose said data storage device within the fire resistant enclosure, wherein said fire resistant insulation material is a heat sink for said data storage device.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fire resistant insulation material is in intimate contact with all of said data storage device.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fire resistant insulation material is hydrated Portland cement.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

providing a data transfer port extending through a port clearance hole defined in said side wall of said base body; and

connecting said data storage device to said data transfer port using a device cable.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising encapsulating said device cable within said fire resistant insulation material.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said data storage device is encapsulated with about one inch of said fire resistant insulation material on all sides said data storage device.

7. A method of protecting a data storage device within a fire resistant enclosure, said method comprising:

providing a base body including a bottom wall with a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a cavity;

encasing said data storage device in a moisture barrier;

inserting said data storage device within said cavity;

positioning a fire resistant insulation material within said cavity so that said fire resistant insulation material is in intimate contact with a substantial portion of said moisture barrier;

providing an enclosure cap; and

coupling said enclosure cap with said base body to enclose said data storage device within the fire resistant enclosure, wherein said fire resistant insulation material is a heat sink for said data storage device.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said moisture barrier is a bag.

9. A method of protecting a data storage device within a fire resistant enclosure, said method comprising:

providing an enclosure base comprising a base cap and a base body, said base body including a bottom wall with a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity;

positioning fire resistant insulation material within said base cavity;

coupling said base cap with said base body to enclose said fire resistant insulation material in said base cavity;

providing an enclosure lid comprising a lid cap and a lid body, said lid body including a bottom wall with a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a lid cavity;

positioning a fire resistant insulation material within said lid cavity;

coupling said lid cap with said lid body to enclose said fire resistant insulation material in said lid cavity;

allowing the data storage device to be placed within a storage compartment defined by said base body, said storage compartment having walls; and

allowing said enclosure base to be coupled with said enclosure lid to enclose said data storage device within said storage compartment, wherein said fire resistant insulation material is in contact with said walls of said storage compartment, and wherein a substantial portion of said data storage device is no more than about 300 thousandths of an inch from said walls of said storage compartment so that said fire resistant insulation material is a heat sink for said data storage device.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising:

providing a data transfer port extending through a port clearance hole defined in said enclosure base; and

connecting said data storage device to said data transfer port using a device cable.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 further comprising encapsulating said device cable in said fire resistant insulation material.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said data storage device is encapsulated with one inch of said insulation material on all sides of said data storage device.

22. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein all of said data storage device is no more than about 300 thousandths of an inch from said walls of said storage compartment.

13. A fire resistant enclosure comprising:

an enclosure base comprising a base cap and a base body, said base body including a bottom wall having a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity;

a data storage device positioned within said cavity; and

a fire resistant insulation material positioned within said base cavity, wherein said fire resistant insulation material is in intimate contact with a substantial portion of said data storage device, wherein said base cap is coupled with said base body to enclose said data storage device within said enclosure base, and wherein said fire resistant insulation material is a heat sink for said data storage device.

14. The fire resistant enclosure in accordance with claim 13 wherein a data transfer port is mounted in said enclosure base, and wherein said data transfer port is connected to said data storage device by a device cable.

15. The fire resistant enclosure in accordance with claim 13 wherein said fire resistant insulation material is in intimate contact with all of said data storage device.

16. The fire resistant enclosure in accordance with claim 14 wherein said data storage device is supported within said cavity by a device support structure.

17. A fire resistant enclosure comprising:

an enclosure base comprising a base cap and a base body, said base body including a bottom wall having a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity;

a data storage device positioned within said cavity, wherein said data storage device is encased in a moisture barrier; and

a fire resistant insulation material positioned within said base cavity, wherein said fire resistant insulation material is in intimate contact with a substantial portion of said moisture barrier, wherein said base cap is coupled with said base body to enclose said data storage device within said enclosure base, and wherein said fire resistant insulation material is a heat sink for said data storage device.

18. The fire resistant enclosure in accordance with claim 17 wherein said moisture barrier is a bag.

19. The fire resistant enclosure in accordance with claim 17 wherein said moisture barrier is in intimate contact with a substantial portion of said data storage device

20. A fire resistant enclosure comprising:

an enclosure base comprising a base cap and a base body, said base body including a bottom wall having a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity, said base body defining a first portion of a storage compartment, wherein fire resistant insulation material is positioned within said base cavity, and wherein said base cap is coupled with said base body to enclose said insulation material within said base cavity;

an enclosure lid comprising a lid cap and a lid body, said lid body including a bottom wall having a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a lid body cavity, wherein fire resistant insulation material is positioned within said lid body cavity, wherein said lid cap is coupled with said lid body to enclose said insulation material within said lid body cavity, wherein said enclosure lid and said enclosure base defines a second portion of said storage compartment, and wherein said storage compartment has walls; and

a data storage device positioned within said storage compartment, wherein said fire resistant insulation material is in contact with said walls of said storage compartment, and wherein a substantial portion of said data storage device is no more than about 300 thousandths of an inch from said walls of said storage compartment so that said fire resistant insulation material is a heat sink for said data storage device.

21. The fire resistant enclosure in accordance with claim 20, wherein all of said data storage device is no more than about 300 thousandths of an inch from said walls of said storage compartment.

23. A fire resistant enclosure comprising:

an enclosure base comprising a base cap and a base body, said base body including a bottom wall having a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a base cavity, said base body defining a first portion of a storage compartment, wherein fire resistant insulation material is positioned within said base cavity, and wherein said base cap is coupled with said base body to enclose said insulation material within said base cavity;

an enclosure lid comprising a lid cap and a lid body, said lid body including a bottom wall having a side wall extending upwardly therefrom defining a lid body cavity, wherein fire resistant insulation material is positioned within said lid body cavity, wherein said lid cap is coupled with said lid body to enclose said insulation material within said lid body cavity, wherein said enclosure lid and said enclosure base defines a second portion of said storage compartment, and wherein said storage compartment has walls; and

a data storage device positioned within said storage compartment, wherein said fire resistant insulation material is in contact with said walls of said storage compartment, and wherein a substantial portion of said data storage device is in direct contact with said walls of said storage compartment so that said fire resistant insulation material is a heat sink for said data storage device.

24. The fire resistant enclosure in accordance with claim 23, wherein all of said data storage device is in direct contact with said walls of said storage compartment.