EXTENDABLE HARD DRIVE DRAWER

• US 20150201522A1
• Filed: 01/09/2015
• Published: 07/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Tsorng, Yaw-Tzorng, Jau, Maw-Zan, Chen, Chao-Jung, Cheng, I-Lang
• Granted Patent: US 9,763,352 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0217 Mechanical details of casings covers, lids, hoods or members for covering apertures H05K5/03
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/14 Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1488 Cabinets therefor, e.g. chassis or racks or mechanical interfaces between blades and support structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An apparatus comprising at least one extendable hard drive drawer for replacement and maintenance of at least one hard drive. The apparatus comprises a chassis comprising a front side and a rear side, and a first hard drive carrier and a second hard drive carrier housed within the chassis. The first hard drive carrier can be housed at the front side of the chassis, and the second hard drive carrier can be located behind the first hard drive carrier. The first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier can each be adapted to house at least one hard drive. The first hard drive carrier can be adapted to slide from a closed position to a first open position, and from the first open position to a second open position, such that the second hard drive carrier can be accessed in the second open position.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a chassis comprising a front side and a rear side;

a first hard drive carrier and a second hard drive carrier housed within the chassis, the first hard drive carrier housed at the front side;

the first hard drive carrier slidably coupled to the chassis;

the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier each adapted to house at least one hard drive; and

the first hard drive carrier adapted to slide from a first closed position to a first open position, and from the first open position to a second open position, such that the second hard drive carrier can be accessed in the second open position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, at the first open position, the first hard drive carrier extends a first length beyond the front side of the chassis while the second hard drive carrier remains in place within the chassis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein, at the second open position, the second hard drive carrier is adapted to slide to the front side of the chassis while the first hard drive carrier extends a second length beyond the front side of the chassis, the second length longer than the first length.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the second hard drive carrier is slidably coupled to the chassis.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first hard drive carrier comprises at least one extension bar slidably coupled to the second hard drive carrier at a fixed point, the at least one extension bar defining a maximum distance between the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier at the first open position.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the maximum distance remains fixed as the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier slide from the first open position to the second open position.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first hard drive carrier comprises a first base and the second hard drive carrier comprises a second base, the first base and the second base providing support to the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier, respectively.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a chassis comprising a front side and a rear side;

a first hard drive carrier and a second hard drive carrier housed within the chassis, the first hard drive carrier housed at the front side, the second hard drive carrier housed behind the first hard drive carrier;

the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier slidably coupled to the chassis;

the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier each adapted to house at least one hard drive; and

the first hard drive carrier adapted to slide from a first closed position to a first open position, and from the first open position to a second open position, such that the second hard drive carrier can be accessed in the second open position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein, at the first open position, the first hard drive carrier extends a first length beyond the front side of the chassis while the second hard drive carrier remains in place within the chassis.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein, at the second open position, the second hard drive carrier slides to the front side of the chassis while the first hard drive carrier extends a second length beyond the front side of the chassis, the second length longer than the first length.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first hard drive carrier comprises at least one extension bar slidably coupled to the second hard drive carrier at a fixed point, the at least one extension bar defining a maximum distance between the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier at the first open position.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the maximum distance remains fixed as the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier slide from the first open position to the second open position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the at least one extension bar comprises a guiding portion for sliding along the fixed point.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a base fixed to the second hard drive carrier, the base comprising a hole to allow for access to the second hard drive carrier.

15. A method of accessing a second hard drive carrier located behind a first hard drive carrier in a server comprising:

using an apparatus comprising;

a chassis comprising a front side and a rear side;

the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier housed within the chassis, the first hard drive carrier housed at the front side, the second hard drive carrier housed behind the first hard drive carrier;

the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier slidably coupled to the chassis;

the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier each adapted to house at least one hard drive; and

the first hard drive carrier adapted to slide from a first closed position to a first open position, and from the first open position to a second open position, such that the second hard drive carrier can be accessed in the second open position;

sliding the first hard drive carrier to the first open position;

sliding the first hard drive carrier to the second open position; and

accessing the second hard drive carrier from the front side.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein, at the first open position, the first hard drive carrier extends a first length beyond the front side of the chassis while the second hard drive carrier remains in place within the chassis.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein, at the second open position, the second hard drive carrier slides to the front side of the chassis while the first hard drive carrier extends a second length beyond the front side of the chassis, the second length longer than the first length.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the first hard drive carrier comprises at least one extension bar slidably coupled to the second hard drive carrier at a fixed point, the at least one extension bar defining a maximum distance between the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier at the first open position.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the maximum distance remains fixed as the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier slide from the first open position to the second open position.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the first hard drive carrier and the second hard drive carrier are separated by an adjustable gap, the adjustable gap providing access to the second hard drive carrier in the second open position.