Disk drive support apparatus and methods

• US 6,693,796 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Anson, Jon, Ives, Thom
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg, Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q.
• Application Number:
  US09/948,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 892 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685, 361/689, 361/694-695, 361/726, 361/730, 363/141, 454/184, 312/223.1, 312/223.2
• US Class Current: 361/679.36
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds

Abstract

A disk drive support apparatus to support at least one disk drive. The support apparatus includes a chassis and a suspension system supported on the chassis. At least one disk drive is supported on the suspension system so that the disk drive is substantially isolated from mechanical vibration and shock which can be imparted to the chassis. The invention further includes a method of supporting a disk drive in a disk array system by providing a suspension system to support the disk drive in the disk array system. The suspension system can be foam, mechanical springs, or other suspension systems which provide resilience and dampening of the disk drive to mechanical shock and vibration which can be encountered by the disk array system. The disk drives can be supported in a frame which is itself supported by the suspension system in the chassis.

Claims

1. A disk array system comprising:

a chassis;

a resilient foam supported on the chassis;

a frame resiliently supported on the resilient foam;

a plurality of disk drives supported on the frame;

a door panel; and

,

a printed circuit assembly, wherein;

the chassis defines an access opening and the door panel is configured to cover the access opening; and

,

the printed circuit assembly is configured to be supported between the disk drives and the door panel, and in parallel, juxtaposed relation to the door panel.

2. A disk array system comprising:

a chassis;

a resilient foam supported on the chassis;

a frame resiliently supported on the resilient foam;

a plurality of disk drives supported on the frame; and

a weight that is attached to the frame.

3. The disk array system of claim 2, and wherein:

the weight has mass; and

,

the mass of the weight is adjustable in facilitation of fine tuning thereof.

4. A disk array system, comprising:

a substantially enclosed chassis that is configured to support therein a plurality of disk drives, wherein an access opening is defined through the substantially enclosed chassis;

a door panel that is configured to cover the access opening; and

,

a printed circuit assembly that is configured to be supported between the disk drives and the door panel, and in parallel, juxtaposed relation to the door panel.