Temperature control device, disk drive unit test apparatus, and a method of testing or operating a plurality of disk drive units

• US 7,612,996 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Farquhar, David Ronald Bain, Atkins, Andrew William
• Primary Examiner(s): Gandhi; Jayprakash N
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, COURTNEY L
• Application Number:
  US10/567,378
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,883 Days
• Field of Search: 361/690, 361/695, 361/679.33, 361/679.47, 361/679.48, 361/679.51, 360/97.02, 454/184, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 415/182.1, 415/206
• US Class Current: 361/679.51
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/142 by air cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/144 by detection, control, regulation of the temperature

Abstract

The invention provides a temperature control device for a disk drive unit, the temperature control device includes a housing for connection to a carrier for a disk drive unit; an air flow generator arranged in the housing for providing a flow of air to a disk drive unit in a connected carrier; and, an air flow control device arranged at the side of the air flow generator and selectively configurable to control the air flow path whereby the temperature of air flowing to the disk drive unit can be controlled.

Claims

1. A temperature control device for a disk drive unit, the temperature control device comprising:

a housing for connection to a carrier for a disk drive unit;

an air flow generator arranged in the housing for providing a flow of air to a disk drive unit in a connected carrier; and

,

an air flow control device arranged at the side of the air flow generator and selectively configurable to control the air flow path whereby the temperature of air flowing to the disk drive unit can be controlled in which the air flow control device is provided at the same vertical level within the temperature control device as the air flow generator, the air flow control device being substantially planar and slidable to vary the degree of opening of apertures within a side of the housing of the temperature control device.

2. The temperature control device according to claim 1, comprising at least two apertures in a side of the housing for providing possible air flow paths.

3. The temperature control device according to claim 2, in which the air flow control device comprises a linearly movable valve to control a degree of opening of the apertures.

4. The temperature control device according to claim 3, comprising a rack and pinion mechanism to operate the linearly movable valve.

5. The temperature control device according to claim 2, comprising a heat exchanger in communication with the apertures arranged to selectively receive and cool at least a portion of the air from a said disk drive unit thereby to provide chilled air, wherein the air flow control device is selectively operable to cause air to recirculate directly across a said disk drive unit, or to cause at least a portion of the air that has passed over a said disk drive unit to pass through the heat exchanger.

6. The temperature control device according to claim 3, comprising a heat exchanger in communication with the apertures arranged to selectively receive and cool at least a portion of the air from a said disk drive unit thereby to provide chilled air, wherein the air flow control device is selectively operable to cause air to recirculate directly across a said disk drive unit, or to cause at least a portion of the air that has passed over a said disk drive unit to pass through the heat exchanger.

7. The temperature control device according to claim 4, comprising a heat exchanger in communication with the apertures arranged to selectively receive and cool at least a portion of the air from a said disk drive unit thereby to provide chilled air, wherein the air flow control device is selectively operable to cause air to recirculate directly across a said disk drive unit, or to cause at least a portion of the air that has passed over a said disk drive unit to pass through the heat exchanger.

8. The temperature control device according to claim 5, wherein the first and second apertures are capable of being open or closed in a desired proportion such that air provided to a said disk drive unit is a mixture of directly recirculated air and air from the heat exchanger.

9. The temperature control device according to claim 1, comprising a selectively operable heater in the air flow path to a said disk drive unit for selectively heating air prior to said air flowing across a said disk drive unit.

10. The temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the air flow generator is a DC blower or a radial fan.

11. Disk drive unit test apparatus for receiving a plurality of disk drive units, the test apparatus comprising:

a plurality of temperature control devices according to claims 1; and

,

a plurality of caters, each for connection to a respective one of the temperature control devices and each for receiving a respective disk drive unit.

12. A method of testing one or more disk drive units, wherein the temperature of each of the one or more disk drive units is independently controlled during testing of the disk drive units, the temperature being controlled using the temperature control device according to claim 1.

13. A method of operating one or more disk drive units, wherein the temperature of each of the one or more disk drive units is independently controlled during operation of the disk drive units, the temperature being controlled using the temperature control device according to claim 1.

14. The temperature control device according to claim 2, in which the air flow control device comprises a substantially planar slidable valve movable to vary the open area of the apertures.