Disk drive support apparatus and methods

• US 20030048607A1
• Filed: 09/08/2001
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 6,693,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/695
• 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 drive support apparatus, comprising:

a chassis; and

,

a suspension system supported on the chassis, wherein the suspension system is configured to support thereon at least one disk drive.

2. The disk drive support apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a disk drive supported on the suspension system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the suspension system comprises mechanical springs.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the suspension system comprises air springs.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the suspension system comprises foam.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, and wherein the disk drive support apparatus comprises a plurality of disk drives which are substantially rigidly mounted to one another and which are supported on the suspension system.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, and wherein the disk drives are substantially rigidly mounted on the frame.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, and wherein at least one of the disk drives is oriented upside down relative to at least one other of the disk drives.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, and wherein at least one of the disk drives is oriented perpendicularly relative to at least one other of the drives.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a door panel and a printed circuit assembly, and 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 disk drives and the door panel, and in parallel, juxtaposed relation to the door panel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, and further comprising a plurality of flexible connectors configured to connect at least some of the disk drives to the printed circuit assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a cooling unit which is configured to induce a stream of air to flow between the disk drives.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, and further comprising a door panel which defines a vent opening, and wherein:

the chassis is enclosed and defines an access opening;

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

the cooling unit is configured to cause the stream of air to move through the vent opening.

15. The apparatus of claim 6, and further comprising a power supply module which is mounted on the chassis, the power supply module configured to supply power to the disk drives.

7. A disk array system comprising

a chassis

a suspension system supported on the chassis;

a frame supported on the suspension system; and

,

a plurality of disk drives supported on the frame.

16. A disk array system, comprising:

an enclosed chassis having a front, a back, and two sides, wherein an access opening is defined in the front, and an intake opening is defined in the back;

a suspension system which comprises foam and which is supported on the chassis and within the enclosure;

a frame mounted on the suspension system and within the chassis;

a plurality of disk drives mounted on the frame, wherein the disk drives are substantially rigidly immobilized relative to one another;

a door panel which defines a vent opening and which is configured to cover the access opening;

a printed circuit assembly supported within the chassis between the disk drives and the door panel, and in parallel, juxtaposed relation thereto;

a plurality of flexible connectors which are configured to connect each of the disk drives to the printed circuit assembly; and

a cooling unit mounted within the chassis and between the disk drives and the printed circuit assembly, wherein the cooling unit is configured to induce a stream of air to flow into the inlet opening, between the hard disk drives, and out of the vent opening; and

,

a power supply module mounted on the chassis, wherein the power supply module is configured to supply power to the disk drives.

17. A method of supporting a disk drive, comprising:

providing a plurality of disk drives and a suspension system; and

supporting the disk drives via the suspension system.

18. The method of claim 17, and further comprising rigidly mounting the hard disk drives to one another.

19. The method of claim 17, and further comprising:

providing a frame; and

rigidly mounting the hard disk drives on the frame; and

,

supporting the frame on the suspension system.

20. The method of claim 17, and further comprising shipping the hard disk drives while supported via the suspension system.