Media drive canister vibration dampner and method of dampening

• US 6,166,900 A
• Filed: 12/15/1997
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NetApp, Inc.
• Original Assignee: LSI Logic Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Flynn, Timothy M., Harvey, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUI, TUNG M
• Application Number:
  US08/990,930
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685, 361/787, 361/683, 361/686, 361/726, 361/727, 361/730, 312/223.1, 312/223.2, 248/638, 248/636, 248/634
• US Class Current: 361/679.35
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds

Abstract

A vibration dampening mechanism for operative arrangement with a data storage media drive canister, having: a cantilevered dampening spring secured to a surface of, or integral with, a side of a housing for the drive canister. The spring has a free end that can extend over an aperture through the housing side. The spring can comprise a bent portion, having an outer bend surface, between a secured end and the free encl. When installed in a canister support structure, this outer bend surface will contact an under surface of the structure causing the bent portion to at least partially flatten; the free end may deflect into the aperture. Also, a storage media drive vibration dampening system for operation with a media drive canister support structure having: a cantilevered dampening spring secured to, or integral with, a side of a drive canister housing. And, a method of dampening the vibration of a data storage media drive in operation comprising the steps of: providing a cantilevered dampening spring secured to a surface of, or integral with, a side of a drive canister housing containing the media drive, the side has an aperture through it over which a free end of the spring can extend; and contacting an outer bend surface of a bent portion of the spring with an under surface of a canister support structure to cause the bent portion to at least partially flatten.

Claims

1. A vibration dampening mechanism for operative arrangement with a data storage media drive canister, comprising:

a cantilevered dampening spring secured to a surface of a side of a housing for the drive canister, said side having an aperture therethrough;

said spring having a free end and a bend portion; and

whereby installation of the drive canister into a canister support structure causes said bend portion to contact an undersurface of said support structure and remain at least partially flattened while so installed, said free end extending over said aperture.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bend portion has an outer bend surface shaped to comprise an arc having a radius of approximately 1 inch and while the drive canister is so installed, said free end extends into said aperture a distance approximately equal to a thickness of said side.

3. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein, while the drive canister is so installed, said free end to deflect through said aperture and into an interior cavity of said drive canister.

4. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bend portion has an outer bend surface with an inverted V-shape, and while the drive canister is so installed. said free end extends into said aperture.

5. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bend portion has an outer bend surface that is generally hook-shaped and said free end extends over and into said aperture prior to said installation, and while the drive canister is so installed, said free end extends further into said aperture.

6. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein said bend portion has an outer bend surface shaped to comprise three adjacent arcs, said free end extends over and into said aperture prior to said installation, and while the drive canister is so installed, said free end extends further into said aperture.

7. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

a secured end of said spring at which it is so secured has a generally planar portion;

said canister housing further comprises front and back ends, said spring being located closer to said front end than said back end;

and

while the drive canister is so installed, said free end extends into said aperture.

8. The mechanism of claim 4 wherein:

said canister housing further comprises front and back ends, mounted to said back end is an electrical connector, said spring being located closer to said front end than said back end.

9. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said generally planar portion has a hole for accepting a screw, and said free end is positioned between said secured end and said canister housing front end.

10. The mechanism of claim 7 wherein said generally planar portion has an underside comprising an adhesive for contact with an outer surface of said side, and said secured end is positioned between said free end and said canister housing front end.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein while the drive canister is so installed, said free end extends through said aperture and into an interior cavity of the drive canister, and said generally planar portion is thermally bonded to an outer surface of said side.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein said bend portion has an outer bend surface shaped to comprise an arc having a radius, said generally planar portion is welded to said side, and pivotally mounted in proximity to said spring is a latch-door to generally cover said canister housing front end.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein:

said generally planar portion has a hole and a screw therethrough; and

said canister support structure is a cage within a computing device.

14. A vibration dampening mechanism for operative arrangement with a data storage media drive canister, comprising:

a cantilevered dampening spring secured to a side of a housing for the drive canister, said side having an aperture therethrough;

said spring having a bent portion between a secured end and a free end;

said bent portion having an outer bend surface in contact with an under surface of a support structure into which the drive canister housing has been installed, said free end extending over said aperture.

15. A vibration dampening mechanism for operative arrangement with a data storage media drive canister, comprising:

a cantilevered dampening spring integral with a side of a housing for the drive canister, said side having an aperture therethrough;

said spring having a free end and a bend portion; and

whereby installation of the drive canister into a canister support structure causes said bend portion to contact an undersurface of said support structure and remain at least partially flattened while so installed said free end extending over said aperture.

16. The mechanism of claim 15 wherein:

said canister housing further comprises front and back ends, said spring being located closer to said front end than said back end; and

said bend portion has an outer bend surface with an inverted V-shape.

17. The mechanism of claim 16 wherein:

said canister support structure is a bay within a mounting module into which a plurality of the media drive canisters can be installed side-by-side;

said free end is positioned between an integral end of said spring and said canister housing front end; and

while the drive canister is so installed, said free end extends into said aperture.

18. A vibration dampening mechanism for operative arrangement with a data storage media drive canister, comprising:

a cantilevered dampening spring integral with a side of a housing for the drive canister, said side having an aperture therethrough;

said spring having a free end extending over said aperture said a bend portion;

pivotally mounted in proximity to said spring is a latch-door to generally cover a canister housing front end; and

upon closing said latch-door against said front end, an outer bend surface of said bend portion in contact with an under surface of a canister support structure causes said bent portion to at least partially flatten.

19. A storage media drive vibration dampening system for operation with a media drive canister support structure, comprising:

a cantilevered dampening spring integral with a side of a drive canister housing;

said spring having a bent portion between an integral end and a free end; and

said bent portion having an outer bend surface that is in contact with an under surface of the support structure into which the drive canister housing has been installed causing said bend portion to remain at least partially flattened.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:

said canister housing further comprises front and back ends, said spring being located closer to said front end than said back end; and

extending over and into an aperture through said side.

21. A method of dampening the vibration of a data storage media drive in operation, comprising the steps of:

providing a cantilevered dampening spring secured to a surface of a side of a drive canister housing containing the media drive, said side having an aperture therethrough over which a free end of said spring can extend; and

contacting an outer bend surface of a bent portion of said spring with an under surface of a canister support structure to cause said bent portion to at least partially flatten while said drive canister housing is installed into said canister support structure.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said outer bend surface is an inverted V-shape, said step of contacting further causes said free end to extend over and into said aperture, and said step of contacting further comprises sliding said drive canister housing into place within said canister support structure comprising a bay.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein:

said canister housing further comprises front and back ends, said spring being located closer to said front end than said back end;

pivotally mounted in proximity to said spring is a latch-door to generally cover said front end; and

said step of contacting further comprises closing said latch-door against said front end.

24. A method of dampening the vibration of a data storage media drive in operation, comprising the steps of:

providing a cantilevered dampening spring integral with a side of a drive canister housing containing the media drive, said side having an aperture therethrough over which a free end of said spring extends; and

contacting an outer bend surface of a bent portion of said spring with an under surface of a canister support structure to cause said bent portion to at least partially flatten while said drive canister housing is installed into said canister support structure.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said outer bend surface is shaped to comprise an arc having a radius, and said step of contacting further comprises sliding said drive canister housing into place within said canister support structure causing said free end to extend over and into said aperture.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein pivotally mounted in proximity to said spring is a latch-door to generally cover a front end of said canister housing, and said step of contacting further comprises closing said latch-door against said front end.