Chambered Acoustic Attenuator for Data Storage Vibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-capacity data storage systems face challenges in reducing vibration-induced structure mode excitation, which affects the performance of hard disk drives due to increasing environmental vibrational energy and narrower data tracks, making classical compensation methods ineffective.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multibody chambered acoustic attenuator with strategically positioned airflow holes and acoustic damping material that damps sound waves by material compression, creating a convoluted airflow path to reduce fan-generated acoustic emissions and minimize vibration transmission to hard disk drives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple data storage devices are housed in a common enclosure to increase storage capacity, then storage capacity is improved, but vibration-induced structure mode excitation increases affecting device performance
Solution Approach 1:
An acoustic attenuator is introduced as an intermediary component between the fan and the hard disk drives. The attenuator includes a housing with acoustic damping material positioned between opposite sides, creating a barrier that filters acoustic energy while still permitting airflow. This intermediary structure reduces the transmission of vibration and acoustic emissions from the fan to the storage devices without compromising the high-density configuration.
2Measurement precision
If feed-forward systems are implemented to compensate for read-write head off-track issues, then tracking accuracy is improved, but the system becomes ineffective at higher frequencies above 2 kHz
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the feed-forward compensation system (electronic/mechanical approach) with a passive acoustic attenuation system. Instead of relying on electronic compensation that becomes ineffective above 2 kHz, the invention uses acoustic damping material and a housing structure to physically reduce acoustic energy transmission across the entire frequency range, including high frequencies where electronic compensation fails.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If classical compensation approaches are used for vibration effects, then low-frequency vibration compensation is improved, but effectiveness decreases as vibration frequency rises above 2 kHz
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the approach from active electronic compensation (which operates in the frequency domain with limited effectiveness) to passive acoustic attenuation (which operates in the spatial and temporal domains). By using acoustic damping material with specific properties and a housing structure, the system achieves broad-spectrum attenuation including high frequencies, fundamentally changing the parameter space in which vibration control operates.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively reduces non-repeatable runout and improves read/write speed by minimizing vibration-induced errors, enhancing the performance and reliability of data storage systems while maintaining a compact enclosure design.
Implementation Method 1
acoustic damping material that damps sound waves by material compression
Implementation Method 2
strategically positioned airflow holes and acoustic damping material that damps sound waves by material compression, creating a convoluted airflow path
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage system includes a chassis housing multiple data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, a compartment housing cooling fans, and an air plenum positioned between the fans and the storage devices. A multibody chambered acoustic attenuator, which may be installed in the air plenum, includes a plate part having airflow holes therethrough and may include a convex arched part having airflow holes therethrough and coupled with the plate part to form a chamber. Acoustic damping material lines an interior surface of the plate part and the interior and exterior surfaces of the arched part, and the airflow holes of the plate part and of the arched part are not aligned, such that direct acoustic emissions and reflections would contact the acoustic damping material and a circuitous airflow path is provided from the cooling fans to the storage devices, to reduce the acoustic sound pressure upon the devices.