Disk Drive Shock Absorber Structure for Compact Enclosures

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shock absorber designs for magnetic hard disk drives in portable devices either increase the overall size of the device or fail to optimally utilize available space, leading to inadequate protection against physical shocks without compromising the device's size constraints.

Innovation Solution

A shock absorbing system with protuberances extending through the outer enclosure, positioned between the disk drive housing and the external enclosure, which increases the compression height and dissipates shock energy by deforming the body portions, thereby reducing the amplitude and duration of shock pulses without increasing the device's size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If shock absorber thickness or compression height is increased to improve shock absorption, then shock protection capability is improved, but the overall size of the enclosure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock protection capabilityVSAvoidenclosure size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The shock absorber is nested within the enclosure structure, with the protuberance extending through the enclosure wall. This allows the shock absorber to utilize the enclosure's internal space for compression while the protuberance provides external mounting support, effectively nesting one component within another to maximize space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The shock absorber transitions from a purely internal component to a three-dimensional structure that extends through the enclosure wall. The protuberance portion extends outward from the enclosure while the body portion remains internal, utilizing space in multiple dimensions rather than only increasing linear thickness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If shock absorber material is made softer to increase compression, then shock absorption is improved, but the shock absorber requires more space to deform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock absorptionVSAvoidspace required for deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The soft, deformable shock absorber material is nested within the rigid enclosure structure. The enclosure provides a fixed boundary that contains the deformation of the soft material, allowing the shock absorber to be softer and more compliant without requiring additional external space for deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The shock absorber has different functional zones: the body portion within the enclosure that deforms to absorb shock, and the protuberance portion extending through the enclosure wall that provides structural support and mounting. Each zone has optimized properties for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If shock absorbers are positioned solely between housing and enclosure, then protection is provided, but available compression space is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisk drive protectionVSAvoidavailable compression space

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The shock absorber extends from the internal space through the enclosure wall to the external space, utilizing compression space in multiple dimensions. The protuberance portion extends through the enclosure thickness, effectively using the enclosure wall space for shock absorption rather than leaving it empty or structural-only.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design effectively reduces the amplitude and duration of shock pulses, enhancing protection against physical shocks while maintaining or reducing the device's size, by utilizing the existing space more efficiently and allowing for thinner shock absorber body portions.

Implementation Method 1

dissipates the energy through the deformation of the absorber caused by the resulting impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

Energy absorbing materials may be used to dissipate energy as the material is deformed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy absorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

The additional compression height gained by extending the protuberances through the enclosure provides additional damping

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7471509B1Shock protection for disk drive embedded in an enclosure

Publication Date: 2008.12.30 MAXTOR CORP

AI summary

A shock absorbing device for protecting a hard disk drive housing found primarily in portable electronic devices. The shock absorbers include protuberances that emanate from the body of the shock absorber and that extend through apertures provided in the enclosure. Thus, the physical shock is taken up by the body of the shock absorber as well as the protuberances, which increase the compression height of the shock absorber and increase the shock damping characteristics of the shock absorber. This permits decreasing the size of the enclosure, which is often desirable to consumers.