Disk Drive Shock Mount Retention via Radial Ribs and Latches

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional disk drive enclosures have poor shock isolation efficiency due to challenges in designing a balance between stiffness in shock mounts and supporting structures, particularly with materials like plastic, leading to inadequate protection against external shocks and vibrations.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a plastic enclosure with an upper and lower component that uses self-locking latches and strategically placed shock mounts with standardized pockets to provide improved retention and preload, ensuring secure attachment of shock mounts near the corners of the disk drive assembly, utilizing grommet-like shock mounts with radial ribs for consistent stiffness and vibration isolation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional elastomeric mounts are used to support the disk drive, then shock and vibration isolation is provided, but shock isolation efficiency is poor due to inadequate stiffness balance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock isolation efficiencyVSAvoidstiffness balance difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shock isolation system is segmented into distinct functional components: the elastomeric mount body and separate radial ribs. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the mount body provides base isolation while the ribs provide targeted stiffness enhancement in critical directions, resolving the stiffness balance difficulty without compromising overall shock isolation efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shock mount combines different material properties within a single component - the elastomeric material provides vibration isolation while the radially oriented ribs (potentially reinforced or of different geometry) provide enhanced stiffness in specific directions. This composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of shock isolation efficiency and proper stiffness balance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If custom molded elastomeric mounts are used to fit the disk drive assembly, then shock and vibration isolation is provided, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock and vibration isolationVSAvoidcustom molding requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The shock mount design incorporates standardized pockets that can accommodate multiple mount configurations and disk drive assemblies. The radial rib structure provides universal shock isolation performance across different application scenarios, eliminating the need for custom molding for each specific case while maintaining reliable shock and vibration isolation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than changing the overall mount geometry through custom molding, the invention achieves adaptation by modifying parameters such as rib orientation, rib thickness, and pocket dimensions within a standardized mount design. This allows the same basic mount structure to serve multiple applications with different isolation requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If shock mounts are used in plastic enclosures, then vibration isolation is provided, but preload is lost during shock conditions reducing retention stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreload retentionVSAvoidmount stability during shock

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The radial ribs are pre-positioned in a radially oriented configuration that provides beforehand cushioning support during shock events. This pre-configured structural support maintains preload on the shock mounts during shock conditions, preventing the preload loss that would otherwise occur and maintaining mount stability throughout the shock event

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 configuration enhances the retention and stability of shock mounts during shock and vibration conditions, preventing preload loss and providing improved protection for the disk drive by ensuring secure attachment and consistent shock isolation across the enclosure.

Implementation Method 1

elastomeric mounts having various geometric shapes are used to support the disk drive and to provide the necessary shock and vibration isolation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

self-locking latches...ensuring secure attachment of shock mounts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS8462460B1Shock mount and retainer for a disk drive enclosure

Publication Date: 2013.06.11 SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

One embodiment relates to an improved enclosure and shock mount for a disk drive. The enclosure and shock mount provide shock and vibration isolation to protect the components of the disk drive. In one embodiment, shock mounts are provided on the disk drive assembly. An enclosure comprises an upper component and a lower component. Retaining features are provided to join the enclosure together and captivate the shock mounts with a desired pre-load.