Storage Drive Tray Slider Mechanism for Tool-Less Secure Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional storage device trays require numerous screws to securely mount 2.5-inch storage devices, making the process tedious, time-consuming, and prone to errors, especially in large server implementations.
Innovation Solution
A tool-less storage device tray with a sliding mechanism that uses springs and a locking mechanism to exert force against the storage device, securing it without screws, and includes threadless pegs for added stability, allowing for quick and secure mounting and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional storage device trays use screws to mount 2.5-inch storage devices, then the mounting is secure and stable, but the mounting process becomes tedious, time-consuming, and prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes screws entirely from the mounting process by extracting the fastening function and replacing it with a friction-based pressure mechanism. The sliding mechanism applies continuous pressure against the storage device to secure it without requiring any threaded fasteners, thereby eliminating the time-consuming screw tightening process while maintaining secure mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device tray is designed to be self-securing through the sliding mechanism that automatically applies pressure when the tray is inserted or adjusted. The friction between the sliding mechanism and the storage device creates a self-locking effect that secures the device without requiring manual intervention or tools, enabling quick deployment and removal.
2Adaptability or versatility
If storage device trays are designed with large form factor to accommodate 3.5-inch devices, then they can also house 2.5-inch devices, but mounting 2.5-inch devices requires additional mounting brackets and screws increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding mechanism is designed to work with both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch storage devices within the same large form factor tray. The mechanism's pressure application points and structural design accommodate different device sizes without requiring different mounting structures, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets for different form factors and simplifying the overall mounting system.
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
Enables fast and secure mounting of 2.5-inch storage devices to trays and computing devices without tools, expediting device swapping and reducing errors, while maintaining stability across different form factors.
Implementation Method 1
A tool-less storage device tray with a sliding mechanism that uses springs and a locking mechanism to exert force against the storage device
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device tray has a form factor designed to support a larger storage device, and is configured to secure a small storage device, thereby acting as an adapter between storage device sizes. The storage device tray includes a sliding mechanism configured with pegs that may couple to screw holes in the storage device. The sliding mechanism also exerts a force against the storage device to secure that storage device, and may be locked to further secure that storage device. At least one advantage of this approach is that a storage device can be coupled to a storage device tray without using screws.