Expandable Electronics Storage Chassis Modular Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional storage chassis have a fixed length, limiting the number of electronic components they can support, leading to increased tooling costs for additional chassis to accommodate more components.
Innovation Solution
An expandable electronics storage chassis with a base chassis portion and an extension chassis portion, allowing the extension of the chassis length to support additional components without the need for separate tooling, using a common base chassis and attachment mechanisms like screws and spools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional storage chassis have a fixed length, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the number of electronic components they can support is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The storage chassis is divided into a base chassis portion and one or more extension chassis portions. The base chassis portion includes a base tray with mounting features, while extension chassis portions include extension trays that can be attached to the base tray. This segmentation allows the chassis to be configured in different lengths (e.g., 4U, 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U) by combining different numbers and configurations of extension trays, thereby supporting varying numbers of electronic components without requiring entirely different chassis designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The base chassis portion is designed with universal mounting features (such as mounting rails, attachment holes, or snap-fit mechanisms) that can accommodate multiple types of extension chassis portions. This universal design allows a single base tray to work with various extension configurations, making the chassis system multi-functional and adaptable to different storage needs without requiring specialized tooling for each configuration.
2Quantity of substance
If additional chassis are manufactured to accommodate more components, then the component capacity increases, but the tooling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the chassis into a standardized base portion and modular extension portions, the patent reduces tooling costs. The base chassis portion requires a single set of tooling, and extension chassis portions use the same or similar tooling sets. This is more economical than manufacturing entirely different chassis for each component quantity requirement, as each segment can be produced using established mold sets and assembly processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal base chassis design with standardized mounting interfaces allows the same base tray to support various numbers of components by simply adding or removing extension portions. This universality eliminates the need for separate tooling for each chassis configuration, as one base tray design can serve multiple applications from 4U to 12U configurations.
3Productivity
If a common base chassis is used for varying numbers of components, then manufacturing efficiency increases, but the attachment mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment mechanism is segmented into simple, standardized connection interfaces between the base tray and extension trays. Each extension tray includes attachment features (such as mounting holes, rails, or snap-fit protrusions) that interface with corresponding features on the base tray. This segmentation allows for straightforward assembly and disassembly operations, maintaining manufacturing efficiency while avoiding overly complex attachment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment mechanism is designed to be dynamic and reconfigurable, allowing extension trays to be easily added or removed from the base chassis portion. The mounting features enable quick attachment and detachment without requiring complex fastening procedures, thereby maintaining high manufacturing efficiency and productivity while keeping the attachment mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
An expandable electronics storage chassis includes a base electronics storage tray and an expansion electronics storage tray. The base electronics storage tray has a first end and a second end. The first end includes a first base edge and a first pair of side edges that define a first opening. The expansion electronics storage tray has a third end and a fourth end. The third end includes a second base edge and a second pair of side edges that define a second opening. The fourth end includes a third base edge and a third pair of side edges that define a third opening. When assembled, the second end of the expansion electronics storage tray overlaps and is coupleable to the first end of the base electronics storage tray.