Expansion Card Mount Assembly with Slidable Stopper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mount assemblies for expansion cards in open compute project servers lack secure and efficient mechanisms for both insertion and removal, as they often rely on manual engagement and disengagement of protrusions with engagement holes, which can lead to instability and potential damage during handling.
Innovation Solution
A mount assembly comprising slide rails, a latch, and a slidable stopper, where the slidable stopper can be positioned to block or release the protrusion from the engagement hole, allowing secure engagement and easy removal of the expansion card by sliding it along the rails, ensuring stability and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual engagement and disengagement mechanisms are used for expansion cards, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of connection stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism transforms the static manual engagement into a dynamic automatic locking system. The protrusion and engagement hole automatically engage when the expansion card is inserted, and the latch prevents accidental disengagement through automatic mechanical interlocking, thereby improving connection stability without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mount assembly performs self-service through the automatic engagement of the protrusion with the engagement hole during card insertion. The latch mechanism automatically secures the connection without requiring additional manual operations, enhancing reliability while maintaining simplicity.
2Reliability
If a secure locking mechanism is added to prevent accidental disengagement, then the reliability of connection stability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable stopper introduces dynamic controllability to the locking mechanism. It can be easily slid between a blocking position (preventing protrusion disengagement) and a releasing position (allowing intentional removal). This simple sliding motion maintains ease of operation while providing secure locking when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking function is segmented into two independent controllable elements: the automatic latch mechanism for secure engagement and the manually controllable slidable stopper for intentional release. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both reliability during operation and ease of removal when needed.
3Reliability
If the slidable stopper blocks the protrusion to prevent disengagement, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protection function is segmented between the automatic latch (protrusion-engagement hole interface) and the manually controlled slidable stopper. This segmentation allows the system to achieve reliable accidental disengagement prevention through the stopper's blocking position without requiring a completely complex locking mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable stopper acts as an intermediary element between the user's intentional action and the latch mechanism. By simply blocking or unblocking the protrusion's movement path, it provides reliable protection against accidental disengagement with minimal structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A mount assembly configured to be cooperative with expansion card and socket of circuit board. Mount assembly includes first slide rail, second slide rail, first latch and first slidable stopper. First latch includes first cantilever and first protrusion. First cantilever includes first fixed end part and first free end part that are located opposite to each other. First fixed end part is fixed to sidewall part of first slide rail. First protrusion protrudes from first free end part and is located in groove of first slide rail. First protrusion is configured to be engaged with engagement hole of expansion card. First slidable stopper includes stopper body and handle portion. Stopper body is slidably disposed on sidewall part of first slide rail and movable between blocking position and releasing position. Handle portion protrudes from side of stopper body.