Tool-less HDD Carrier with Pull-out Drawer and Hinged Side Panels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hard-disk drive (HDD) systems are cumbersome to maintain, access, transport, and replace due to the need for tools and the ease with which removable HDD trays can be misplaced, lost, or mismatched.
Innovation Solution
A tool-less and tray-less HDD carrier system utilizing a pull-out drawer with a base plate, hinged side panels, and fasteners with engaging pins that secure the HDD without screws, allowing for easy access and replacement without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional HDD trays are used, then HDDs can be stored and transported, but the trays are easily misplaced, lost, or mismatched and require tools for installation
Solution Approach 1:
The HDD carrier is divided into modular components: an outer frame casing and multiple inner cages, each capable of independently holding one or more HDDs. This segmentation allows for organized storage while reducing the risk of misplacement by eliminating the need for separate removable trays.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastener system incorporates an engaging pin that automatically secures the HDD to the side panel when the side panel is closed, eliminating the need for manual tool-based installation. The mechanism self-secures the HDD without requiring external tools or complex assembly procedures.
2Strength
If tools are required for HDD installation, then secure attachment can be achieved, but maintenance and replacement become cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging pin is extracted from the HDD itself and relocated to the side panel of the inner cage. This allows the side panel to function as both a structural component and a fastening mechanism, enabling easy HDD removal and installation without tools while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The side panel is designed to be movable and hinged, allowing it to transition between closed and open positions. This dynamic design enables the side panel to secure the HDD when closed and provide access when opened, simplifying maintenance and replacement operations.
3Reliability
If multiple fasteners are used to secure HDD, then reliable attachment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is merged with the side panel structure itself. The engaging pin is integrated into the side panel assembly, combining the structural support and fastening functions into a single component system, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable HDD attachment.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for providing a stackable hard-disk drive (“HDD”) carrier using pull-out drawers and fasteners are disclosed. The carrier, in one embodiment, includes an inner case or drawer and an outer frame casing. The inner cage includes a base plate, a front cover, a first side panel, and a second side panel, wherein the first and second side panels are hinged to the base plate. The inner cage is configured to house a removable HDD. The first and second side panels also include fasteners for securing the HDD to the inner cage. The outer frame casing is configured to receive the inner cage via its two opposite guiding walls. The guiding walls are configured to allow extending the inner cage to a predefined distance from the outer frame casing for accessing the HDD.