Reinforced Buffer Pin Structure for HDD Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hard disk drives in laptops face challenges in balancing vibration reduction and secure mounting due to the limitations of traditional buffer materials, which affect efficiency and lifespan, and require additional labor and material costs for screw-based installation.
Innovation Solution
A buffer member comprising a first buffer portion, a pin, a bending portion, and a second buffer portion, with a reinforcing member inside the pin, providing a coaxial structure without screw threads, that reduces vibration and ensures secure fixation without screws, using materials with varying hardness to achieve both buffer and fixation effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If flexible rubber is used as the buffer member, then vibration reduction is improved, but mounting security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member is constructed as a composite structure combining soft buffer material (such as rubber) with an embedded hard reinforcing member (such as a metal pin). This composite design allows the soft material to absorb vibrations while the hard reinforcing member provides structural strength and secure mounting capability, thereby simultaneously achieving vibration reduction and mounting security.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the buffer member have different material properties: the main body uses soft buffer material for vibration absorption, while the embedded reinforcing member uses hard material for structural support and secure mounting. This local differentiation of material quality allows the single component to fulfill both contradictory functions.
2Reliability
If rigid rubber is used as the buffer member, then mounting security is improved, but vibration generation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member combines hard reinforcing material (such as metal pin) with soft buffer material (such as rubber). The hard reinforcing member provides the necessary structural strength and mounting security, while the soft buffer material surrounds and dampens vibrations, preventing the rigid structure from generating excessive vibrations during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer member features localized hard material (reinforcing member) for structural support and localized soft material (buffer material) for vibration damping. This spatial differentiation allows the component to provide secure mounting through the hard region while suppressing vibrations through the soft region.
3Reliability
If screw-based mounting is used, then mounting security is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer member integrates multiple functions into a single component: the soft buffer material provides vibration absorption, the embedded hard reinforcing member provides structural strength and mounting capability, and the integrated design eliminates the need for separate screws and mounting holes. This merging of functions reduces structural complexity while maintaining secure mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The buffer member serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it acts as a vibration absorber, a structural support element, and a mounting component. The embedded reinforcing member with protrusion features enables direct mounting without additional fasteners, making the single component universally functional for both protection and fixation.
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
The buffer member effectively reduces vibration, enhances secure mounting, and eliminates the need for screws, thereby saving labor and material costs while maintaining the balance between buffer and fixation effects.
Implementation Method 1
The buffer member, such as rubber, is used as a frame for fixing the hard disk drive, which significantly enhances the protection of the hard disk drive against vibration
Implementation Method 2
The hardness of the reinforcing member is higher than that of the first buffer portion, the pin, the bending portion and the second buffer portion
Data Source
AI summary
A buffer member includes a first buffer portion, a pin, a bending portion and a second buffer portion. The pin is located on the first buffer portion. The bending portion is connected with the first buffer portion. The second buffer portion is connected with the bending portion, and the first buffer portion is connected with the second buffer portion via the bending portion. A reinforcing member is located inside the pin for raising the rigidity of the pin. The pin is used for fixing a vibration source. The first buffer portion and the second buffer portion reduce the transmission of the vibration energy from the vibration source.