Replaceable Device Installation Mechanism for One-Handed Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic equipment requires users to manually engage and disengage replaceable components like hard drives, leading to inconsistent resistance forces, potential damage, and inconvenience due to the need for excessive force and manual handling.

Innovation Solution

An installation mechanism with a supporting structure, abutting structure, and removable carrier that allows for smooth engagement and disengagement of replaceable devices using a sliding and pivotal connection system, enabling one-handed operation to avoid damage and excessive force.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a user manually pushes or pulls the hard drive to engage or disengage connectors, then the connectors can be connected or separated, but the user applies excessive force leading to damage to the hard drive and connectors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual handling convenienceVSAvoiddamage to hard drive and connectors

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a carrier as an intermediary device between the user and the hard drive. The carrier includes a sliding mechanism with engagement structures that interact with guide rails in the housing. When the user slides the carrier, it moves the hard drive gradually through controlled engagement and disengagement of connectors, preventing excessive force application and potential damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic sliding mechanism where the carrier can move along guide rails within the housing. This dynamic structure allows the hard drive to be moved smoothly from one position to another, enabling connector engagement and disengagement through controlled motion rather than sudden force application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a user pushes the hard drive to engage connectors completely, then the connectors can be connected, but the resistance force is inconstant causing the hard drive to move at certain velocity leading to impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector engagement completenessVSAvoidimpact on hard drive and connectors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier acts as a mediator that provides controlled motion transmission. It includes a sliding mechanism with engagement structures that interact with guide rails, ensuring the hard drive moves at a controlled velocity during connector engagement, preventing impact while ensuring complete connection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sliding mechanism creates a dynamic engagement process where the hard drive is moved gradually along guide rails. This dynamic motion control ensures that connectors engage completely through controlled velocity rather than sudden impact, improving reliability while preventing damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a user pulls the hard drive to disengage connectors, then the connectors can be separated, but the resistance force is inconstant causing the hard drive to move at certain velocity and hit other components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector disengagementVSAvoiddamage to hard drive from hitting components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier serves as an intermediary device that controls the disengagement motion. It includes a sliding mechanism with engagement structures that interact with guide rails, ensuring the hard drive moves at a controlled velocity during connector separation, preventing impact with other components while enabling easy disengagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic sliding mechanism allows controlled motion during disengagement. The carrier moves along guide rails, providing gradual separation of connectors and controlling the velocity of the hard drive to prevent it from hitting other components inside the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If connectors are engaged or disengaged manually, then the replaceable device can be installed or removed, but the process requires two hands leading to inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation and removal efficiencyVSAvoidmanual handling convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of holding the hard drive and controlling its motion into a single carrier device. The carrier integrates the sliding mechanism with the hard drive mounting structure, allowing one-handed operation where the user slides the carrier to simultaneously control both engagement and disengagement processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier serves multiple functions: it holds the hard drive, provides controlled motion through sliding along guide rails, and enables both engagement and disengagement operations. This multi-functional design allows one-handed operation, improving ease of use without sacrificing installation and removal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 safe and convenient installation and removal of replaceable devices without manual handling, reducing the risk of damage to components and structures during engagement and disengagement.

Implementation Method 1

The actuation part is connected to the fixing frame through the pivotal connection portion. The manipulation portion is operable to rotate the actuation part relative to the fixing frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPivotal connection rotation: Hinge

Implementation Method 2

the sliding portion alternatively slides against the first side wall so that the fixing frame slides on the supporting structure in a first direction through the sliding engagement structure, or slides against the second side wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS9582050B2Installation mechanism for replaceable device and electronic apparatus therewith

Publication Date: 2017.02.28 WISTRON CORP

AI summary

An electronic apparatus includes a replaceable device, an apparatus casing, a supporting structure, an abutting structure, and a removable carrier. The supporting structure, the abutting structure, and the removable carrier function as an installation mechanism for installing the replaceable device into the apparatus casing. The supporting structure and the abutting structure are disposed in the apparatus casing. The abutting structure has two side walls oppositely disposed. The removable carrier includes a fixing frame and an actuation part pivotally connected to the fixing frame. The replaceable device is fixed on the fixing frame. When the removable carrier is disposed on the supporting structure, the actuation part can be rotated relative to the fixing frame and alternatively abut against one side wall so that the fixing frame moves on the supporting structure and a connector of the replaceable device is engaged with or disengaged from a connector of the electronic apparatus respectively.