Resilient Drive Tray Structure for Airflow-Based Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drive trays impede fluid flow and hinder heat transfer due to their design, which restricts the efficiency of cooling systems in computer assemblies, leading to increased temperatures and potential reduced operational lifetimes of drive components.

Innovation Solution

The design of a resilient, substantially rectangular drive tray with parallel side members and engagement features that form a frame to securely hold a drive body without obstructing fluid flow, allowing for enhanced heat transfer through unimpeded air flow channels and vibration damping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional drive trays are used to hold drive bodies, then drive bodies are securely supported, but fluid flow is impeded and heat transfer is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidtray structure design

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive tray utilizes the flexible properties of polymer materials to create a resilient frame that can deform elastically under the insertion force of drive bodies. This flexibility allows the tray to conform to drive bodies of varying dimensions while maintaining secure engagement, eliminating the need for complex rigid adjustment mechanisms and thereby improving heat transfer without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The tray design employs polymer materials with specific elastic moduli and thermal conductivities that change based on temperature and stress conditions. These parameter changes allow the tray to maintain optimal mechanical engagement with drive bodies across different operating temperatures while simultaneously facilitating improved thermal coupling between the tray and drive components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of stationary object

If conventional drive trays are used to hold drive bodies, then drive bodies are securely supported, but operational lifetime is reduced due to increased temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational lifetimeVSAvoiddrive body temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The polymer-based drive tray serves as a thermal intermediary between the drive bodies and the surrounding cooling fluid. The material's inherent thermal conductivity, while lower than metals, is optimized through material selection and geometric design to efficiently conduct heat from the drive bodies to the cooling fluid, thereby reducing operating temperatures and extending operational lifetime without requiring additional active cooling components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient frame structure automatically adjusts its engagement force with drive bodies based on thermal expansion and contraction during operation. As temperatures change, the polymer material's elastic properties enable the tray to self-adjust its clamping force, maintaining secure mechanical engagement and consistent thermal contact without requiring external control mechanisms, thereby extending operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If conventional drive trays are used, then structural support is provided, but energy consumption increases due to reduced cooling efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling system energy consumptionVSAvoidtray structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The design converts the previously harmful effect of thermal accumulation into a beneficial self-regulating mechanism. The polymer material's thermal expansion characteristics cause the resilient frame to increase its engagement force with drive bodies as temperatures rise, improving thermal contact and heat dissipation efficiency. This passive thermal management approach reduces the energy required by active cooling systems while maintaining simple structural design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This design enhances heat transfer efficiency by maintaining unobstructed air flow and reducing temperatures, potentially extending the operational lifespan of drive components and reducing energy consumption in cooling systems.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient, substantially rectangular frame for receipt of a drive body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

enhance heat transfer between a fluid (e.g., air) and a media drive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS20110234064A1Drive Tray

Publication Date: 2011.09.29 LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

An exemplary drive tray includes parallel side members; at least one end member connected to the parallel side members where the members collectively form a resilient, substantially rectangular frame for receipt of a drive body; and a pair of parallel side walls extending in a direction normal to a plane defined by the frame where the pair of parallel side walls include engagement features to engage opposing sides of a drive body. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.