Server Storage Tray with Flippable Cover for Thermal Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional server maintenance requires access to both the front and rear ends, leading to inefficiencies and increased maintenance complexity due to the arrangement of hard disks, mainboards, and PCI_E components.
Innovation Solution
A thermally maintainable built-in storage tray structure is designed with a pull-out storage unit tray, where the mainboard and PCI_E are moved to the front end, and a flippable cover plate creates a closed air duct for effective heat dissipation during maintenance, allowing for hot-swappable hard disk modules with improved airflow resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If hard disk, mainboard and PCI_E are arranged at different ends (front and rear) of the server, then component separation is achieved, but maintenance complexity increases and maintenance efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mainboard and PCI_E components to the front end of the server, where they were previously separated from hard disks. This consolidation allows all major components to be accessed from a single location, eliminating the need for both front and rear access during maintenance operations.
2Productivity
If all components (hard disk, mainboard, PCI_E) are arranged at the front end of the server, then maintenance efficiency improves, but front end congestion increases and space becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the vertical dimension by implementing an upper layer U and lower layer U configuration. This multi-level arrangement allows components to be distributed across different vertical levels while remaining accessible from the front end, effectively increasing the usable space without expanding the horizontal footprint.
3Ease of operation
If storage unit tray is designed as pull-out type for easy maintenance, then accessibility improves, but thermal maintenance capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic cover plate that can flip between open and closed positions. When the storage tray is pulled out for maintenance, the cover plate automatically adjusts to maintain proper airflow paths, ensuring that thermal maintenance capability is preserved despite the tray's movable nature.
4Ease of operation
If middle and rear hard disk modules are made accessible for maintenance, then maintenance coverage improves, but airflow resistance increases and heat dissipation is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cover plate as an intermediary element that manages airflow between different hard disk modules. The cover plate creates controlled airflow paths that allow maintenance access to middle and rear modules while minimizing disruption to the overall airflow pattern, thereby reducing airflow resistance and maintaining effective heat dissipation.
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 maintenance efficiency by allowing for thermal maintenance with reduced congestion and improved airflow, ensuring reliable and efficient heat dissipation while preventing data cable and hard disk module instability during flip operations.
Implementation Method 1
A cooling fan is provided at the front part of the case main frame body. The cooling fan draws cold air from the front part of the storage unit into the case main frame body to cool the storage layer inside the case main frame body and extract the hot air.
Implementation Method 2
The first cover plate is restored to the original position after the module is flipped over, so that the first cover plate is in contact with the bottom of the hard disk module to form a closed air duct. After the closed air duct is formed, the flow resistance of the front module is the same as that of the module being rotated and raised, and the air flow will flow through the hard disk to dissipate heat.
Data Source
AI summary
A thermally maintainable built-in storage tray structure can include a case main frame body; a storage unit tray is positioned within the case main frame body, and wherein the storage united is configured to be positioned at a front end of a server together with a mainboard and a PCI_E and the storage unit tray is moveably connected to the case main frame body and is capable of be pulling out of the case main frame body; a middle flip rack provided at a middle part and a rear flip rack provided at a rear part of the storage unit tray, the middle flip rack and the rear flip rack are hinged to the storage unit tray.