Stackable Sleds with Movable Covers for Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic device sleds with solid covers hinder heat dissipation due to restricted airflow, and the air gap between stacked sleds is not utilized effectively, leading to reduced airflow and increased boundary-layer resistance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates movable covers with openings and slats that allow for unobstructed air flow channels between adjacent sleds, utilizing air gaps for heat dissipation and reducing solid surfaces to enhance airflow efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solid covers are used to enclose the sled, then protection of electronic devices is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates due to restricted airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with different properties in different regions: solid portions for protection and openings for heat dissipation. This allows the same component to simultaneously provide both protection and thermal management functions, resolving the contradiction between device protection and heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover is segmented into solid portions and openings rather than being a complete solid enclosure. This segmentation allows airflow paths to be created within the protective structure, enabling heat dissipation while maintaining overall device protection.
2Volume of stationary object
If sleds are stacked closely together, then space utilization is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates due to reduced air gap
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the vertical dimension through overlapping openings in stacked sleds, creating three-dimensional airflow paths. This allows heat dissipation to occur not only within each sled but also through the inter-sled spaces, resolving the contradiction between compact stacking and heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The openings in adjacent sleds are positioned to overlap vertically, creating nested airflow channels. This nesting arrangement allows air to flow continuously through multiple sleds, maximizing heat dissipation efficiency in a compact stacked configuration.
3Reliability
If two solid covers are used instead of one mounting plate, then device protection is improved, but airflow efficiency deteriorates due to increased boundary-layer resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The cover design incorporates localized openings rather than being completely solid, creating regions of different properties. This allows the structure to provide protection where needed while maintaining airflow efficiency in critical regions, resolving the contradiction between protection and airflow.
Solution Approach 2:
Material is extracted from the solid cover to create openings, removing the portions that impede airflow while retaining the protective function. This extraction resolves the contradiction by eliminating the harmful solid surfaces that create boundary-layer resistance.
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 configuration improves airflow and heat dissipation between stacked sleds, reducing boundary-layer resistance and maintaining the performance and reliability of electronic data storage devices.
Implementation Method 1
dissipating heat from the array of electronic data storage devices stored in the sleds
Implementation Method 2
Heat management, including heat dissipation, for electronic data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, in a sled can be difficult
Implementation Method 3
because a boundary layer is formed at each solid surface of a component
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is a first system that includes sleds each having sidewalls, a mounting plate, and a first cover. The first cover is movable relative to the sidewalls between a closed position and an open position. The first cover includes at least one first opening. The system additionally includes at least one data storage device fixed to each mounting plate. A first air gap is defined between the at least one data storage device and the mounting plate, and a second air gap is defined between the at least one data storage device and the at least one first opening of the first cover. The sleds are stacked together such that the first covers of adjacent sleds are directly adjacent each other, and the at least one first opening of the first cover of one sled at least partially overlaps the at least one first opening of an adjacent sled.