Test Slot Cooling System for Storage Device Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern disk drives are sensitive to vibration, which can lead to unreliable test results and increased manufacturing costs due to 'cross-talking' vibrations during testing, requiring effective temperature and vibration control in storage device testing systems.
Innovation Solution
A test slot cooling system that includes a storage device transporter with an air director to direct air simultaneously over the top and bottom surfaces of the storage device, combined with an air mover and air cooler to maintain temperature stability and reduce vibration through controlled air flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling or heating air common to all disk drive devices is used to adjust temperature, then temperature regulation is achieved, but temperature uniformity and vibration control are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into individual test slot-specific components. Each test slot has its own air director and receives air from a common air mover, allowing independent temperature control for each slot while maintaining overall system efficiency. This segmentation enables uniform temperature distribution across multiple slots without the cross-contamination that occurs with shared air streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The air director is designed to deliver cooling air to specific localized areas (individual test slots) with controlled flow characteristics. The air director includes flow straighteners and is positioned to create localized laminar flow over the disk drive, providing tailored cooling quality to each slot based on its specific requirements while maintaining temperature uniformity across the batch.
2Productivity
If disk drives are tested in batches simultaneously, then productivity increases, but vibration cross-talking between units increases
Solution Approach 1:
The testing system is segmented into independent test slots, each with its own air director and cooling airflow. This physical and functional segmentation isolates vibration sources within each slot, preventing vibration cross-talking between adjacent units while maintaining the ability to test multiple drives simultaneously in a batch configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The air director acts as an intermediary element between the common air supply and individual disk drives. It not only provides cooling but also serves as a vibration isolation barrier, with its structure and flow straighteners helping to dampen and isolate vibrations, preventing them from propagating between adjacent test slots.
3Temperature
If air flow is directed over storage device surfaces for cooling, then temperature control is improved, but vibration may be induced
Solution Approach 1:
The air mover delivers cooling air in a controlled, steady flow rather than turbulent or pulsing streams. The periodic stabilization of airflow through the air director's flow straighteners and cavity design creates consistent laminar flow patterns that provide effective cooling while minimizing vibration-inducing turbulent fluctuations.
Solution Approach 2:
The air director is designed to transform the airflow parameters from the air mover into a controlled laminar flow pattern. By adjusting the flow velocity, direction, and turbulence characteristics through its cavity and outlet geometry, the system achieves effective cooling while keeping vibration-inducing parameters below threshold levels that would affect sensitive disk drive components.
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 system effectively regulates temperature and minimizes vibrations, ensuring accurate test results and reducing manufacturing costs by maintaining consistent air flow over storage devices during testing.
Implementation Method 1
an air mover in pneumatic communication with the air entrance of the test slot housing for delivering air to the air director
Implementation Method 2
The air director directs air substantially simultaneously over at least top and bottom surfaces of the storage device received in the storage device transporter
Data Source
AI summary
A test slot cooling system for a storage device testing system includes a storage device transporter having first and second portions. The first portion of the storage device transporter includes an air director and the second portion of the storage device transporter is configured to receive a storage device. The test slot cooling system includes a test slot housing defining an air entrance and a transporter opening for receiving the storage device transporter. The air entrance is in pneumatic communication with the air director of the received storage device transporter. The test slot cooling system also includes an air mover in pneumatic communication with the air entrance of the test slot housing for delivering air to the air director. The air director directs air substantially simultaneously over at least top and bottom surfaces of the storage device received in the storage device transporter.