Vibrational Isolator Guide Pin for Modular Server Bay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling resources, such as hard disk drives, are vulnerable to vibrational shock and mechanical stress in modular systems, which can degrade performance and cause damage due to factors like cooling fans and mechanical shock during drawer operation.

Innovation Solution

A system with a structural member and an isolator/guide mechanism, where guide pins engage with modular resources to mechanically guide them and vibrational isolators provide isolation between the structural member and guide pins, reducing vibrational transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If modular information handling resources are disposed in a chassis with rails and mechanical components for easy installation and removal, then ease of operation is improved, but vibrational shock and mechanical stress increase causing damage to sensitive components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of installation and removalVSAvoidvibrational shock and mechanical stress

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A vibrational isolator is introduced as an intermediary component between the guide pin (mechanical guiding structure) and the information handling resource. This isolator mechanically couples the guide pin to the resource while providing vibrational isolation, allowing the resource to be guided during insertion and removal while protecting it from harmful vibrations and shocks generated by the mechanical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vibrational isolator is pre-installed between the guide pin and the information handling resource before the resource is placed in the chassis. This beforehand cushioning ensures that the resource is protected from vibrational shock and mechanical stress from the moment it is installed, preventing damage before it can occur during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Productivity

If cooling fans and electromechanical devices are added to improve system functionality, then productivity is improved, but vibrational shock increases degrading performance and causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem functionalityVSAvoidvibrational shock

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vibrational isolator serves as a mediator that allows cooling fans and electromechanical devices to operate at full functionality while preventing their generated vibrations from reaching the information handling resources. The isolator is positioned between the source of vibrations and the sensitive components, enabling both high productivity and component protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If hard disk drives are placed in an extending drawer for high-density storage, then quantity of substance is improved, but mechanical shock upon drawer operation increases causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage densityVSAvoidmechanical shock

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vibrational isolator is installed between the guide pin and the hard disk drives in the extending drawer, acting as a mediator that allows the drawer to extend and retract for high-density storage while absorbing and isolating the mechanical shocks generated during drawer operation from reaching the drives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vibrational isolator is pre-positioned to cushion the hard disk drives before drawer operation occurs. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when the drawer extends or retracts, the mechanical shocks are absorbed by the isolator rather than being transmitted to the drives, preventing damage while enabling high-density storage configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 solution effectively reduces or eliminates vibrational shock and mechanical stress on information handling resources, enhancing their performance and longevity by minimizing the impact of vibrations and shocks within the modular system.

Implementation Method 1

The vibrational isolator may be mechanically coupled between the structural member and the at least one guide pin such that the vibrational isolator provides vibrational isolation between the at least one guide pin and the structural member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibrational isolation: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS9508392B2Systems and methods for mechanical isolation of information handling resources

Publication Date: 2016.11.29 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system may include a structural member and an isolator/guide. The structural member may define at least a portion of each of two laterally adjacent bays, each bay for receiving a respective modular information handling resource. The isolator/guide may be mechanically coupled to the structural member and include at least one guide pin and a vibrational isolator. The at least one guide pin may be configured to engage with modular information handling resources disposed in each of the two laterally adjacent bays in order to mechanically guide the modular information handling resources during insertion into and removal from the bays. The vibrational isolator may be mechanically coupled between the structural member and the at least one guide pin such that the vibrational isolator provides vibrational isolation between the at least one guide pin and the structural member.