Abstract:
In some implementations, cooling fans can be mounted in a server chassis using a multi-level vibration dampening mechanism to reduce the transmission of fan vibrations to the server chassis. For example, a plurality of cooling fans can be housed within a plurality of fan cages. The plurality of fan cages can be mounted to a cooling fan tray. The cooling fan tray can be mounted to the chassis. For example, the mountings used to attach the fan cages to the tray and the tray to the chassis can include resilient vibration dampers. Thus, the vibrations generated by the cooling fans can be more effectively reduced and operation of vibration sensitive server components can be improved.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The disclosure generally relates to reducing vibration generated by components within a computing system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, cooling fans are used to cool computing components within a server. For example, a plurality of cooling fans can be housed within a server chassis and arranged to push or pull air through the chassis to cool the computing components within. However, due to the high frequency rotation of the blades of the cooling fans, the cooling fans typically produce a large amount vibration. The vibration can interfere with the operation of various computing components, such as hard disk drives, and can reduce the operational availability and service life of the components. 
     SUMMARY 
     In some implementations, cooling fans can be mounted in a server chassis using a multi-level vibration dampening mechanism to reduce the transmission of fan vibrations to the server chassis. For example, a plurality of cooling fans can be housed within a plurality of fan cages. The plurality of fan cages can be mounted to a cooling fan tray using vibration dampening mounts. The cooling fan tray can be mounted to the chassis using vibration dampening mounts. For example, the mounting mechanisms used for mounting the fan cages and/or the tray can include resilient (e.g., rubber) vibration dampers. Thus, the vibrations generated by the cooling fans can be reduced and operation of vibration sensitive server components can be improved. 
     Particular implementations provide at least the following advantages: vibration caused by operation of a cooling fan is reduced while functionality of the cooling fan remains intact; and the effect of fan vibration on vibration sensitive computing components can be reduced. 
     Details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and potential advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is an isometric view of an apparatus comprising a plurality of fan cages mounted to a fan tray. 
         FIG. 1B  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates an example apparatus  100  including a multi-level vibration dampening mechanism for reducing noise and vibration caused by cooling fans  102  in server blade  104 . For example, the multi-level vibration dampening mechanism can include vibration dampeners located at a first levels between cooling fans  102  and fan tray  108 . The multi-level vibration dampening mechanism can include vibration dampeners at a second level between fan tray  108  and the chassis of server blade  104 . 
     In some implementations, cooling fans  102  can be housed within fan cages  106 , which are mounted to fan tray  108 . For example, the mounting between fan cages  106  and fan tray  108  can include a resilient dampening means, such as rubber, plastic, or springs, to couple fan cages  106  to fan tray  108 . In some implementations, fan cages  106  can comprise resilient mounts  110  for mounting fan cages  106  to fan tray  108  to provide a first level of vibration reduction. For example, resilient mounts  110  can be any type of resilient vibration isolator (e.g., silicone, rubber polymers, and other elastomeric materials) known in the art for use in combination with attachment means such as nails and screws for soft mounting fan cages  106  to fan tray  108 . Resilient mounts  110  can be located on mounting portion  112  of fan cage  106 , for example. In some implementations, fan cages  106  can each include a plurality of resilient mounts  110 . Each resilient mount  110  can be adapted to correspond to a specific mounting portion  112 . For example, fan cage  106  can comprise four resilient mounts  110  and four mounting portions  112 . Each resilient mount  110  can correspond to a single mounting portion  112 . In some implementations, fan cages  106  can be mounted to fan tray  108  using resilient fasteners (e.g., rubber screws, rubber rivets, etc.). 
     In some implementations, fan cages  106  can each be adapted to house at least one cooling fan  102 . In some implementations, cooling fans  102  can each be programmed to spin clockwise or counterclockwise. For example, cooling fans  102  can be arranged in a row such that cooling fans  102  are alternating clockwise and counterclockwise (e.g., a first fan can spin clockwise, the next adjacent fan can spin counterclockwise, etc.). 
     Fan tray  108  can comprise base  114 , first side  116 , second side  118 , third side  120 , and fourth side  122 . In some implementations, first side  116  can be opposed to second side  118 . In other implementations, third side  120  can be opposed to fourth side  122 . For example, base  114  can be flat, planar, and substantially rectangular in shape. In some implementations, first wall  124  can extend upwards from base  114  on first side  116 , and second wall  126  can extend upwards from base  114  on second side  118 . For example, first wall  124  can be perpendicular to base  114 , and second wall  126  can be perpendicular to base  114 . First wall  124  and second wall  126  can be substantially similar in height and shape such that fan cages  106  can be securely mounted in a row there between. 
     In some implementations, first abutment  128  can extend upwards from base  114  on third side  120 . For example, first abutment  128  can be perpendicular to base  114 . In some implementations, first abutment  128  can be shaped such that it can secure fan cages  106  while also allowing airflow generated by cooling fans  102  to pass over first abutment  128 . For example, first abutment  128  can comprise contoured dip  130 . In some implementations, contoured dip  130  can be lower in height than other parts of abutment  128  to allow airflow generated by cooling fans  102  to pass over first abutment  128 . For example, contoured dip  128  can be circular in shape. 
     In some implementations, second abutment (not shown) can extend upwards from base  114  on fourth side  122 . Second abutment can be substantially similar to first abutment  128  in height and shape to allow for airflow generated by cooling fans  102  to pass over. 
     In some implementations, fan tray  108  can be adapted to mount fan cages  106  to base  114 . For example, base  114  can comprise mounting posts  132  such that fan cages  106  can be mounted to base  114 . Mounting posts  132  can be sized and shaped to insert into resilient mounts  110  of fan cage  106 . For example, fan cage  106  can be mounted on to mounting posts  132  through rubber mounts  110 . In some implementations, a plurality of mounting posts  132  can be used to mount a plurality of fan cages  106  in a row on fan tray  108 . For example, each mounting post  132  can be substantially similar in size and shape. Each mounting post  132  can also be a uniform distance apart such that fan cages  106  can be mounted side-by-side in a row on base  114 . 
     In some implementations, securing posts  134  can be used to mount fan tray  108  to server blade  104  to provide a second level of vibration reduction. For example, securing post  134  can be elongate and cylindrical in shape and fixedly mounted to server blade  104 . Fan tray  108  can include resilient damper  136  for reducing the amount of vibration transmitted from fan tray  108  to server blade  104 . Resilient damper  136  can be made of silicone, rubber polymers, and other elastomeric materials known in the art. For example, resilient damper  136  can be a rubber grommet inserted into a mounting point (e.g., hole) in fan tray  108 . In some implementations, fan tray  108  can be mounted to securing post  134  at resilient damper  136 . For example, fan tray  108  can include wall  124  and lip  138 . Fan tray  108  can include wall  126  and lip  140 . Fan tray  108  can be mounted to securing posts  134  through resilient dampers  136  at lip  138  and lip  140 . Securing posts  134  can be made of any material known in the art, including, but not limited to, metal, alloys, plastic, wood, rubber, etc. 
     In some implementations, securing posts  134  can be long enough to support fan tray  108  while allowing fan tray  108  to float a distance above the floor of server blade  104 . For example, fan tray  108  can be adapted so that base  114  does not touch server blade  104 , such that vibrations caused by cooling fans  102  is minimized. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates a front view of apparatus  100 . In some implementations, the support location of resilient dampers  136  of fan tray  108  is located above the center of gravity of the fan cages  106  mounted on fan tray  108 . For example, dotted line A-A illustrates the mounting location of resilient dampers  136  to securing posts  134  at a height that is above the center of gravity of each of fan cages  106  mounted on fan tray  108 . For example, securing fan cages  106  to fan tray  108  at dampers  136  located above the centers of gravity of fan cages  106  may allow for greater stability when cooling fans  102  are operational. 
     In some implementations, fan cages  106  can include side dampers (e.g., silicone, rubber polymers, and other elastomeric materials). For example, the side dampers can be located on opposing sides of fan cages  106  such that when fan cages  106  are secured side-by-side in a row on fan tray  108 , vibrations transmitted from one fan cage  106  to another adjacent fan cage  106  are minimized. For example, the side dampers can be located between each fan cage  106  when mounted on fan tray  108 . In some implementations fan cages  106  can be linked together side-by-side in a row. 
     For clarity and simplicity, only one fan tray is described. However, multiple fan trays securing multiple fan cages can be supported by the above disclosure. For example, multiple fan trays can be coupled to a chassis to secure multiple fan cages according to the disclosure herein. 
     In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and members have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now be presented. 
     The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening members, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the member need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series and the like. 
     Although a variety of examples and other information were used to explain aspects within the scope of the appended claims, no limitation of the claims should be implied based on particular features or arrangements in such examples, as one of ordinary skill would be able to use these examples to derive a wide variety of implementations. For example, the fan cages can be secured on top of each other in multiple rows while also being secured to the fan tray according to the disclosure above. Further and although some subject matter may have been described in language specific to examples of structural features and/or method steps, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to these described features or acts. For example, such functionality can be distributed differently or performed in components other than those identified herein. Rather, the described features and steps are disclosed as examples of components of systems and methods within the scope of the appended claims.