Air distribution system compatible with disparate data storage systems

A data storage library includes a drive enclosure bay which can be adapted to work with multiple air-flow configuration requirements. This is accomplished by creating air-flow ports in the top and bottom of the drive enclosure bay, by forming drive tray slots and printed circuit board ports in associated drive trays, by creating frame ports and PCB notches in associated interface cards, and replacing traditional connectors with slimmer but longer connectors that provide additional standoff and improved air-flow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention is related in general to the field of data management systems. In particular, the invention consists of a system for distributing air through a drive enclosure bay residing within one of multiple disparate data storage systems.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Data storage libraries are used for providing cost effective storage and retrieval of large quantities of data. In a data storage library, data is stored on data storage media that are, in turn, stored on storage shelves or on racks inside the library in a fashion that renders the media, and its resident data, accessible. Data storage media may comprise any type of media on which data may be stored, including but not limited to magnetic media (such as magnetic tape or disks), optical media (such as optical tap or disks), electronic media (such as PROM, EEPROM, flash PROM, Compactflash™, Smartmedia™ Memory Stick™, etc.), or other suitable media.

An exemplary data storage library may include a plurality of disparate components such as a power supply, a control module, an interconnect device, one or more communication devices, a blower module for removing heat, and one or more slots for receiving interchangeable components. These interchangeable components may include drive enclosure bays each containing multiple drive trays.

Each drive tray may, in turn, hold several data storage devices such as hard-disk drives, tape cartridges, optical-disk drives, or the like. These types of data storage devices traditionally operate by spinning a data storage media, such as a platter or disk, over a read/write head.

A primary concern for data storage systems is the displacement of heat generated by its components. To this end, the blower module usually includes a fan and, optionally, a refrigeration unit or cooler. The purpose of the fan may be to pull air into the data storage system in a manner that draws it over heated components, absorbing heat from these components, and discharging the heated air from the data storage unit. Alternatively, the fan may pull air into the data storage system, pass it over a cooler or refrigeration unit to lower its temperature, and then force it through and around heated system components. Either way, the cooling system requires that relatively cool air pass over, through, and around the heated components in sufficient quantities to remove an acceptable amount of heat from these components.

A primary source of heat in a traditional data storage system is the plurality of data storage devices placed on the drive trays of the drive enclosure bays. Accordingly, a traditional drive enclosure bay is designed to meet the needs of its attendant data storage system. For example, a drive enclosure bay designed for a first data storage system may provide a specific air-flow path entering the data storage system enclosure, over and around the drive trays containing data storage devices, through the blower, and exiting the blower module. Traditionally, a drive enclosure bay designed for a second data storage system may provide a much different air-flow path, as the design of its enclosure, power module, blower module, and other components may be different than that of the first data storage system. Another consideration may be the required air-flow impedance of each data storage system.

For these reason, drive enclosure bays are traditionally designed for a specific data storage system. However, this prevents a drive enclosure bay from being ported from one type of data storage system to another. This, in turn, reduces flexibility in the transferal of data storage devices from one system to another. Accordingly, it is desirable to have a system for distributing air through a drive enclosure bay wherein the drive enclosure bay may reside in one of a plurality of disparate data storage systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein employs a plurality of air-flow paths within a drive enclosure bay to allow the drive enclosure bay to function with multiple disparate data storage systems. Another aspect of the invention is the use of narrow and offset connectors to facilitate the flow of air through the drive enclosure bay. The drive tray includes a front side adapted to allow air to flow through the front side of the drive enclosure bay, a top side including an air outlet port, a bottom side including an air outlet port, and a rear side including a contoured stiffener adapted to allow air to flow through the rear side of the drive enclosure bay. Additional features include the use of PCB ports and drive tray slots in the drive tray and frame ports and PCB notches in interface cards within the drive enclosure bay.

Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows and from the novel features particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention comprises the features hereinafter illustrated in the drawings, fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such drawings and description disclose just a few of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention is based on the idea of using a plurality of air-flow paths within a drive enclosure bay to allow the drive enclosure bay to function with multiple disparate data storage systems. Referring to figures, wherein like parts are designated with the same reference numerals and symbols,FIG. 1is an exploded view illustrating a first data storage system10including a housing12, a blower module14, a management module16, a power module18, a switch module20, a blade server22, a drive enclosure bay24, a filler blade26, a front bezel28, and a media tray30containing a CD-ROM drive, a USB port, and a diskette drive.FIG. 2is a rear view of the data storage library10ofFIG. 1, more fully illustrating the arrangement of the switch modules20, the blower modules14, the power modules18, and the management module16.

FIG. 3is an isometric view of the drive enclosure bay24introduced inFIG. 1, including drive trays40containing data storage devices and interface cards44. The drive enclosure bay24includes a front side46through which the drive trays40and interface cards44are inserted, a top side48, a right side42, a bottom side (not shown), a left side (not shown), and a rear side (not shown). In this embodiment of the invention, an air outlet portal50is placed toward the rear of the top side48and the rear of bottom side (not shown). This air outlet portal50allows air to flow from the drive enclosure bay24into the enclosure12of the data storage library10, when configured in one of at least two different configurations.FIG. 4illustrates the drive enclosure bay24ofFIG. 3without the drive trays and interface cards.

The isometric view ofFIG. 5illustrates the left side52, the top side48, the rear side54, the front46, and the air outlet portal50of the drive enclosure bay24ofFIG. 4. In this embodiment of the invention, the rear54of the drive enclosure bay24includes a drive enclosure bay mid-plane80. One aspect of this invention is that the mid-plane80is contoured in a manner designed to allow air-flow from the rear of the drive enclosure bay24into the housing12of the data storage library. This is accomplished via multiple cut-outs81, rather than using a traditional full rear enclosure of a traditional drive enclosure bay.

The isometric drawing ofFIG. 6illustrates a traditional drive tray40including a sheet metal frame60, one or more data storage devices62, a printed circuit board64and a traditional connector66. The isometric drawing ofFIG. 7illustrates a traditional interface card44including a sheet metal frame56, a PCB board58, and a traditional connector68which is approximately the same width as the PCB board58.

One aspect of this invention is the requirement that the drive enclosure bay24provide sufficient air flow through the drive enclosure bay24into the housing12of whatever type of data storage library10it is inserted into. In a first configuration, as illustrated by the block diagram ofFIG. 8, 100% of air flow enters the drive enclosure bay from the front46and exits from the rear54. The block diagram ofFIG. 9illustrates an optional implementation of this first configuration, with air intake being divided between the front46, top48, and bottom70of the drive enclosure bay24.

In a second configuration, as illustrated by the block diagram ofFIG. 10, 100% of the air enters the drive enclosure bay from the front46but exits via multiple paths, i.e., at least 20% from both the top48and bottom70and at least 50% from the rear54. To accommodate these disparate system configuration requirements, numerous design changes must be implemented in the drive trays40(FIG. 6), the interface cards44(FIG. 7), the top48, the bottom70, and the rear side54of the drive enclosure bay24.

As previously indicated and illustrated inFIG. 5, the rear enclosure of the drive enclosure bay24, while traditionally a solid sheet covering the entire rear54of the drive enclosure bay24, has been replaced with a mid-plane stiffener80which has been contoured so as to allow air to flow through. This helps facilitate the air flow requirements of both the first configuration (FIGS. 8 and 9) and the second configuration (FIG. 10).

An improved drive tray140is illustrated in the isometric view ofFIG. 11. Here, data storage devices162consisting of hard disk drives are attached to a PCB164and sheet metal frame160. In order to facilitate the flow of air between the data storage devices162, the PCB164, and the frame160of the drive tray140, a plurality of PCB ports170have been formed in the PCB164, a plurality of tray slots172have been formed in the bottom168of the frame160, and these PCB ports170and tray slots172have been staggered. This allows air to pass over, around, and under the data storage devices, through the PCB ports170, and through the tray slots172. Another aspect of the invention is that the traditional connector66(FIG. 6) has been replaced with a slimmer but longer and taller connector166which allows more air to flow towards the rear54of the drive enclosure bay24.

An improved interface card144is illustrated in the isometric drawing ofFIG. 12. Here, a sheet metal frame156includes a plurality of frame ports174, referred to herein as interface card air-flow ports. The PCB158includes a plurality of PCB notches176, referred to herein as printed circuit board air-flow ports, which are staggered with respect to the frame ports174. The traditional connector68(FIG. 7) has been replaced with a slimmer but longer and taller connector178which allows air to flow through the interface card144toward the rear54of the drive enclosure bay24. The staggered frame ports174and PCB notches176allow air to flow through the bottom of the improved interface card144.