Abstract:
A fan bay and fan coupling apparatus include a chassis including a plurality of fan bay locating features and a plurality of fan connectors. A fan bay includes a plurality of chassis locating features and defines a plurality of fan assembly housings, wherein the chassis locating features on the fan bay are engageable with the fan bay locating features on the chassis. A plurality of fan assemblies each include a fan, wherein a fan assembly is located in each of the fan assembly housings, whereby the engagement of the chassis locating features on the fan bay with the fan bay locating features on the chassis allows the alignment and coupling of the plurality of fan assemblies with respective fan connectors on the chassis.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present disclosure relates generally to information handling systems, and more particularly to a coupling for a fan bay including fans with a information handling system chassis. 
   As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option is an information handling system (IHS). An IHS generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements may vary between different applications, IHSs may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in IHSs allow for IHSs to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, IHSs may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems. 
   IHSs typically include fan assemblies that are coupled to an IHS chassis in order to provide cooling for the heat producing components located in the IHS chassis. As IHSs grow and the heat producing components become greater in number and power, more and more fan assemblies are required to keep those heat producing components cool. The coupling of these multiple fan assemblies to the IHS chassis raises a number of issues. 
   Typically, a fan bay is provided that defines multiple fan assembly housings, each which can house a fan assembly. That fan bay is coupled to the IHS chassis and adjacent the IHS board in order to allow multiple fan assemblies to be coupled to the fan bay, the board, and the chassis. However, conventional chassis component tolerance stacks exceed the gathering limits between the board, the cooling fan connectors, the fan assembly, and fan bay. This results in the need to couple the fan bay to the chassis first, then couple each fan assembly to the fan bay in order to ensure the connector on the fan assembly correctly mates with the fan connector on the board. Some IHSs can include fan bays that house six or more cooling fans, so such a process greatly adds to the assembly time of the IHS. 
   Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a coupling for a fan bay including fans with a chassis absent the disadvantages found in the prior methods discussed above. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to one embodiment, a fan bay and fan coupling apparatus include a chassis including a plurality of fan bay locating features and a plurality of fan connectors, a fan bay including a plurality of chassis locating features and defining a plurality of fan assembly housings, wherein the chassis locating features on the fan bay are engageable with the fan bay locating features on the chassis, and a plurality of fan assemblies each including a fan, wherein a fan assembly is located in each of the fan assembly housings, whereby the engagement of the chassis locating features on the fan bay with the fan bay locating features on the chassis allows the coupling of the plurality of fan assemblies with respective fan connectors on the chassis. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an embodiment of an IHS. 
       FIG. 2   a  is a front perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a board. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a rear perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the board of  FIG. 2   a.    
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a fan bay used with the board of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.    
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a fan assembly used with the board of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  and the fan bay of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a chassis used with the board of  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the fan bay of  FIG. 3 , and the fan assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6   a  is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of a method for coupling a fan bay including fans to a chassis. 
       FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the fan assembly of  FIG. 4  being coupled to the fan bay of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6   c  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a plurality of the fan assemblies of  FIG. 4  coupled to the fan bay of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6   d  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the board of  FIG. 2  being coupled to the chassis of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6   e  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the board of  FIG. 2  coupled to the chassis of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 6   f  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the fan bay and fan assemblies of  FIG. 6   c  being coupled to the chassis and board of  FIG. 6   d.    
       FIG. 6   g  is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the fan bay and fan assemblies of  FIG. 6   c  coupled to the chassis and board of  FIG. 6   d.    
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   For purposes of this disclosure, an IHS may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data for business, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, an IHS may be a personal computer, a PDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, a switch router or other network communication device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price. The IHS may include memory, one or more processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware or software control logic. Additional components of the IHS may include one or more storage devices, one or more communications ports for communicating with external devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The IHS may also include one or more buses operable to transmit communications between the various hardware components. 
   In one embodiment, IHS  100 ,  FIG. 1 , includes a processor  102 , which is connected to a bus  104 . Bus  104  serves as a connection between processor  102  and other components of computer system  100 . An input device  106  is coupled to processor  102  to provide input to processor  102 . Examples of input devices include keyboards, touchscreens, and pointing devices such as mouses, trackballs and trackpads. Programs and data are stored on a mass storage device  108 , which is coupled to processor  102 . Mass storage devices include such devices as hard disks, optical disks, magneto-optical drives, floppy drives and the like. IHS  100  further includes a display  110 , which is coupled to processor  102  by a video controller  112 . A system memory  114  is coupled to processor  102  to provide the processor with fast storage to facilitate execution of computer programs by processor  102 . In an embodiment, a chassis  116  houses some or all of the components of IHS  100 . It should be understood that other buses and intermediate circuits can be deployed between the components described above and processor  102  to facilitate interconnection between the components and the processor  102 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , a board  200  is illustrated. The board  200  includes a base  202  having a front surface  202   a , a rear surface  202   b  located opposite the front surface  202   a , a top edge  202   c  extending between the front surface  202   a  and the rear surface  202   b , a bottom edge  202   d  located opposite the top edge  202   c  and extending between the front surface  202   a  and the rear surface  202   b , and a pair of opposing side edges  202   e  and  202   f  extending between the front surface  202   a , the rear surface  202   b , the top edge  202   c , and the bottom edge  202   d . A plurality of chassis coupling apertures  204  are defined by the base  202  and located on the rear surface  202   b  of the base  202  in a spaced apart orientation from each other. A plurality of fan bay locating features are included on the board  200  and, in an embodiment, include a plurality of fan bay locating posts  206   a ,  206   b , and  206   c  extending from the front surface  202   a  of the board  200  in a spaced apart orientation from each other with the fan bay locating posts  206   a  and  206   b  located adjacent the top edge  202   c  of the board  200  and the fan bay locating post  206   c  located adjacent the bottom edge  202   d  of the board  200 . In an embodiment, the fan bay locating posts  206   a ,  206   b  and  206   c  are only mechanically coupled to the board  200 . A plurality of fan connectors  208   a  and  208   b  extend from the front surface  202   a  of the board  200  adjacent the fan bay locating posts  206   a  and  206   b , respectively. In an embodiment, the board  200  may include some of the components of the IHS  100 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , such as, for example, processors  210 , which may be the processor  102  described above with reference to  FIG. 1  and may be electrically coupled to the fan connectors  208   a  and  208   b , card connectors  212 , memory connectors  214 , and/or a variety of other IHS components known in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a fan bay  300  is illustrated. The fan bay  300  includes a base  302  having a front wall  302   a , a rear wall  302   b  located opposite the front wall  302   a , a bottom wall  302   c  extending between the front wall  302   a  and the rear wall  302   b , a pair of opposing side walls  302   d  and  302   e  extending between the front wall  302   a , the rear wall  302   b , and the bottom wall  302   c , and a dividing wall  302   f  extending between the front wall  302   a , the rear wall  302   b , and the bottom wall  302   c  and located on the base approximately midway between the sides walls  302   d  and  302   e . A fan assembly housing  304   a  is defined between the front wall  302   a , the rear wall  302   b , the bottom wall  302   c , the side wall  302   d , and the dividing wall  302   f  and includes a fan assembly entrance  304   aa  and a pair of air passageways  304   ab  and  304   ac  defined by the front wall  302   a  and the rear wall  302   b , respectively. A fan assembly housing  304   b  is defined between the front wall  302   a , the rear wall  302   b , the bottom wall  302   c , the side wall  302   e , and the dividing wall  302   f  and includes a fan assembly entrance  304   ba  and a pair of air passageways  304   bb  and  304   bc  defined by the front wall  302   a  and the rear wall  302   b , respectively. A pair of chassis locating features are included on the base  300  and, in an embodiment, include a pair of post housings  306   a  and  306   b  defined by the base  300  and located in a spaced apart orientation on the bottom wall  302   c  of the base  300 . The bottom wall  302   c  defines a pair of fan assembly plug apertures  308   a  and  308   b  that extend through the bottom wall  302   c  to the fan assembly housings  304   b  and  304   a , respectively, and are located adjacent the post housings  306   a  and  306   b , respectively. A chassis coupling feature includes a pair of guides  310  that extend from the side wall  302   e  and may also include guides (not shown) that extend from the side wall  302   d . While the fan bay  300 , as illustrated, is operable to house only two fan assemblies, in an embodiment, the fan bay  300  may house any plurality of fan assemblies. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a fan assembly  400  is illustrated. In an embodiment, the fan assembly  400  is a hot plug fan known in the art. The fan assembly  400  includes a base  402  having a front surface  402   a , a rear surface  402   b  located opposite the front surface  202   a , a top surface  402   c  extending between the front surface  402   a  and the rear surface  402   b , a bottom surface  402   d  located opposite the top surface  402   c  and extending between the front surface  402   a  and the rear surface  402   b , and a pair of opposing side surfaces  402   e  and  402   f  extending between the front surface  402   a , the rear surface  402   b , the top surface  402   c , and the bottom surface  402   d . A fan housing  404  is defined by the base  402  and located between the front surface  402   a , the rear surface  402   b , the top surface  402   c , the bottom surface  402   d , and the side surfaces  402   e  and  402   f . A fan  406  is located in the fan housing  404 . A fan plug  408  extends from the bottom surface  402   d  of the base  402 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a chassis  500  is illustrated. In an embodiment, the chassis  500  may be the chassis  116 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 , and may house some or all of the components of the IHS  100 , described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The chassis  500  includes a base  502  having a bottom wall  502   a , a rear wall  502   b  extending from the bottom wall  502   a , a pair of opposing side walls  502   c  and  502   d  extending between the bottom wall  502   a  and the rear wall  502   b , and an internal wall  502   e  extending between the rear wall  502   b  and the side walls  502   c  and  502   d . An IHS housing  502   f  is defined by the chassis  500  between the rear wall  502   b , the side walls  502   c  and  502   d , and the internal wall  502   e . A plurality of board coupling members  504  extend from the internal wall  502   e  and into the IHS housing  502   f . A fan bay coupling member  506  extends from the side wall  502   c  and into the IHS housing  502   f . A fan bay coupling edge  508  is located on the rear wall  502   b  in a spaced apart relationship to the fan bay coupling member  506 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c , a method  600  for coupling a fan bay including fans to a chassis is illustrated. The method  600  begins at step  602  where the chassis  500 , illustrated in  FIG. 5 , is provided. The method  600  then proceeds to step  604  where the fan bay  300  including a plurality of the fan assemblies  400  is provided. A fan assembly  400  is positioned adjacent the fan bay  300  such that the bottom surface  402   d  of the fan assembly is located adjacent the fan assembly housing  304   b  with the side surfaces  402   e  and  402   f  located adjacent the dividing wall  302   f  and the side wall  302   e , respectively, and the fan plug  408  aligned with the fan assembly plug aperture  308   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   b . The fan assembly  400  is then moved in a direction A such that the fan assembly  400  enters the fan assembly housing  304   b  and couples to the fan bay  300  with the fan plug  408  extending through fan assembly plug aperture  308   a  and out past the bottom wall  302   c  of the fan bay  300 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   c . A fan assembly  400  may be positioned in the fan assembly housing  304   a  and coupled to the fan bay  300  in the same manner as described above for the fan assembly  400  in the fan assembly housing  304   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   c . In an embodiment, the fan bay may include more fan assembly housings, and more fan assemblies may be coupled to the fan bay as described above. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  5 ,  6   a ,  6   d  and  6   e , the method  600  then proceeds to step  606  where the board  200  is coupled to the chassis  500  using the fan bay locating features. In an embodiment, the fan bay locating features include the fan bay locating posts  206   a ,  206   b  and/or  206   c  which are only mechanically coupled to the board  200  and may be grasped by a user. Because the fan bay locating posts  206   a ,  206   b  and  206   c  are only mechanically coupled to the board  200 , they may be grasped by the user without damaging electrical components on the board  200  that can occur when a component on the board  200  is grasped in order to position and move the board  200 . Using the fan bay locating posts  206   a ,  206   b  and/or  206   c , the board  200  is positioned adjacent the chassis  500  such that the bottom surface  202   b  is located adjacent the IHS housing  502   f  with the side edges  202   e  and  202   f  located adjacent the side walls  502   d  and  502   c , respectively, the top edge  202   c  located adjacent the rear wall  502   b , and the chassis coupling apertures  204  defined by the board  200  aligned with the board coupling members  504  extending from the internal wall  502   e  of the chassis  500 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   d . The board  200  is then moved in a direction B and coupled to the chassis by engaging the board coupling members  504  with the chassis coupling apertures  204 , as illustrated in  FIG. 6   e.    
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6   a ,  6   f  and  6   g , the method  600  then proceeds to step  608  where the fan bay  300  including the fan assemblies  300  is coupled to the chassis  500 . The fan bay  300  including the fan assemblies  300 , illustrated in  FIG. 6   c , are positioned adjacent the chassis  500  and board  400 , illustrated in  FIG. 6   e , such that the rear wall  302   b  of the fan bay  300  is located adjacent the rear wall  502   b  of the chassis  500 , with the side wall  302   d  adjacent the side wall  502   c , the fan plugs  408  aligned with the fan connectors  208   a  and  208   b , and the fan bay locating posts  206   a  and  206   b  aligned with the post housings  306   a  and  306   b , respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 6   f . The fan bay  300  is then moved in an direction C such that the fan bay coupling edge  508  on the rear wall  502   b  of the chassis  500  engages the guide  310  on the fan bay  300  and the fan bay coupling member  506  engages the side wall  302   d  of the fan bay  300 . Continued movement of the fan bay  300  in the direction C results in the engagement of the fan bay locating posts  206   a  and  206   b  with the post housings  306   a  and  306   b , respectively, which aligns the fan plugs  408  with the fan connectors  208   a  and  208   b  in order to ensure the proper electrical coupling of them upon engagement. Further movement of the fan bay  300  in the direction C results in the engagement of the fan plugs  408  with the fan connectors  208   a  and  208   b  such that they are electrically and physically coupled together, as illustrated in  FIG. 6   g . Thus, a method and apparatus are provided which allow a plurality of fan assemblies to be coupled to and decoupled from a chassis simultaneously while ensuring the proper electrical and physical connection between all of the fan assemblies and fan connectors in the chassis. 
   Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.