Patent Publication Number: US-2019171257-A1

Title: Mounting assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Computing systems include hard disk drives. The hard disk drives are typically attached to a hard disk drive carrier then inserted into a computing system. For example, a hard disk drive is attached to a hard disk drive carrier and then inserted into a shelf in a computing system where it is connected to other electronic components. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure are described in the following description, read with reference to the figures attached hereto and do not limit the scope of the claims. In the figures, identical and similar structures, elements or parts thereof that appear in more than one figure are generally labeled with the same or similar references in the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features illustrated in the figures are chosen primarily for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily to scale. Referring to the attached figures: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a mounting assembly  100  according to an example; 
         FIGS. 2-4  illustrate isometric views of the mounting assembly of  FIG. 1  according to an example; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of a system according to an example; 
         FIGS. 6-9  illustrate schematic views of the system of  FIG. 5  according to examples; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a back view of the system of  FIG. 5  according to an example; and 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an isometric view of the front of the system of  FIG. 5  according to an example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is depicted by way of illustration specific examples in which the present disclosure may be practiced. It is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     Computing system designs determine requirements for components in the computing system. Space, thermal constraints, cost, and ease of use are some factors that determine the type of mounting assemblies and cages used with electronic components, such as hard disk drives. 
     In examples, a mounting assembly is provided. The mounting assembly includes a first cage, a second cage, a rail member, a rigid cable member, a latch member, and a lock mechanism. The rail member includes a first rail to receive the first cage, a second rail to receive the second cage, and a third rail to connect to a chassis. The rail member to move the first cage and the second cage between an installed position, an access position, and a transitional position. The rigid cable member to move with the first cage and the second cage along the rail member. The latch member to retain the first cage and the second cage in the installed position. The lock mechanism to hold the second cage in the access position. 
     The phrase “disk drive” refers to a device to read data from and write data to a disk. For example, a hard disk drive uses a program to read data from and write data to a disk. 
     The phrase “electronic component” refers to a computing device that provides computer solutions, storage solutions, network solutions and/or cloud services. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a mounting assembly  100  according to an example. The mounting assembly  100  includes a first cage  120 , a second cage  130 , a rail member  150 , a rigid cable member  160 , a latch member  170 , and a lock mechanism  190 . The mounting assembly  100  may mount to a support structure, such as a rack. The first cage  120  and the second cage  130  may receive electronic components, for example, hard disk drives. 
     The rail member  150  includes a first rail, a second rail, and a third rail. The first rail to receive a first cage  120 . The second rail to receive a second cage  130 . The third rail to connect to a chassis. The rail member  150  to move the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  therealong between an installed position, an access position, and a transitional position. The rigid cable member  160  to move with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  along the rail member  150 . The latch member  170  to retain the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  in the installed position. The lock mechanism  190  to hold the second cage  130  in the access position. 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate isometric views of the mounting assembly  100  of  FIG. 1  according to an example. Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , the first cage  120 , the second cage  130 , the rail member  150 , the rigid cable member  160 , the latch member  170 , and the lock mechanism  190  are illustrated. The first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are formed of a cage support structure including a base  222 , a top wall  224 , and a pair of side walls  226 . The first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are connected to one another via the rail member  150 . 
     For example, the rail member  150  may be a telescoping rail having axial telescoping movement. The rail member  150  includes a first rail  252 , a second rail  254 , and a third rail  256 . The first rail  252  to receive a first cage  120 . The second rail  254  to receive a second cage  130 . The third rail  256  to connect to a chassis. The rail member  150  to move the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  along the rail member  150  between an installed position P I  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an access position P A  illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3B , and a transitional position P T  illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the motion of the mounting assembly  100  based on movement of the rail member  150 . Referring to  FIG. 2  illustrates the mounting assembly  100  in an installed position, P I . The installed position, P I , illustrates the position of the mounting assembly  100  as it would be installed, for example, in a chassis during normal operation of a computing system. In the installed position, P I , the first cage  120  is accessible. For example, the electronic component may be hot pluggable and access to the electronic components may be provided through the front of the chassis while the electronic components are in operation. 
     In the installed position, P I , the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are adjacent to one another with the rail member  150  in a retracted or nested position, R C . In the retracted position, R C , the first rail  252 , the second rail  254 , and the third rail  256  are nested in one another. The latch member  170  may hold the rail member  150  in the retracted position, R C , and release the rail member  150  to enable movement to an access position, P A . 
     The latch member  170  to retain the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  in the installed position, P I . The latch member  170  includes a lever member  272 , such as a tab, and an engagement member  274 , such as a hook. The lock mechanism  190  to hold the second cage  130  in the access position. The lock mechanism  190  is not engaged. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates the mounting assembly  100  in an access position, P A . The access position, P A , illustrates the position of the mounting assembly  100  as it would be positioned to access the second cage  130 . In the access position P A , the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are accessible. In other words, the electronic components of the first cage  120  and/or the second cage  130  may be accessed for purposes of repair, replacement, removal, and/or installation. Since these may be hot pluggable devices, the repair, replacement, removal, and/or installation may be performed while the electronic system is in operation. 
     In the access position, P A , the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are spaced apart from one another with the rail member  150  in an extended position, R E . In the extended position, R E , the first rail  252  is illustrated as extending from the second rail  254  to move the first cage  120  a first distance, D 1 , and the second rail  254  is illustrated as extending from the third rail  356  to move the second cage  130  a second distance, D 2 , which reduces the overlapping or nesting of the first rail  252 , the second rail  254 , and the third rail  256 . 
     In the extended position, R E , the lock mechanism  190  is visible between the first and second rail members  252 ,  254 . An enlarged view of the lock mechanism  190  is illustrated in  FIG. 3B . For example, the lock mechanism  190  is illustrated as a snaplock that engages or locks when the first and second cages  120 ,  130  are spaced apart from one another in the access position, P A , and the first and second rail members  252 ,  254  are fully extended, i.e., in the extended position, R E . The lock mechanism  190  may include a protrusion  392  and an aperture  394 . The protrusion  392  and the aperture  394  to retain the rail member  150  when the protrusion  392  engages with the aperture  394 . The protrusion  392  and the aperture  394  to release the rail member  150  when the protrusion  392  and aperture  394  are unengaged. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3B , the lock mechanism  190  is illustrated as a protrusion  392  or tab extending from the second rail member  254 . The protrusion  392  engages with an aperture  394  formed in the first rail  252 . At least one protrusion  392  and at least one aperture  394  may form the lock mechanism  190 . The engagement between the protrusion  392  and the aperture  394  retains the first rail  252  in the extended position R E . For example, the protrusion  392  may include a spring loaded protrusion that retains the rail member  150  when the protrusion  392  engages with and remains within the aperture  394 . 
     To release the lock mechanism  190 , a release force, F R , may be applied to the spring loaded protrusion  392 . The release force, F R , to release the engagement between the protrusion  392  and aperture  396 . The release of engagement between the protrusion  394  and the aperture  396  allows the first rail  252  to move from the extended position R E  back to the retracted position, R C . Movement of the rail member  150  to the retracted position, R C , may occur when a horizontal force, F H  is applied to the first cage  120  and/or the first rail  152 . For example, the horizontal force, F H , may include a spring member that pulls the first rail  152  and the second rail member  154  together. Alternatively, the horizontal force, F H , may include a user applying a force to the first cage  120  and/or first rail  152  to move the rail member  150  back to the retracted position, R C . 
     Release of the lock mechanism  190  allows the mounting assembly  100  to move from the access position, P A , back to the installed position, P I . As the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are moved towards the installed position, P I , the cages meet in a transitional position, P T .  FIG. 4  illustrates the mounting assembly  100  in a transitional position, P T . In the transitional position, P T , the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are adjacent to one another with the second rail  254  of the rail member  150  in an extended position, R E , and the first rail  252  of the rail member  150  in a retracted position, R C . 
     The rigid cable member  160  to move with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  along the rail member  150 . For example,  FIG. 2  illustrates the rigid cable member  160  aligned with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130 . In the installed position, P I , the rigid cable member  160  extends across the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  and extends beyond the second cage  130  such that it may extend into a chassis. Referring to  FIG. 3A , the rigid cable member  160  moves or slides with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  as the cages move to the access position, P A . In the access position, P A , the rigid cable member  160  extends between the first and the second cage  120 ,  130  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the rigid cable member  160  moves with the first cage  120  to the transitional position, P T . In the transitional position, P T , the rigid cable member  160  extends across the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  and beyond the second cage  130 . 
     The rigid cable member  160  is aligned with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  in a similar manner in the installed position, P I , ( FIG. 2 ) and the transitional position, P T , ( FIG. 4 ); however, the position of the rigid cable member  160  with respect to the rail member  150  is different. For example, in  FIG. 2  the rigid cable member  160  extends past the third rail  256  of the rail member  150 . In  FIG. 4 , the rigid cable member  160  extends across a portion of the third rail  256  since the second cage  130  is in an extended position. The difference between  FIGS. 2 and 4  is that the rigid cable member  160  will remain the same length and move as a unitary body with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  as the first rail  252 , the second rail  254 , and the third rail  256  of the rail member  150  retract in an axial telescoping movement as the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  move along the third rail  256  between the transitional position, P T , of  FIG. 4  and the installed position, P I  of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of a system  500  according to an example. The system  500  includes a chassis  510  and a mounting assembly  100 . The chassis  510  to receive a cage. The mounting assembly  100  to mount to the chassis  510 . For example, the mounting assembly  100  may be used to mount the chassis  510  with a cage and provide access thereto. 
     The mounting assembly includes a first cage  120 , a second cage  130 , a rail member  150 , a rigid cable member  160 , a latch member  170 , and a lock mechanism  190 . The rail member  150  includes a first rail  252 , a second rail  254 , and a third rail  256 . The first rail  252  to receive the first cage  120 . The second rail  254  to receive the second cage  130 . The third rail  256  to connect to a chassis  510 . The first rail  252  to extend from the second rail  254  and move the first cage  120  a first distance, D 1 . The second rail  254  to extend from the third rail  256  and move the second cage  130  a second distance, D 2 . The rigid cable member  160  to receive a cable and move with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  along the rail member  150 . The latch member  170  to retain the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  in the chassis  510 . The lock mechanism  190  to hold the second cage  130  in an extended position. 
       FIGS. 6-10  illustrate schematic views of the system  500  of  FIG. 5  according to examples. The system  500  includes a chassis  510  and a mounting assembly  100  that moves between an installed position, P I , an access position, P A , and a transitional position, P T . 
     The system  500  is illustrated with twelve large form factor hard disk drives  605  inserted in the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  for a total of twenty-four large form factor hot pluggable hard disk drives accessible via the front of the chassis  510 . Access through the front of the chassis  510  provides a simple and easy way to access the hard disk drives without having to access the rear of the chassis  510 . The system  500  may alternatively, include cages that each may hold fifteen large form factor hard disk drives to provide a system  500  with thirty large form factor disk drives accessible via the front of the chassis  510 . Moreover, the system  500  may include additional components connected to the chassis  510 , such as an additional cage  640 ; a backplane  665 , circuitry  680 , such as a circuit board; cooling devices  682 , such as fans and/or heat sinks; and power supplies  864 . Furthermore, since the system  500  is compatible with hot pluggable electronic components, the access may be provided without shutting down the whole electronic system. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the system  500  is illustrated in the installed position, P I . The installed position, P I , illustrates the position of the mounting assembly  100  as it would be installed in the chassis  510  during normal operation of a computing system. In the installed position, P I , the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are adjacent to one another with the rail member  150  in a retracted or nested position, R C . For example, the first rail  252 , the second rail  254 , and the third rail  256  of the rail member  150  are nested in one another. 
     The rigid cable member  160  moves with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  along the rail member  150 . The rigid cable member extends along the chassis  510  adjacent to the first cage  120  and the second cage  130 . In the installed position, P I , the rigid cable member  160  aligns with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130 . In the installed position, P I , the rigid cable member  160  extends across the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  and extends beyond the second cage  130  such that it may extend into a chassis  510  past the third rail  256 . 
     The rigid cable member  160  is illustrated as a rectangular tube formed of sheet metal to receive cables connected to the first cage  120  and the second cage  130 . The rigid cable member  160  may further include a flexible member  662  to move with the rigid cable member  160  and provide an additional range of motion as the mounting assembly  100  moves between the installed position, P I , the access position, P A , and the transitional position, P T . For example, the flexible member  662  may include a chain formed to receive the cables. The flexible member  662  is illustrated within the chassis  510  in a retracted position, C R , and may move with the cages. The flexible member  662  is illustrated in a retracted position, C R , when the mounting assembly  100  is in the installed position, P I , and moves to an extended position, C E , when the mounting assembly  100  is in the access position, P A  and the transitional position, P T . 
     The latch member  170  retains the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  in the installed position, P I . The latch member  170  includes a lever member  272 , such as a tab, and an engagement member  274 , such as a hook. An enlarged view of the latch member  170  is illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The lever member  272  may be moveably connected to the first cage  120  to allow a user to unengage the engagement member  274  and engage the engagement member  274  by applying a force, F 1 , to the tab to control movement of the first cage  120  and/or the second cage  130  of the mounting assembly  100 . For example, the latch member  170  may connect to the first cage  120  and/or the mounting assembly  100  via a fastener  778 . 
     The latch member  170  moves between an engaged position, L E , and an unengaged position, L U . For example, the latch member  170  may engage with a portion of a chassis  510  such as a pin  712 . The engagement member  274  may engages with pin  712  to hold the mounting assembly  100  therein when the latch member  170  is in the engaged position, L E . Movement of the latch member  170  to the unengaged position, L U , allows a second force, F 2 , to be applied to the cage to move the cages  120  and  130  horizontally therein. The latch member  170  may further include a spring member  776  to retain the latch member  180  in the engaged position, L E . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the system  500  with the mounting assembly  100  in an access position, P A . The access position, P A , illustrates the position of the mounting assembly  100  as it would be positioned to access the second cage  130 . In the access position, P A , the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are spaced apart from one another with the rail member  150  in an extended position, R E . In the extended position, R E , the third rail  256  remains within the chassis  510 , the first rail  252  is illustrated as extending from the second rail  254  reducing the overlapping or nesting of the first rail  252 , the second rail  254 , and the third rail  256 . For example, the first rail  252  is extended from the chassis  510  and the second rail  254  is extended within the chassis  510 . The rigid cable member  160  moves or slides with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  as the cages move to the access position, P A . In the access position, P A , the rigid cable member  160  extends between the first and the second cage  120 ,  130 . The flexible member  662  is illustrated extended, i.e., in the extended position, C E . The latch member  170  is illustrated unengaged, L U . 
     The lock mechanism  190  retains the first rail  252  and the second rail  254  in the extended position, R E . The lock mechanism  190  is illustrated as a protrusion  392  or tab extending from the second rail member  254 . The protrusion  392  engages with an aperture  394  formed in the first rail  252 . At least one protrusion  392  and at least one aperture  394  may form the lock mechanism  190 . The engagement between the protrusion  392  and the aperture  394  retains the first rail member  252  in the extended position, R E . For example, the protrusion  392  may include a spring loaded protrusion that retains the rail member  150  when the protrusion  392  engages with and remains within the aperture  394 . 
     To release the lock mechanism  190 , a release force, F R , may be applied to the spring loaded protrusion  392 . The release force, F R , to release the engagement between the protrusion  392  and aperture  396 . The release of engagement between the protrusion  394  and the aperture  396  allows the first rail  252  to move from the extended position, R E , back to the retracted position, R C . Movement of the rail member  150  to the retracted position, R C , may occur when a horizontal force, F H , is applied to the first cage  120  and/or the first rail member  152 . For example, the horizontal force, F H , may include a spring member that pulls the first rail member  152  and the second rail member  154  together. Alternatively, the horizontal force, F H , may include a user applying a force to the first cage  120  and/or first rail member  152  to move the rail member  150  back to the retracted position, R C . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the system  500  with the mounting assembly  100  in a transitional position, P T . In the transitional position, P T , the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are adjacent to one another with the second rail  254  of the rail member  150  in an extended position, R E , and the first rail  252  of the rail member  150  in a retracted position R C . A gap, G, is formed between the second cage  130  and the back of the chassis  510 , i.e. where the circuitry  680  and cooling devices  682  are located. With the rail member  150  in the retracted position, R C , the lock mechanism  190  is not in use. In the retracted position, R C , the first rail  252  is nested in the second rail  254 . The second rail  254  is extended within the chassis  510  and remains at least partially within the chassis  510  with the second cage  130  connected thereto. The latch member  170  remains unengaged in the transitional position, P T . 
     The rigid cable member  160  moves with the first cage  120  to the transitional position, P T . In the transitional position, P T , the rigid cable member  160  extends across the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  and beyond the second cage  130 . The rigid cable member  160  extends across a portion of the third rail  256  and the flexible member  662  is illustrated extended, i.e., the extended position, C E , since the second cage  130  is in an extended position. The difference between the transitional position, P T , and the installed position, P I , is that the rigid cable member  160  will remain the same length and move as a unitary body with the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  as the first rail  252 , the second rail  254 , and the third rail  256  of the rail member  150  retracts in an axial telescoping movement as the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  move along the third rail  256  between the transitional position, P T , and the installed position, P I . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-9 , the latch member  170  may control movement of the first cage  120  and the second cage  130  based on forces applied to the lever member  272 . For example, in the installed position, P I , a first force F 1 , such as a vertical or downward force, may be applied to the lever member  272  to release the lever member  272  from the engagement portion  712 . After the engagement member  274  releases, a second force F 2 , such as a horizontal force, F H , may be used to pull the first cage  120  out of the chassis  510  and move the second cage  130  to the front of the chassis  510  towards the access position, P A . From the access position, P A , a third force, F 3 , such as a horizontal force from an direction opposite the second force, F 2 , may be applied to push the first cage  120  back towards the second cage  130 . The third force, F 3  allows the mounting assembly  100  to pass through the transitional position, P T , and back into the installed position, P I . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a back view of the system  500  of  FIG. 5  according to an example. The system  500  is illustrated to include a chassis  510  and a mounting assembly  100  that moves between an installed position, P I , an access position, P A , and a transitional position, P T . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates an isometric view of the front of the system  500  of  FIG. 5  according to an example. The system  500  includes a chassis  510  and a mounting assembly  100  that moves between an installed position, P I , an access position, P A , and a transitional position, P T . The mounting system  100  includes the first cage  120 , the second cage  130 , the rail member  150 , the rigid cable member  160 , the latch member  170 , and the lock mechanism  190 . The first cage  120  and the second cage  130  are illustrated as having short form factor hard disk drives. For example, the first cage  120  includes two portions  1121  and  1123  each holding twelve short form factor hard disk drives  1105  for a total of twenty-four. The second cage  130  may similarly hold twenty-four short form factor hard disk drives accessible via the front of the chassis  510  using the mounting assembly  100  provided herein. Thus, the system  500  illustrated in  FIG. 11  may hold up to forty-eight short form factor hard disk drives with access to the disk drives via the front of the chassis  510 . Access to the disk drives are provided through the front of the chassis  510 , which provides a simple and easy way to access the hard disk drives without having to access the rear of the chassis  510 . Moreover, since the system  500  is compatible with hot pluggable electronic components, the access may be provided without shutting down the whole electronic system. 
     The present disclosure has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of examples thereof and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that features and/or operations described with respect to one example may be used with other examples and that not all examples of the present disclosure have all of the features and/or operations illustrated in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the examples. Variations of examples described will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms “comprise,” “include,” “have” and their conjugates, shall mean, when used in the present disclosure and/or claims, “including but not necessarily limited to.” 
     It is noted that some of the above described examples may include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the present disclosure and are intended to be exemplary. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are different, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the elements and limitations as used in the claims.