Patent Publication Number: US-2022236775-A1

Title: Fixing structure for hard disk and server chassis having the same

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter relates to servers, and more particularly, to a fixing structure for a hard disk and a server chassis having the fixing structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When multiple hard disks are placed in a carrier of a server chassis, because of the narrow space in the carrier, it may not be easy to move the hard disks in the carrier and then insert them to a mainboard in the server chassis. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a fixing structure for a hard disk according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the fixing structure in another state. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the fixing structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view showing connection between a main body and a rotation member of the fixing structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic view showing connection between a main body and a rotation member of the fixing structure of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of a server chassis according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous components. 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 components 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 may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     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. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the fixing structure  100  includes a main body  10  and a rotation member  20 . The main body  10  includes two first sidewalls  11  parallel to each other and a second sidewall  12 . The second sidewall  12  is perpendicular to the two first sidewalls  11  and connects between the two first sidewalls  11 . That is, the first sidewall  11  and second sidewall  12  cooperatively form a U-shaped structure that defining a groove  10   a.  The hard disk  200  can be inserted into the groove  10   a,  and then fixed to the two first sidewall  11 . In one embodiment, the hard disk  200  are fixed to the two first sidewalls  11  by screw bolts  201 . A port  210  of the hard disk  200  faces the second sidewall  12 . 
     The rotation member  20  includes two rotation arms  22  rotatably connected to the two first sidewalls  11 . The rotation axes of the two rotation arms  22  are aligned with each other. As shown in  FIG. 1 , each rotation arm  22  can rotate to be parallel to an extending direction of the corresponding first sidewall  11  (hereinafter, “first state”). As shown in  FIG. 2 , each rotation arm  22  can also rotate to be angled with the corresponding first sidewall  11  (hereinafter, “second state”). In the second state, the angle between the rotation arm  22  and the corresponding first sidewall  11  is not equal to 0 degree or 180 degrees. A direction from each first sidewall  11  to the second sidewall  12  is defined as a first direction D 1 , and an opposite direction is defined as a second direction D 2 . Each of the first and the second directions D 1 , D 2  are parallel to the extending direction of the first sidewalls  11 . 
     In order to facilitate the rotation of the rotation arms  22 , the rotation member  20  can also include a handle  21  connecting between the two rotation arms  20 . When a user rotates the handle  21 , the handle  21  can drive the two rotation arms  20  to rotate. Furthermore, when the user lifts the handle  21  up, the main body  10  and the hard disk  200  fixed thereto can also be lifted up at the same time. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the fixing structure  100  also includes two latching posts  30 . The latching posts  30  are fixed to a carrier  301  of a server chassis  300  (see  FIG. 6 ). That is, the position of the latching posts  30  is fixed. Each first sidewall  11  defines a limiting slot  11   a,  and each latching post  30  can be movably disposed in one limiting slot  11   a.  Each rotation arm  22  defines a latching slot  22   a.  Each latching post  30  can further pass through one latching slot  22   a.  The latching slot  22   a  includes a first inner wall  22   b  and a second inner wall  22   c.  The first inner wall  22   b  and the second inner wall  22   c  form an acute angle therebetween. In one embodiment, the first inner wall  22   b  is along the vertical direction, and the second inner wall  22   c  is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the fixing structure  100  is in the first state, each first inner wall  22   b  can abut against a side of one latching post  30 , and each limiting slot  11   a  can abut against another opposite side of the latching post  30 . Thus, the hard disk  200  can be fixed in the fixing structure  100 . In one embodiment, the handle  21  and the second sidewall  12  can be connected to each other by snap fit or magnetic adsorption, thereby preventing the rotation member  20  from shaking in the first state. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the fixing structure  100  is in the second state, each second inner wall  22   c  can abut against one latching post  22 . In one embodiment, the rotation arms  22  can rotate about 45 degrees to switch between the first state and the second state. 
     Thus, when the fixing structure  100  is switched from the second state to the first state by rotating the rotation arms  22  towards the main body  10 , each first inner wall  22   b  can abut against one latching post  30 , so that the first inner wall  22   b  can apply a pushing force to the latching post  22 . Since the position of the latching post  22  is fixed, an opposite acting force of the pushing force can push the main body  10  and the hard disk  200  fixed thereto to move along the first direction D 1 . When the fixing structure  100  is switched from the first state to the second state by rotating the rotation arms  22  away from the main body  10 , each second inner wall  22   c  abuts against one latching post  22 , so that the second inner wall  22   c  can apply a pushing force to the latching post  22 . Since the position of the latching post  22  is fixed, an opposite acting force of the pushing force can push the main body  10  and the hard disk  200  fixed thereto to move along the second direction D 2 . 
     Thus, the rotation of the rotation arms  22  can be converted to the movement of the hard disk  200  along the first direction D 1  or the second direction D 2 . 
     In use, a user can rotate the handle  21  to cause the rotation arms  22  to be angled with the first sidewalls  11 , place the main body  10  and the hard disk  200  into the carrier  301 , and insert the latching posts  30  that fixed to the carrier  301  into the latching slots  1   a.  Then, the rotation arms  22  are rotated back. After the rotation, each first inner wall  22   b  abuts against one latching post  30 , and the hard disk  200  moves along the first direction until port  210  of the hard disk  200  is inserted into another port of a mainboard placed in the carrier  301 . At this time, the fixing structure  100  has been switched to the first state. If the user needs to take the hard disk  200  out of the carrier  301 , the rotation arms  22  are rotated to be angled with the first sidewalls  11  again. After the rotation, each second inner wall  22   c  abuts against and pushes the latching post  22  to move out of the limiting slot  11   a.  Then, the port  210  of the hard disk  200  can be separated from the mainboard, and the hard disk  200  can be taken away by the user. 
     In one embodiment, each limiting slot  11   a  includes a first slot portion  111  and a second slot portion  112 . The first slot portion  111  passes through a bottom of the corresponding first sidewall  11 . The second slot portion  112  communicates with the first slot portion  111 . Along the extending direction of the first sidewall  11 , the first slot portion  111  is narrower than the second slot portion  112 , so that a limiting bar  11   b  is formed near the bottom of the first sidewall  11 . When in the first state, each limiting bar  11   b  is disposed under one latching post  30 , which can prevent the latching post  30  from further moving along the vertical direction as shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, the limiting bar  11   b  can prevent the hard disk  220  from shaking or disengaging from the latching post  30 . When the fixing structure  100  is switched from the first state to the second state, the latching post  30  moves out of the limiting slot  11   a  first through the second slot portion  112  and then through the first slot portion  111 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of a server chassis  300  is further provided according to the present disclosure. The server chassis  300  includes a carrier  301  and a number of fixing structures  100 . The fixing structures  100  can fix a number of hard disks  200  in the carrier  301 . 
     Even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present exemplary embodiments, to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.