Patent Publication Number: US-2023133801-A1

Title: Carrier unit for installing hard disk drive, carrier assembly having the same, and server having the same

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter herein generally relates to server construction, and more particularly, to a carrier unit for installing hard disk drive, and a carrier assembly having the carrier unit, and a server having the carrier assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hard disk drives (HDDs) are commonly utilized to store relatively large amounts of data in today&#39;s server systems. 
     Installing the HDDs to a server often requires fasteners, such as screws, which causes a low installation efficiency. 
    
    
     
       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 carrier unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a diagrammatic view of the carrier unit of  FIG.  1   , accommodating an HDD. 
         FIG.  3    is a diagrammatic view of a carrier unit of  FIG.  1    showing a bracket. 
         FIG.  4    is a diagrammatic view of the carrier unit according to an embodiment of present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is a diagrammatic view of a carrier assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is a diagrammatic view of a server rack and a server 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 elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth 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 disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
     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.  2  and  3   , an embodiment of an HDD carrier unit  100  is provided. The carrier unit  100  includes a bracket  10  and a carrier  20 . The bracket  10  defines a receiving spaces S. The carrier  20  is removably inserted into the receiving spaces  10 . The carrier  20  is used for carrying an HDD  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the bracket  10  includes a base plate  11 , two side plates  12 , a plurality of first protrusions  13 , and an end plates  14 . The two side plates  12  are connected to the base plate  11 , the two side plates  12  are side by side but spaced from each other. The end plate  14  is connected to the base plate  11  and the two side plates  12  to cooperatively define the receiving space S. The first protrusions  13  are disposed on each of the two side plates  12 , the first protrusions  13  extend into the receiving space S. Each of the two side plates  12  defines a first slot  121  and a second slot  122  communicating with to the first slot  121 . The first slot  121  and the second slot  122  extend in different directions. In this embodiment, the first slot  121  is vertical, the second slot  122  is horizontal. 
     In this embodiment, the two side plates  12  are rectangular in shape. A first direction A is defined as the width direction of the side plate  12 , and a second direction B is defined as the length direction of the side plate  12 . The first slot  121  extends along the first direction A. The second slot  122  extends along the second direction B. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the carrier  20  includes a base body  21 , a rotating handle  22 , and a latching mechanism  28  (referring to  FIG.  3   ). The rotating handle  22  is rotatably connected to the base body  21 . The latching mechanism  28  is connected to the rotating handle  22 . The rotating handle  22  acts to engage the base body  21  with the bracket  10 , and the latching mechanism  28  fixes the base body  21  to the bracket  10 . 
     The base body  21  includes a bottom plate  211 , two lateral plates  212 , and a plurality of second protrusions  213 . The two lateral plates  212  are connected to the bottom plate  211 , the two lateral plates  212  and the bottom plate  211  cooperatively define a receiving groove R for accommodating the HDD  200 . The second protrusions  213  are disposed on a surface of the lateral plate  212  facing away from the receiving groove R. A portion of the second protrusion  213  is engaged with either the first slot  121  or the second slot  122 . Thereby, the base body  21  is connected to the bracket  10 . 
     The rotating handle  22  include two rotating arms  221  and a push plate  222 . Each push plate  222  is connected to an end of a rotating arm  221 . The rotating arm  221  is rotatably connected to the lateral plate  212 . The rotating arm  221  drives the push plate  222  to rotate around a third direction C, the direction C is perpendicular to the first direction A and the second direction B. The push plate  222  resists against the first protrusion  13 . Thus, the push plate  22  drives the second protrusion  213  to alternatively engage with the first slot  121  or the second slot  122 . 
     The latching mechanism  28  includes a pressing bar  23  and a plunger  24  connected to the pressing bar  23 . The pressing bar  23  is located between the two rotating arms  221 . The ends of the pressing bar  23  are connected to the ends of the two rotating arms  221 . The end plate  14  defines a fixing hole  141 . A portion of the plunger  24  can extend into the fixing hole  141 , making the connection between the bracket  10  and the carrier  20  more stable. The plunger  24  is elastic. 
     In the present disclosure, the carrier unit  100  is provided with the carrier  20 . The carrier  20  defines the second protrusion  213  and the push plate  222 , and the bracket  10  defines the first slot  121 , the second slot  122  and the first protrusion  13 . The push plate  222  resists against the first protrusion  13 . The second protrusion  213  is located inside the first slot  121  or the second slot  122 . The first slot  121  and the second slot  122  extend in different directions. Thus, when the second protrusion  213  is located inside the first slot  121 , the carrier  20  can be removed from the bracket  10 , and when the second protrusion  213  is located inside the second slot  122 , the carrier  20  is engaged with the bracket  10 . Unlike conventional art, the carrier unit  100  does not need to use screws, and a quick assembly or disassembly of the HDD  200  can be achieved by simply rotating the rotating arm  221 . The carrier unit  100  is of low cost, requires no tools or power-assisted structure, is simple to operate, and occupies a small space, it is also versatile. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , in this embodiment, the bracket  10  further includes a circuit board  142 . The circuit board  142  is connected to the end plate  14 . The circuit board  142  faces the receiving space S. When the carrier  20  installed with the HDD  200  is disposed within the receiving space S, the HDD  200  can electrically connect to the circuit board  142 . Particularly, the circuit board  142  defines a male connector (not shown), the HDD  200  defines a female connector (not shown). The male connector can meet the female connector to achieve an electrical connection between the circuit board  142  and the HDD  200 . The male connector can be golden fingers, the female connector can be a card slot. In other embodiments, the circuit board  142  and the HDD  200  can be connected through a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connection. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , in this embodiment, the side plate  12  includes an inner surface  123 , an outer surface  124 , and a connecting surface  125 . The inner surface  123  and the outer surface  124  are opposite surfaces of the side plate  12 . The connecting surface  125  connects the inner surface  123  and the outer surface  124 . The inner surface  123  faces the receiving space S. The first slot  121  penetrates through the inner surface  123 , the outer surface  124 , and the connecting surface  125 . The second slot  122  penetrates through the inner surface  123  and the outer surface  124 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , in this embodiment, the lateral plate  212  defines a first opening  2121 . The rotating arm  221  is connected to a surface of the lateral plate  212  that faces the receiving groove R. The push plate  222  is exposed to the first opening  2121 . Thus, the first protrusion  13  can pass through the first opening  2121  and resist against the push plate  222 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  3   , in this embodiment, the push plate  222  defines a gap  2221 . A portion of the first protrusion  13  is disposed within the gap  2221 . The gap  2221  defines an arc-shaped resisting surface  2222 , a center point of the resisting surface  2222  is offset in the third direction C. Thus, as the push plate  222  rotates around the third direction C, the resisting surface  222  resists against the first protrusion  13 , and pushes the second protrusion  213  to move from the first slot  121  to the second slot  122 . 
     In this embodiment, the carrier  20  further includes an embossment  29 . The embossment  29  is disposed on a surface of the lateral plate  212  that faces the receiving groove R. The embossment  29  is used for stopping any further rotation of the push plate  222  as well as defining the maximum rotational angle of the rotating arm  221 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , in this embodiment, the carrier  20  further includes an elastic member  25  and a protrusion  26 . The protrusion  26  is disposed on the elastic member  25 . The lateral plate  212  further defines a second opening  2122  that communicates with the receiving groove R. The elastic member  25  is disposed in the second opening  2122 , and the protrusion  26  extends into the receiving groove R. The protrusion  26  resists against the HDD  200 , the elastic member  25  provides a constant block and resistance against the HDD  200 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , in this embodiment, the carrier  20  further includes a cushion  27 . The cushion  27  is disposed on the lateral plate  212  or the bottom plate  211 . The cushion  27  faces the receiving groove R. The cushion  27  reduces jarring or impact of the HDD  200  and the lateral plate  212  or the bottom plate  211 , and reduces vibration to ensure smooth and stable operation of the HDD  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  4   , a procedure of installing the HDD  200  to the carrier unit  100  includes: 
     S1, referring to  FIG.  1   , pulling the rotating arm  221  up to its maximum angle until the embossment  29  hits the push plate  222 . 
     S2, referring to  FIG.  2   , aligning the HDD  200  on top of the carrier  20  and putting the HDD  200  into the receiving groove R. Referring to  FIGS.  2  and  3   , when the HDD  200  is completely within the receiving groove R, the protrusion  26  will resist the HDD  200 , and the HDD  200  will make contact with the cushion  27 . 
     S3: referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , aligning the carrier  20  on top of the bracket  10 , and putting the carrier  20  into the receiving space S. Referring to  FIG.  4   , when the HDD  200  is completely within the receiving space S, the second protrusion  213  will fall into the bottom of the first slot  121 . 
     S4, referring to  FIGS.  3  and  4   , pressing down the rotating arm  221 , the push plate  222  is resisted by the first protrusion  13 , and the second protrusion  213  is pushed to move from the first slot  121  to the second slot  122  along the second direction B. When the rotating arm  221  is lowered to be parallel to the lateral plate  212 , the pressing bar  23  will press against top of the HDD  200  to further fasten the HDD  200 . Meanwhile, the plunger  24  will enter the fixing hole  141  to lock the HDD  200  and finish the installation process. 
     Accordingly, a procedure of removing the HDD  200  from the carrier unit  100  includes: 
     S5, referring to  FIG.  3   , disengaging the carrier  20  by pulling the plunger  24  out from the fixing hole  141 . 
     S6, referring to  FIG.  3   , pulling up the rotating arm  221 , and the push plate  222  resists against the first protrusion  13 , and the second protrusion  213  is moved from the second slot  122  to the first slot  121 . 
     S7, referring to  FIG.  2   , the carrier  20  can be taken out from the bracket  10 , and the HDD  200  taken out from the carrier  20  along the first direction A. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , an embodiment of a carrier assembly  300  is provided. The carrier assembly  300  includes a chassis  301  and a plurality of carrier units  100  arranged side-by-side on the chassis  301 . The chassis  301  includes a support plate  302 , a wire distributor  303 , and a sliding member  304 . The plurality of carrier units  100  is disposed side-by-side on the support plate  302 . The sliding member  303  is arranged on an edge of the support plate  302  for facilitating a sliding movement of the carrier assembly  200  inside a server rack  402 . The wire distributor  302  is movably arranged to the sliding member  303 , the wire distributor  302  is electronically connected to each of the plurality of the carrier units  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG.  6   , an embodiment of a server  400  is provided. The server  400  includes the carrier assembly  300  and the plurality of HDDs  200 , each HDD is disposed within the receiving space R of each carrier  20 . 
     It is to be understood, 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 embodiments to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.