Patent ID: 12235693

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure relate to a drive tray assembly for placing drives (e.g., hard disk drives) in a computer chassis in a rotated (e.g., transverse) orientation and without the need for additional tools. The drive tray assembly includes a tray base designed to be slid into a receiving space of the chassis in a longitudinal direction. An installation lever rotatably attached to the tray base includes a shaft that engages a corresponding receiving slot of the receiving space, such that rotation of the installation lever to a closed position after the tray base is inserted into the receiving slot causes the tray base, and thus the drive therein, to move in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A release lever can be rotatably attached to the tray base to secure the installation lever in the closed position until the release lever is rotated, thus freeing the installation lever to move to the open position in which the drive tray may be removed from the chassis.

Standard chassis (e.g., server chassis) into which drives (e.g., hard disk drives) are placed generally accept drives at a front end of the chassis. Making drives accessible through the front end of the chassis facilitates easy and quick drive installation and removal. Many standard chassis make use of drive trays to which a drive is attached, such as via screws. The drive tray can then be pushed into the front end of the chassis until the drive's connector couples with a corresponding connector of a drive backplane located further within the chassis. When it comes time to remove a drive, a user typically pulls on a lever of the drive tray to creating a pulling force that pulls the drive away from the drive backplane and out of the chassis. The total amount of longitudinal space (e.g., space from the front end of the chassis to the rear end of the chassis) occupied by the drives, drive trays, drive backplane, and associated hardware is often significant, such as at or around 145.85 mm. As a result, the remaining space available in the chassis is limited.

Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure include a drive tray assembly that permits drives to be placed in a rotated (e.g., transverse) orientation within a chassis, while still maintaining easy access from an end of the chassis to enable quick and easy drive installation and removal. The drive tray assembly includes a tray base with a front-facing installation lever. A drive can be placed in the drive tray assembly, which can then be inserted into a drive frame of the chassis such that the drive tray assembly is inserted in a longitudinal direction (e.g., from a front or rear end of the chassis to an opposite end) while the drive itself is oriented in a transverse direction (e.g., for a hard disk drive, oriented such that the long side is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction). A shaft on the installation lever can be received by a receiving slot in an alignment plate of the drive frame as the drive tray assembly is inserted into the drive frame. After the drive tray assembly is inserted, pressing the installation lever can cause the drive to move in the transverse direction, thus causing the drive's connector to engage a corresponding connector of the computer system.

A single drive backplane can have corresponding connectors for one or more drive tray assemblies. When multiple drive tray assemblies are used, they may be stacked or placed side-by-side in any suitable number. Because the drives are oriented 90° rotated with respect to drives in a standard chassis, less longitudinal space within the chassis is occupied by the drives, drive trays, drive backplane(s), and associated hardware. According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the amount of longitudinal space occupied by the drive tray assembly and its drive frame is at or around 76.9 mm, which is a 47% reduction from the amount of longitudinal space occupied in standard drives. This newly available space can be used for additional computing components (e.g., additional processors on a larger motherboard), for improved cooling (e.g., more room to direct airflow to needed locations and/or more room for additional cooling equipment), for improved cable management, or for other uses.

Additionally, certain aspects and features of the present disclosure include a drive tray assembly that permits drive installation and removal without the need for tools. In standard chassis, drives must generally be attached to drive trays with screws or other fasteners to avoid vertical or horizontal movement once installed. Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure include a slidable wall with retention pegs within the chassis. The slidable wall is slidably coupled to the tray base of the drive tray assembly such that it can move towards and away from a drive placed in the tray base. To secure the drive, the slidable wall is moved towards the drive until the retention pegs interact with the side mounting holes of the drive. Corresponding retention pegs on the opposite side of the tray base can interact with corresponding side mounting holes on that opposite side of the drive. A detent mechanism (e.g., a ball and detent mechanism) can be used to temporarily secure the slidable wall in the contracted state. When it is desired to remove the drive, manual (e.g., by hand) force applied to the slidable wall can overcome the detent mechanism, permitting the slidable wall to slide outwards, to an expanded state, in which the side mounting holes of the drive no longer receive the retention pegs, thus permitting the drive to me easily removed.

Certain aspects and features of the present disclosure provide for a drive tray assembly that permits easy and quick access to install and/or remove drives (e.g., hard disk drives) without the need for tools.

These illustrative examples are given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter discussed here and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts. The following sections describe various additional features and examples with reference to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, and directional descriptions are used to describe the illustrative embodiments but, like the illustrative embodiments, should not be used to limit the present disclosure. The elements included in the illustrations herein may not be drawn to scale.

FIG.1is a schematic comparison top view of a standard computer chassis101and a computer chassis102with a transverse drive tray assembly114, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. For illustrative purposes, various structures and computer components, including wiring, are not shown.

The standard computer chassis101includes a series of drives109installed (e.g., with screws) within removable drive trays137. For illustrative purposes, the second drive tray137from the left is shown in a removed state. The drives109, when installed in the standard computer chassis101, are longitudinally aligned (e.g., the long axis of the drive being aligned) with the longitudinal axis of the standard computer chassis101(e.g., the y-axis of the standard computer chassis101, or bottom-to-top axis as seen inFIG.1). Each drive109is coupled to a common drive backplane107. The drives109and drive backplane107occupy a certain amount of longitudinal space, referred to as the drive space111. The remainder of the standard computer chassis101not occupied by the drive space111is referred to as the non-drive space105. The non-drive space105can include various components and structures, including a motherboard103containing a limited number of processors179(e.g., two processors179, as seen inFIG.1).

A computer chassis102according to certain aspects of the present disclosure is depicted in comparison with the standard computer chassis101. The computer chassis102includes multiple drives110installed (e.g., without the use of tools) in drive tray assemblies114that hold a drive110in a transverse orientation (e.g., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the computer chassis102). The drive tray assemblies114can be inserted into the computer chassis102in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the computer chassis102during installation. For illustrative purposes, the drive tray assembly114on the right is shown removed from the computer chassis102. When the drives110are fully installed (e.g., the drives110are installed in their respective drive tray assemblies114, each of which is installed in the computer chassis such that each drive110is communicatively coupled its respective drive backplane108), they are longitudinally aligned (e.g., the long axis of the drive being aligned) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the computer chassis102. More specifically, the drives110can be longitudinally aligned along an axis that is perpendicular to the sidewalls of the computer chassis102. In some cases, this alignment can be referred to as a transverse orientation (e.g., the long-axis of the drive is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the computer chassis102). The drives110and drive backplanes108occupy a certain amount of longitudinal space, referred to as the drive space112. The remainder of the computer chassis102not occupied by the drive space112is referred to as the non-drive space106. The non-drive space106can include various components and structures, including a motherboard104containing a number of processors180(e.g., three processors180, as seen inFIG.1).

As seen in the comparison of the standard computer chassis101with standard drives109and the computer chassis102according to certain aspects of the present disclosure, the computer chassis102has greater non-drive space106than the non-drive space105of the standard computer chassis101. This greater non-drive space106can be utilized in various fashions to improve the computing ability, cooling ability, weight, storage ability, cost, organization, or other aspects of the computing system associated with the computer chassis102. For example, as depicted inFIG.1, a larger motherboard104(e.g., larger than the motherboard103) is able to be used in the computer chassis102, which can permit the use of a greater number of processors180than available for the motherboard103. This greater number of processors180can be leveraged to improve the computing ability and/or efficiency of the computing system associated with computer chassis102over that of the computing system associated with the standard computing chassis101.

Computer chassis102can include any number of drives110, depending on the height and width of the computer chassis102. In some cases, the computer chassis102has a width suitable for receiving two drive tray assemblies114, with the total number of drives110defined by the height of computer chassis102(e.g., a computer chassis102of a first height that is two drives high, permitting four total drives110, whereas a computer chassis102of a second height that is three drives high would permit six total drives110). Any suitable number of drives110and/or drive tray assemblies114may be used.

FIG.2is an isometric view of a portion of a computer chassis202with a transverse drive tray assembly214, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Various components of the computer chassis202, such as the top cover, are not depicted for illustrative purposes. The computer chassis202can be any suitable computer chassis, such as computer chassis102ofFIG.1. Drive tray assembly214can be any suitable drive tray assembly, such as drive tray assembly114ofFIG.1.

Two drive tray assemblies214are depicted, each received within respect receiving spaces of a drive frame216. The drive frame can be coupled to the computer chassis202or otherwise formed thereof. A drive backplane222is coupled to the drive frame216such that its drive connector(s) face towards the receiving space(s) of the drive frame216(e.g., the drive connectors are on the face of the drive backplane222facing the top left corner ofFIG.2).

As depicted inFIG.2, the drives within the drive tray assemblies214would have their connectors exposed towards the drive backplane222(e.g., towards the bottom-right of the figure). As depicted, each of the drive tray assemblies214is shown in an inserted state, but not a fully installed state. Each installation lever218of its respective drive tray assembly214is still in an open position. Rotating the installation lever218towards a closed position (e.g., rotating the exposed, free end of the installation lever218towards the drive tray assembly) can cause the drive tray assembly214to move in a transverse direction (e.g., a direction along transverse axis224) due to interaction of the lever with the drive frame, as disclosed in further detail herein. This movement in the transverse direction will cause the drive to communicatively engage the drive backplane222(e.g., the connector of the drive to engage the corresponding connector of the drive backplane222). When fully installed, the installation lever218can interact with the release lever220to secure the installation lever218in its closed position, thus ensuring the drive remains connected to the drive backplane222and ensuring the drive tray assembly214cannot be prematurely removed. When the installation lever218is secured (e.g., locked) in place by the release lever220, manipulation of the release lever220(e.g., depressing the release lever220such as by pushing on its free end in a longitudinal direction) can unlock the installation lever218, allowing it to rotate outwards towards the position seen inFIG.2.

While described herein as levers, the installation lever218and release lever220can be enacted in any suitable form, such as buttons, linkages, or other mechanisms, to accomplish the same overall actions.

While depicted with two drive tray assemblies214, any number of drive tray assemblies214can be used. While depicted in a horizontal orientation (e.g., the widest face of the drives facing up and down), that need not always be the case. In some cases, the widest face of the drives may face the sidewalls of the computer chassis202, with the connector of the drive facing up or down. In such cases, the connection direction of the drive (e.g., the direction in which the drive is moved to have hits connector communicatively coupled to the corresponding connector of the drive backplane) can still be perpendicular to the insertion direction of the drive tray assembly214(e.g., the longitudinal direction of the computer chassis202).

FIG.3is an isometric exploded view of a drive tray assembly314, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Drive tray assembly314can be any suitable drive tray assembly, such as drive tray assembly114ofFIG.1.

The drive tray assembly314can include a tray base330, which can form the primary structure of the drive tray assembly314. The tray base can include a side face338, front face334, a top surface332, and a retention tab366, any combination of which can be formed of separate parts coupled together or as a single part (e.g., stamped metal). The retention tab366can constrain the drive from moving too far to one side (e.g., too far towards the bottom right ofFIG.3). As described in further detail herein, retention pegs on the front face334and/or slidable wall340can constrain the drive from undesired movement. In some cases, the side face338can also constrain the drive from undesired movement. The front face334can further include a tab336, which can extend past the side face338, thus easily indicating when the drive tray assembly314is not fully installed (e.g., the installation lever318is not yet in a closed position) and facilitating handling of the drive tray assembly314. For descriptive purposes, the terms “side,” “front,” “top,” and “bottom” are used to describe relative directions of the drive tray assembly314as viewed inFIG.3, although other terms can be used. As the relative direction descriptors are used, the side wall338of the drive tray assembly314is positioned to be adjacent to the end (e.g., a front end or rear end) of the drive opposite the drive's connector of a drive received by the drive tray assembly314. Likewise, a front face334of the drive tray assembly314is positioned to be adjacent to a side of a drive received by the drive tray assembly314.

An installation lever318can be coupled to the tray base330on a bottom surface (e.g., a surface opposite the top surface332). The installation lever318can be coupled at a pivot362. As depicted, the pivot362takes the form of an aperture through which a rivet or other fastener secures the installation lever318to a corresponding aperture of the tray base330in a manner that allows the installation lever318to rotate about the pivot362. A biasing device342(e.g., a spring) can be used to bias the installation lever318towards an open position. As depicted in the exploded view ofFIG.3, the installation lever318is in a closed position, held locked in place by the release lever320. Thus, when the release lever320is moved to unlock the installation lever318, the installation lever318will automatically be biased towards the open position by the biasing device342.

The installation lever318can have a first arm317and a second arm319. The first arm317can be used as a handle to manipulate the installation lever318, such as to help move it towards an open or closed position, or to grasp the installation lever318to facilitate pulling the drive tray assembly314out of a receiving space. The second arm318can extend away from the pivot362by a distance and can include a shaft372that extends away from the tray base330(e.g., in a downward direction as depicted inFIG.3). The shaft372can be formed as part of the installation lever318(e.g., as a boss) or a can be coupled to the installation lever318(e.g., as a rivet or standoff). Rotation of the first arm317about the pivot362thus causes corresponding rotation of the second arm319, and thus the shaft372, about the pivot362. As used herein, the term shaft with respect to a shaft that is received by a slot is inclusive of shafts of any shape (e.g., cylindrical, rectangular, etc.), and any termination (e.g., straight shafts, T-shaped shafts or shafts with endcaps or other fasteners that vertically constrain movement of the shaft when received by a slot).

Release lever320can likewise by coupled to the tray base330by its own pivot364(e.g., an aperture through which a rivet or other fastener secures the release lever320to a corresponding aperture of the tray base330in a manner that allows the release lever320to rotate about the pivot364). As described in further detail herein, the release lever320can have a locking mechanism that engages the installation lever318to lock the installation lever318in a closed position until the release lever320is actuated (e.g., depressed or otherwise caused to rotate about its pivot364away from a locking position). A biasing device344(e.g., a spring) can bias the release lever320towards its locking position.

In some cases, a tray base330can include additional walls (e.g., a rear wall) or other features to assist securing the drive to the tray base330. In some cases, as described in further detail herein, a slidable wall340can be slidably coupled to the tray base330to help retain a drive within the tray base330.

In some cases, a protection layer326and/or spacers328can be placed over the tray base330to add a layer of mechanical and/or electrostatic protection between the tray base330and the drive to be placed therein. For example, a protection layer326can be made of mylar or another suitable material to provide electrostatic protection. As another example, spacers328can be made of a rubber or other suitable material to provide mechanical protection (e.g., from vibrations).

FIG.4is an isometric exploded view of a tray base430and a slidable wall440, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The tray base430and slidable wall440can be tray base330and slidable wall340ofFIG.3, respectively.

The slidable wall440can be slidably coupled to the tray base430to slide towards and away from the tray base430. As depicted inFIG.4, the slidable wall440can include a set of elongated apertures448, each of which can be fastened to corresponding apertures452of the tray base430, such as using rivets450. The slidable wall440can be fastened such that the fasteners slide within the elongated apertures448of the slidable wall440, thus permitting the slidable wall440to slide towards and away from the tray base430.

The slidable wall440can include one or more (e.g., two) retention pegs446. Each retention peg446can be formed from the material of the slidable wall440or can be separately formed and coupled to the slidable wall440. Each retention peg446can be positioned in a location that corresponds to a respective mounting hole of a drive to be received by the drive tray assembly. For example, a standard hard disk drive has a standard spacing of side mounting holes. The slidable wall440can have its retention pegs446positioned in that standard spacing, thus permitting the retention pegs446to engage (e.g., fit within) the mounting holes of the drive when the slidable wall440is moved towards a retracted position (e.g., towards the tray base430). When the retention pegs446engage their respective mounting holes, the drive can be constrained from undesired movement. In some cases, the tray base430can include additional retention pegs460on its front face434. In some cases, these additional retention pegs460are located in positions that correspond wot the retention pegs446of the slidable wall440.

The slidable wall440can be moved between a retracted position (e.g., a position closest to the tray base430, where the retention pegs446engage the drive) and an extended position (e.g., a position furthest from the tray base430, where the retention pegs446no longer engage the drive). In some cases, the slidable wall440can include a temporary holding mechanism designed to temporarily hold the slidable wall440in one or both of the retracted position and extended position. In some cases, the slidable wall440can be temporarily held in place by a detent mechanism. A biasing device454coupled to or formed from the slidable wall440can be biased to engage a detent458(e.g., an indentation, aperture, or other suitable feature) of the tray base430when the biasing device454is in its retracted position, thus holding the slidable wall440in a position in which a drive received by the drive tray assembly is constrained in place by the retention pegs446. When a user wishes to remove the drive, manual force can be applied to overcome the biasing device454and move the slidable wall440to its extended position. In some cases, an additional detent456can be used to temporarily hold the slidable wall440in its extended position, thus facilitating installation of a new drive. Any suitable biasing device454can be used, such as a ball (e.g., a spring-biased sphere or half-sphere), a roller, or another detent-engaging biasing device.

FIG.5is an isometric view of a drive tray assembly514with a slidable wall540, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Drive tray assembly514can be any suitable drive tray assembly, such as drive tray assembly114ofFIG.1.

The slidable wall540is depicted in its retracted position, with its retaining device554received by a detent558. The installation lever518is coupled to the tray base530at its pivot562. Likewise, the release lever520is coupled to the tray base530at its pivot564.

In some cases, the top surface532(and/or corresponding bottom surface) of the tray base530can include additional features built into or coupled to the top surface532, such as retention pegs (not shown) for engaging bottom mounting holes of a drive, endstops568,570, additional shafts (e.g., shaft573), and/or other indentations or extrusions (e.g., to facilitate alignment of the tray base530during installation). For example, an endstop568can be positioned to stop the release lever520from rotating past its locking position. As another example, an endstop570can stop the installation lever518from travelling past its open position, which can beneficially ensure its shaft remains in an expected position during installation.

In some cases, one or more additional shafts573(e.g., bosses, standoffs, rivets, or the like) can extend from the bottom surface of the tray base530in a direction away from where the drive is received (e.g., in a downward direction). As described in further detail herein, these additional shafts573can engage a corresponding slot in an alignment plate to facilitate proper alignment of the drive tray assembly514during assembly, as well as to facilitate securing the drive tray assembly514from removal while the drive is connected to the drive backplane. As depicted inFIG.5, the drive tray assembly514includes two additional shafts573, one of which is depicted in dashed lines since it is visually obscured by other portions of the tray base530.

FIG.6is an isometric view of a drive tray assembly614with a drive610installed therein, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Drive tray assembly614can be any suitable drive tray assembly, such as drive tray assembly114ofFIG.1. The drive610is installed in the drive tray assembly614(e.g., secured in place by retention pegs of the drive tray and slidable wall engaging its side mounting holes). For illustrative purposes, the longitudinal direction698refers to the longitudinal direction of the computer chassis in which the drive tray assembly614is to be installed (e.g., a direction from the front to the rear of the computer chassis), and the transverse direction699refers to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The transverse direction699can be a direction that extends between the sidewalls of a computer chassis (e.g., parallel to the front face and/or rear face of the computer chassis).

The drive includes a connector674that connectively faces a transverse direction699towards a bottom right ofFIG.6. As used herein, the term connectively face can refer to a direction in which a device is moved to have its connector engage a receiving connector. For example, the drives109ofFIG.1connectively face a rear end of the computer chassis101ofFIG.1(e.g., towards the top ofFIG.1), whereas the drives110ofFIG.1connectively face a side of the computer chassis102ofFIG.1(e.g., towards a right side ofFIG.1). A connector plane682can be defined as a plane that passes through the connector674(e.g., at an end of the connector674) and is parallel to the longitudinal direction698. The connector plane682can be perpendicular to the transverse direction699. In some cases, the connector plane682can be defined as a plane that passes through the connector674, is perpendicular to a top surface of the tray base630, and is parallel to a side face of the tray base630.

A pivot plane678can be defined as a plane that passes through the pivot662of the installation lever618(e.g., the center of the pivot662) and is parallel to the connector plane682. The pivot plane678can be parallel to the longitudinal direction698. The pivot plane678can be perpendicular to the transverse direction699. In some cases, the pivot plane678can be defined as a plane that passes through the pivot662of the installation lever618, is perpendicular to a top surface of the tray base630, and is parallel to a side face of the tray base630.

A shaft plane676can be defined as a plane that passes through the shaft672of the installation lever618(e.g., the center of the shaft672) and is parallel to the pivot plane678. The shaft plane676can be parallel to the longitudinal direction698. The shaft plane676can be perpendicular to the transverse direction699. In some cases, the shaft plane676can be defined as a plane that passes through the shaft672of the installation lever618, is perpendicular to a top surface of the tray base630, and is parallel to a side face of the tray base630.

While the distance between the shaft672and the pivot660of the installation lever618remains constant, the distance677between the shaft plane676and the installation plane678will change depending on the position of the installation lever618. For example, movement of the installation lever618from a closed position (e.g., as depicted inFIG.6) to an open position (e.g., as depicted by the installation lever218ofFIG.2) will cause the distance677between the pivot plane678and the shaft plane676to decrease. Likewise, movement of the installation lever618from an open position to a closed position will cause the distance677between the pivot plane678and the shaft plane676to increase.

Since the drive610is secured to the tray base630and the pivot662of the installation lever618is secured to the tray base630, the distance between the connector674and the pivot662remains constant. Thus, the distance between the pivot plane678and the connector plane682remains constant. Therefore, movement of the installation lever618between the open and closed positions causes the connector plane682to move closer to or further from the shaft plane676.

As described in further detail herein, the shaft672is received by an alignment plate that is coupled to the computer chassis, thus allowing the drive tray assembly614to manipulate the drive610in a transverse direction699merely by moving the installation lever618between its open and closed positions.

FIG.7is an isometric exploded view of portions of a drive frame716, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Drive frame716can be any suitable drive frame, such as drive frame216ofFIG.2. Certain portions of the drive frame716are not depicted for illustrative purposes.

The drive frame716can include a first side plate789and a second side plate787. The second side plate787can include mounting holes and/or other features for receiving and/or mounting a drive backplane. Holes in the second side plate787can permit the connector of a drive and/or connector of a drive backplane to pass through the second side plate787and thus facilitate connection of the drive. In some cases, a front plate791can be formed with or coupled to the second side plate787, such as to provide additional covering for keeping debris out of the inside of the computer chassis. In some cases, gaskets790,792can be used to improve the mechanical and/or electrostatic properties of the drive frame716(e.g., to reduce the transmission of vibrations between a drive and other components of the computing system.

An alignment plate784can be positioned between the first side plate789and second side plate787. The alignment plate784can include a first receiving slot785for receiving the shaft of an installation lever. In some cases, the alignment plate784can include one or more additional slots786for receiving additional shafts (e.g., additional shafts573ofFIG.5). In some cases, the alignment plate784can include a rear endstop788. The rear endstop788can facilitate constraining insertion of the drive tray assembly past a defined point. In some cases, the side plates787,789can also include respective endstops.

FIG.8is an isometric view of a portion of a computer chassis802with a drive frame816, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Drive frame816can be any suitable drive frame, such as drive frame216ofFIG.2. The drive frame816can be formed of and/or coupled to the computer chassis802. The drive backplane822is depicted coupled to the drive frame816.

As depicted inFIG.8, the drive frame816includes two receiving spaces893, each capable of receiving a respective drive tray assembly. Each receiving space893includes a respective receiving slot885for receiving the shaft of the installation lever of the drive tray assembly. In a drive frame816having two receiving spaces893, two alignment plates883,884are used. A bottom alignment plate883can be positioned at the bottom of the drive frame816, and can be formed in the computer chassis802(e.g., receiving slot885formed in the computer chassis802) or otherwise coupled to it (e.g., formed as a plate supported by side plates of the drive frame, which are coupled to the computer chassis802). A partition alignment plate884can be supported by the side plates of the drive frame816and can separate two receiving spaces893. In some cases, additional partitions can be used, although that need not always be the case.

FIG.9is an isometric view of a portion of a computer chassis902during installation of a drive tray assembly914into a drive frame, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The computer chassis902and drive tray assembly914can be any suitable computer chassis and drive tray assembly, such as computer chassis102and drive tray assembly114ofFIG.1.

The installation lever918of the drive tray assembly914is in the open position as the drive tray assembly914is moved in a longitudinal direction998towards a receiving space993of the drive frame916.

FIG.10is an isometric view of a portion of the computer chassis1002with a drive tray assembly1014installed in a drive frame1016, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The computer chassis1002ofFIG.10can be computer chassis902ofFIG.9after insertion and installation of the drive tray assembly1014.

After the drive tray assembly1014was inserted into the receiving slot, the installation lever1018was rotated to its closed position, as depicted inFIG.10. Rotation from the open position to the closed position caused the drive tray assembly1014to move transversely with respect to the computer chassis1002, and thus with respect to the drive backplane1008. This movement facilitate connection between the connector of the drive within the drive tray assembly1014and the corresponding connector of the drive backplane1008.

FIG.11is a combination bottom view and close-up bottom view of a drive tray assembly1114during installation in a drive frame, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The drive tray assembly1114can be drive tray assembly1014ofFIG.10after insertion but before the installation lever1118was rotated away from its open position. The close-up view is of the portion of the bottom view around the receiving slot1185, as indicated by the dot-dashed box. For illustrative purposes, certain portions of the drive frame (e.g., the alignment plate) are depicted as translucent or transparent.

The shaft1172of the installation lever1118is shown received by receiving slot1185. More specifically, the shaft1172has been inserted up to an endpoint1179in the receiving slot1185. The receiving slot1185can extend generally longitudinally (e.g., in a direction from the top to the bottom ofFIG.11) from a front edge of the alignment plate1184towards a far end of the computer chassis. The receiving slot1185can include an additional endpoint1181for receiving and engaging the shaft1172during the installation procedure. The additional endpoint1181can be located between the front edge of the alignment plate1184and the endpoint1179and offset, in a direction away from the drive backplane, from a line formed between the opening of the receiving slot1185and the endpoint1179. The position of the additional endpoint1181and path of the receiving slot1185between the endpoint1179and additional endpoint1181can be configured to permit the drive tray assembly1114to move only in the transverse direction (e.g., left-right direction as seen inFIG.11) in response to movement of the installation lever1118between the open and closed positions, thus avoiding undesired movement in the longitudinal direction (e.g., up-down direction as seen inFIG.11).

The drive tray assembly1114can include additional shafts1173, which are received by additional receiving slot1186. As depicted inFIG.11, two additional shafts1173are used in parallel, permitting both of the additional shafts1173to be received by the same additional receiving slot1186. The additional receiving slot1186can help constrain undesired movement (e.g., undesired transverse movement) of the drive tray assembly1114during insertion. However, to permit the drive tray assembly1114to move transversely after insertion, a perpendicular slot1175extends in a transverse direction off of the additional receiving slot1186for each of the additional shafts1173. Thus, when the installation lever1118is moved to the closed position, the additional shafts1173travel along their respective perpendicular slots1175.

Since the installation lever1118is still in its open position, the connector1174of the drive is not yet engaged with the corresponding connector1194of the drive backplane.

FIG.12is a bottom view of a drive tray assembly1214installed in a drive frame, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The drive tray assembly1214can be drive tray assembly1114ofFIG.11after the installation lever1218has been moved to the closed position.

By moving the installation lever1218to the closed position, the shaft1272of the installation lever1218has slid up and been caught by the endpoint1281of the receiving slot1285. The interaction between the shaft1272and the endpoint1281can help constrain the drive tray assembly1214from undesired movement in the longitudinal direction out of the computer chassis (e.g., towards the top ofFIG.12).

Movement of the installation lever1218to the closed position has also caused the additional shafts1273of the drive tray assembly1214to move into the perpendicular slots1275. Interaction between the additional shafts1273and the perpendicular slots1275can help constrain the drive tray assembly from undesired movement in the longitudinal direction out of the computer chassis (e.g., towards the top ofFIG.12).

Movement of the installation lever1218to the closed position has also caused the connector1274of the drive to communicatively engage the receiving connector1294of the drive backplane.

Movement of the installation lever1218to the closed position has also resulted in a locking surface1295of the installation lever1218engaging a corresponding locking surface1296of the release lever1220. As depicted inFIG.12, the locking surfaces1295,1296are corresponding features that prevent the installation lever1218from moving out of the closed position until the release lever1220has rotated away from the installation lever1218. The locking surface1295of the installation lever1218can be a receiving space that receives an extended portion of the release lever1220serving as its locking surface1296. In some cases, the locking surface1295can include an inclined plane1297used to induce rotation of the release lever1220out of its locking position as the installation lever1218moves into its closed position. Once the installation lever1218is in its closed position, the biasing element of the release lever1220causes the release lever1220to move back to its locking position (e.g., the position depicted inFIG.12) in which its locking surface1296engages the locking surface1295of the installation lever1218.

The foregoing description of the embodiments, including illustrated embodiments, has been presented only for the purpose of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the precise forms disclosed. Numerous modifications, adaptations, and uses thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments.

Although certain aspects and features of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur or be known to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including,” “includes,” “having,” “has,” “with,” or variants thereof, are used in either the detailed description and/or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

One or more elements or aspects or steps, or any portion(s) thereof, from one or more of any of claims1to20below can be combined with one or more elements or aspects or steps, or any portion(s) thereof, from one or more of any of the other claims1to20or combinations thereof, to form one or more additional implementations and/or claims of the present disclosure.