Patent ID: 7515410

Claim:
A system in which a set of hard disk drive (HDD) carrier converter apparatuses are installed for use in a computing environment having components installed therein, the system comprising: a system chassis through which an airflow is defined, including a set of receiving units that are each configured to receive a 3.5″ HDD and which are arrayed in a planar format formed perpendicular with respect to a direction of the airflow; a set of 3.5″ HDDs, each being respectively accessible by the components, each being disposed in a receiving unit of a portion of the set thereof, and each having a profile that blocks a first quantity of the airflow through the corresponding receiving unit; a set of 2.5″ HDDs, each being respectively accessible by the components, each being disposed in a receiving unit of a remaining portion of the set thereof, and each having a profile that blocks a second quantity of the airflow through the corresponding receiving unit; and a set of airflow blockage devices, respectively disposed within each of the receiving units of the remaining portion of the set thereof, each of which includes a respective one of the carrier converter apparatuses, wherein each of the carrier converter apparatuses includes a cover to cover a top surface of a corresponding 2.5″ HDD, a plane of the top surface being parallel with the direction of the airflow, and a structure to define a cavity therein in which the corresponding 2.5″ HDD is secured with the top surface of the 2.5″ HDD separated by a predetermined distance from lower surfaces of the cover such that a third quantity of the airflow traverses, in a direction that is parallel with the direction of the airflow, the top surface of the 2.5″ HDD between the lower surfaces of the cover and the top surface of the 2.5″ HDD, the structure including a single rib section disposed adjacent to one side of the 2.5″ HDD, which has a thickness that is greater than that of the 2.5″ HDD in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of the third quantity of the airflow, and which has a top surface that abuts the lower surfaces of the cover, wherein each of the carrier converter apparatuses forms a profile, which blocks a fourth quantity of the airflow through the corresponding receiving unit, of at least a profile of the cover and a profile of the structure including the rib section, and wherein a sum of the second and fourth quantities of the airflow exceed the first quantity of the airflow by an amount substantially equal to the third quantity of the airflow.