JPH0554626A - Cooling structure of magnetic disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently cool the plural magnetic disk drives housed in a housing by fewer cooling means. CONSTITUTION:A cooling flow passage 11 in which cooling fluid for collectively cooling the plural magnetic disk drives 1 is provided adjacently to the magnetic disk drives. The cooling flow passage 11 and the magnetic disk drives 1 are brought into indirect contact with each other via resilient material structural bodies 13 to cool the magnetic disk drives 1 by the cooling fluid. The magnetic disk drives are efficiently cooled and the probability of trouble is lowered since the fewer cooling means are used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic disk drive, and more particularly to a magnetic disk drive of a magnetic disk drive in which a plurality of magnetic disk drives (HDD) such as a disk array are housed in one housing. The present invention relates to a cooling structure for a magnetic disk device that can efficiently cool by a small number of blowing means (cooling means) and reduce a temperature rise.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional magnetic disk device which houses a plurality of magnetic disk drives is disclosed in JP-A-62-239394.
As described in the publication, an air passage (cooling flow path) and a blower that surround each magnetic disk drive (HDD) and are independent from each other are provided to cool each magnetic disk drive independently. Further, as described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-47197, a plurality of magnetic disk drives are arranged in series in one duct in the direction of fluid flow for cooling. Here, an example of a schematic structure of the magnetic disk drive is shown in FIG. 25 as a sectional view and described. The magnetic disk drive 1 has a housing 2 to isolate the inside from the ambient air.
Are sealed by a plurality of magnetic disks 3 for storing information, which are rotating at high speed around a spindle 4, and a magnetic head 5 for reading and writing information on the magnetic disk 3 is mounted at the tip. A large number of head arms 6 are accessed at high speed by the voice coil motor 8 via the carriage 7. In the drawing, the rotation driving motor of the spindle 4 is an in-hub type motor provided in the spindle 4, but there is a rotation driving motor which is exposed on one surface of the housing 2 as shown by a broken line. .. Under such conditions, the housing 2 is hermetically sealed due to windage loss due to the rotation of the magnetic disk 3, windage loss due to the drag of a number of head arms 6, heat generation of the voice coil motor 8 and heat generation of the rotation drive motor. The temperature of the magnetic disk drive 1 rises. Therefore, efficient cooling of the magnetic disk drive 1 is required to improve reliability.

[0003]

In the conventional cooling structure for a magnetic disk device, since the cooling means for each magnetic disk drive is independent of each other, when one fan blows down, the magnetic disk is stopped. The temperature of the drive rises, which causes major problems such as increase in thermal off-track and reduction in component life. Further, in a magnetic disk device such as a disk array that accommodates a plurality of magnetic disk drives (several tens to several hundreds), the number of fans is significantly increased, resulting in an increase in power consumption and a large housing. There is also a possibility that the problem that the size becomes large will occur. In addition,
In the prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-47197, since a plurality of magnetic disk drives are arranged in series in the flow direction of a fluid in one duct, the influence of the flow of the previous magnetic disk drive is reduced. However, there is a drawback that it is difficult to perform efficient cooling. Moreover, since the magnetic disk drive is installed in the duct, it is difficult to attach and detach the magnetic disk drive.

It is an object of the present invention to efficiently cool each magnetic disk drive while minimizing the size of the housing by using a small number of cooling means, and to have a high cooling reliability with a low failure rate of the cooling means. It is to provide a cooling structure for a magnetic disk device.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, a cooling structure for a magnetic disk drive according to the present invention comprises a cooling means for cooling a plurality of magnetic disk drives housed in one housing. In the cooling structure of the magnetic disk device, the cooling means includes a plurality of cooling channels adjacent to the respective magnetic disk drives and through which a cooling fluid flows, and a plurality of cooling channels that are in close contact with the respective magnetic disk drives and are in contact with the respective cooling channels. Of the flexible material structure, and each magnetic disk drive is cooled by a cooling fluid through the flexible material structure.

Each cooling flow path may be provided adjacent to each side surface of each magnetic disk drive and provided with at least two cooling flow paths.

Each flexible material structure is a liquid-sealed elastic body having a liquid sealed therein.

Further, each flexible material structure may be an elastic body having high thermal conductivity.

In a cooling structure of a magnetic disk device comprising cooling means for cooling a plurality of magnetic disk drives housed in one housing, the cooling means includes the respective magnetic disk drives inside and a cooling fluid. At least two cooling flow paths may be provided for each magnetic disk drive, and each magnetic disk drive may be cooled by a cooling fluid.

Further, each magnetic disk drive may be arranged in a staggered arrangement in one cooling passage along the flow direction of the cooling fluid.

Further, of the respective cooling channels, the flow velocity of the cooling fluid in the cooling channel adjacent to the portion of the magnetic disk drive where the heat generation or heat dissipation is large is made faster than the flow rate of the cooling fluid in the other cooling channels. It may be configured.

Further, the cooling fins may be provided in the cooling passages adjacent to the portions of the respective cooling passages where the magnetic disk drive generates a lot of heat or heat.

The cooling fluid flowing through the cooling passage may be configured such that the cooling fluid collectively cools a plurality of magnetic disk drives.

Further, each cooling channel may be provided with a radiation fin so that the radiation area of the cooling channel gradually increases along the flow direction of the cooling fluid.

The cooling fluid may be cooling air.

The cooling fluid may be cooling air, and the cooling air may be cooling air having a temperature lower than the ambient outside air temperature.

Further, the cooling fluid may be cooling water.

The cooling fluid may be cooling water, and the cooling water may be cooling water produced by a cooling medium manufacturing apparatus for computer cooling.

The disk array has a cooling structure for a magnetic disk device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

[0020]

According to the present invention, each magnetic disk drive (H
The heat generated in DD) is transmitted to the flexible material structure that is in close contact with each magnetic disk drive over a wide area, and the heat is further contacted with the flexible material structure over a wide area. And is cooled by the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling channel. The flexible material structure is a highly heat-conductive elastic body (rubber, etc.) or a liquid-sealed elastic body (water pillow type) in which a liquid is sealed, and because it has very good heat conduction and is soft, it is a magnetic disk drive. Also, it adheres to the cooling channel over a wide area, and its thermal resistance is small. Further, since the cooling flow path is formed so as to cool the plurality of magnetic disk drives together, the number of fans is reduced.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, a plurality of magnetic disk drives HDD (sometimes referred to as head disk assembly: HDA) are housed in one magnetic disk device housing 9 (only six are shown in the figure as an example). FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the side surface of the housing showing the cooling structure of the magnetic disk device.

As shown in FIG. 1, a duct-shaped cooling passage 11 in which a cooling fluid 12 is provided adjacent to a magnetic disk drive (HDD) 1 and a magnetic disk drive 1 and a duct-shaped cooling passage. Flexible material structure closely attached to 11
It consists of 13. In this embodiment, two duct-shaped cooling channels 11 are provided on both sides of one magnetic disk drive 1, and two flexible material structures 13 are provided in each. The duct-shaped cooling flow path 11 is elongated in the flow direction (vertical direction in the figure), and each magnetic disk drive 1
The heat generated inside is collectively cooled. That is, in this embodiment, the magnetic disk drive 1 is not provided in the duct-shaped cooling flow path 11, and the flexible material structure 13 is provided.
Indirectly cooled via. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, and the magnetic disk drives 1 are arranged in two rows in the depth direction. Here, the two magnetic disk drives 1a and 1b arranged in the depth direction are provided with two duct-shaped cooling passages 11
Although it is cooled by a and 11b, it is partitioned by the dotted line portion shown in the drawing, and four duct-like cooling channels 11c, 11d, 11e and 11f
It may be configured to cool by Of course, the arrangement in the depth direction does not have to be two rows.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a casing 9 of a cooling structure for a magnetic disk device 10 showing another embodiment of the present invention. In the example in which cooling air is used as the cooling fluid 12, the blower means is the blower 14 provided in the lower stage, and a fan, a blower, or a compressor is used. A suction port 15 and a discharge port 16 for the cooling air 12 are provided, and the cooling air 12 supplied by the blower 14 is provided with a large number of duct-shaped cooling passages provided in the vertical direction.
11 (the right part of the drawing is omitted) flows upward to cool each magnetic disk drive 1 continuously. The blower 14 is a blower type blower 14 directed toward the duct-shaped cooling flow passage 11, but conversely, the cooling air 12 sucks downwards through a large number of duct-shaped cooling flow passages 11 provided in the vertical direction. The blower 14 of the system may be used. In some cases, the blower 14 may be installed at the upper portion of the housing 9 instead of the lower portion, and may be provided outside the housing 9 so that the cooling air 12 is drawn into the housing 9 by piping or the like. But it's okay. Further, the duct-shaped cooling flow path 11 may be provided in the horizontal direction, or may be a combination of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and one magnetic disk drive 1 may have two or more duct-shaped cooling channels. The channel 11 may be provided for cooling.

Next, another embodiment of the flexible material structure 13 will be described. 4 and 5 show a liquid 17 as the flexible material structure 13.
This is an example in which a liquid-sealed elastic body 13a in which is sealed is used. The liquid 17 may be water, but a liquid having good heat conductivity is desirable. The liquid-sealed elastic body 13a is a so-called water pillow shape, which is composed of a flexible thin film having high thermal conductivity. Then, the liquid 17 is convected in the liquid-sealed elastic body 13a.
The liquid 17 can move freely.
In FIG. 4, two liquid-sealed elastic bodies 13a and 13b are provided on both sides of the side surface of the magnetic disk drive 1. This liquid-sealed elastic body
Since 13a and 13b are flexible, they can be fixed in contact with the magnetic disk drive 1 and the duct-shaped cooling passage 11. Therefore, the heat generated in each magnetic disk drive 1 is
Efficiently transmitted to the two liquid-sealed elastic bodies 13a and 13b, which are closely attached to the magnetic disk drive 1 over a wide area,
Further, the heat is transmitted to the two cooling channels 11a and 11b which are in contact with the liquid-sealed elastic bodies 13a and 13b over a wide area, and is efficiently cooled by the cooling fluid 12 flowing through the cooling channels 11a and 11b. This heat flow is indicated by a thick arrow. Here, the role of the liquid seal elastic body 13a will be described. The liquid 17 can convection 18 in the liquid-sealed elastic body 13a, and the liquid 17 can move freely. Therefore, the liquid 17 on the side that is in close contact with the magnetic disk drive 1 is warmed by the heat of the magnetic disk drive 1 and its temperature rises, and the density decreases and convection 18a in the rising direction counter to the gravity direction is generated. On the other hand, the liquid 17 on the side that is in close contact with the cooling flow path 11a is cooled by the cooling fluid 12 and its temperature drops, and the density increases and convection 18b in the direction of gravity is generated. Therefore, the two driving forces cause the liquid 17 to continuously generate the convection 18 that circulates in the liquid-sealed elastic body 13a, and the heat of the magnetic disk drive 1 is efficiently transmitted to the cooling fluid 12. FIG. 5 shows another embodiment, which is an example in which the liquid-sealing elastic body 13a is provided over the entire circumference of the magnetic disk drive 1, and the liquid-sealing elastic body 13a on the cooling side is not only in close contact with the cooling flow path 11. The partition plate 19 connected to the cooling channel 11 is also in close contact. In this case, the heat transferred from the liquid-sealing elastic body 13a to the partition plate 19 is also transferred to the cooling flow path 11 thereafter. Then, the liquid 17 continuously generates a convection current 18 that circulates in the liquid-sealed elastic body 13a, and cooling is performed more efficiently than in FIG. In the figure, as a method for providing the liquid-sealed elastic body 13a over the entire circumference of the magnetic disk drive 1,
Although the long liquid-sealed elastic bodies 13a are wound around the magnetic disk drive 1, two or four liquid-sealed elastic bodies 13a may be independently provided on each surface of the magnetic disk drive 1. Further, two or more small liquid-sealed elastic bodies 13a may be provided in parallel on each surface.

Here, regarding the installation position of the magnetic disk drive 1, FIG. 6 shows an example in which the spindle 4 is horizontal and the magnetic disks 3 are stacked in the horizontal direction, and FIG. 7 is vertical and the spindle 4 is vertical and the magnetic disk 3 is vertical. This is an example in which layers are arranged in the same direction, and any arrangement is possible, and the invention is not limited to this.

8 and 9 show an example in which a highly heat conductive elastic body 13c is used as the flexible material structure 13. As the elastic body, rubber or the like is preferable, and in order to obtain high heat conductivity, it is preferable to fill (contain) a high heat conductive material such as aluminum powder in the rubber. Examples of rubber include silicone rubber. Similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 8 shows an example in which the high thermal conductive elastic body 13c is provided over the entire circumference of the magnetic disk drive HDD1. Of course, the high thermal conductive elastic body 13c divided into several parts may be provided all around. Although the liquid 17 inside the liquid-sealed elastic body 13a convects 18, there is no convection in the high thermal conductive elastic body 13c, but only heat conduction. However, the heat of the magnetic disk drive HDD1 is also the cooling fluid in the cooling passage 11. 12 is transmitted efficiently. High thermal conductivity elastic body 13
c may be provided only in a part of the magnetic disk drive 1 as shown in FIG. Further, the highly heat conductive elastic body 13c may not only have good heat conduction, but may also have a certain degree of rigidity to have a vibration damping effect. This effect can be imparted to the liquid-sealing elastic body 13a by utilizing the reinforcing ribs. Also,
As shown in FIG. 9, the high thermal conductive elastic body 13c is soft, and the vibration isolation effect may be achieved by another rubber mount 20. When the high thermal conductive elastic body 13c is made rigid, it becomes hard. Therefore, at this time, the high thermal conductive elastic body 13c should be adhered to the magnetic disk drive 1 and the cooling channel 11 in the largest possible area. The contact portion of the body 13c may be formed in a shape corresponding to the surfaces of the magnetic disk drive 1 and the cooling channel 11.

Next, the cooling means considering the temperature distribution will be described. First, consider the temperature distribution in one magnetic disk drive 1. Although the above description has been made mainly on the magnetic disk drive 1 which is substantially symmetrical in the thermal direction from the magnetic disk drive 1 in the direction of the cooling passage 11, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, the spindle is provided only on one side of the magnetic disk drive 1. When there is a heating element 21 such as a motor for driving, the shape of the left and right cooling channels 11 and the cooling fluid
If the flows of 12 are the same, a temperature distribution is generated in the direction of the spindle of the magnetic disk drive 1, and the magnetic disk drive 1 is not thermally symmetrical. Therefore, this may deteriorate the positioning accuracy. FIG. 10 shows an example of the temperature distribution improving means in this case. One is the flexible material structure 13e on the side where the heating element 21 is located.
That is, the contact area between the magnetic disk drive 1 and the cooling channel 11 is made wider than that of the flexible material structure 13d on the side where the heating element 21 is absent to improve heat conduction. The other is a heating element
The speed of the fluid 12b flowing in the cooling passage 11b on the side where 21 is located is made higher than that of the fluid 12a flowing in the cooling passage 11a on the side where the heating element 21 is not present to improve heat transfer. Of course, these two means may be used in combination.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, a heating element 21 in the left and right cooling flow paths 11 of the magnetic disk drive 1 is used.
The cross-sectional area in which the cooling fluid 12 in the cooling flow passage 11b on the side where there is is made narrower than the cross-sectional area in which the cooling fluid 12 in the cooling flow passage 11a on the side where the heating element 21 does not flow To improve heat transfer. FIG. 12 also shows another embodiment, in which the left and right cooling channels 11 of the magnetic disk drive 1 have the same cross-sectional area, but the heat dissipation area is increased only in the cooling channel 11b on the side where the heating element 21 is located. Radiating fins 22
Is an example in which is provided. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 12, showing an example in which the linear heat radiation fins 22 are provided long along the flow direction of the cooling fluid 12 in the cooling flow passage 11b. The shape of the heat radiation fin 22 is not limited to this, and a large number of linear heat radiation fins 22 having a short length may be provided, or a pin-shaped protrusion or the like may be used. Since the heat radiation area of the cooling flow passage 11b provided with the heat radiation fins 22 is larger than that of the cooling flow passage 11a, the cooling efficiency becomes good. FIG. 14 shows an example in which the heat radiation area outside the cooling channel 11b is increased, and the outer wall of the cooling channel 11b is processed into a wavy shape. Of course, the radiation fin 22 may be provided instead of the corrugated processing, but the surface thereof is made of the flexible material structure 13
It is necessary to consider to be in good contact with. Further, radiating fins 22 are provided both inside and outside the cooling channel 11,
The cooling efficiency may be further improved. For example, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 may be combined.

Next, the cooling means for reducing the temperature distribution between the magnetic disk drives 1 will be described. In general,
In the cooling means as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the temperature of the cooling fluid 12 rises in the flow direction of the cooling fluid 12, and the temperature tends to be higher in the magnetic disk drives 1 located downstream than upstream. Of course, if the flow rate of the cooling fluid 12 is large, this problem can be solved, but in the magnetic disk device 10 that needs to eliminate the temperature distribution between the magnetic disk drives 1, the following measures can be taken. FIG. 15 shows an embodiment thereof, in which a heat radiation fin 22 is provided inside the cooling flow passage 11, and the heat radiation fin 22 extends from the upstream side (inlet of the cooling fluid 12) of the cooling flow passage 11 to the downstream side (outlet of the cooling fluid 12). ), The heat dissipation area gradually increases. Therefore, the temperature of the cooling fluid 12 gradually rises along the flow direction of the cooling fluid 12, but since the heat radiation area is gradually increased by the radiation fins 22 along the flow direction of the cooling fluid 12, the magnetic field on the upstream side is increased. Equal cooling efficiency is obtained for both the disk drive 1 and the downstream magnetic disk drive 1, and the temperature of each magnetic disk drive 1 becomes the same (the temperature distribution between the magnetic disk drives 1 disappears). Here, the shape of the radiation fin 22 may be the same as that described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. Further, as a means other than this, the flow passage cross-sectional area of the cooling fluid 12 in the cooling flow passage 11 is gradually narrowed toward the downstream side, and the flow velocity of the cooling fluid 12 is increased to improve the heat transfer coefficient. May be. Also,
As another example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cooling fluid 12 flowing through the cooling passages 11 on both sides of the magnetic disk drive 1 is used.
The flow direction of may be reversed. That is, in FIG.
The cooling fluid 12 in the left cooling channel 11a flows upward,
The cooling fluid 12 in the right cooling passage 11b flows downward (counterflow) as indicated by the broken line arrow.

Next, the magnetic disk drive 1 and the cooling channel
An embodiment of the fixing means for the 11 and the flexible material structure 13 will be described. In FIG. 16, the outer wall of the cooling channel 11 is slightly tapered, and the flexible material structure 13 is closely attached to the surface of the magnetic disk drive 1 in advance, and is tapered in the direction of the arrow in the figure. The flexible material structure 13 is pushed in until it comes into close contact with the outer wall of the cooling channel 11 by means of insertion along the same. After that, the stopper 23 fixes. By doing so, since each magnetic disk drive 1 exists independently, it is easy to attach and detach when a failure occurs. Means for bringing the flexible material structure 13 into close contact with the surface of the magnetic disk drive 1 is sufficient by simply pressing.
In some cases, it may be partially bonded with an adhesive or the like. FIG. 17 shows a laminated type in another embodiment. This is a means for providing a stacking table 24 between two or more cooling channels 11 and sequentially stacking the flexible disk structure 1 on the surface of the magnetic disk drive 1 in close contact therewith. The stacking table 24 is fixed to the outer wall of the cooling channel 11 with screws or the like. FIG. 18 shows still another embodiment, in which a unit in which the flexible material structure 13 is brought into close contact with the surface of the magnetic disk drive 1 in advance is fixed by the enclosing frame 25 in advance, and this unit is provided between the cooling channels 11. It is a means for inserting as shown in FIG. 16 or stacking as shown in FIG. Of course, the fixing means of the magnetic disk drive 1, the cooling flow path 11 and the flexible material structure 13 need not be limited to this.

FIG. 19 shows another embodiment of the present invention, which is a cooling fluid 12
Is the cooling air, and the cooling air is the cooling air having a temperature lower than the ambient outside air temperature. A refrigeration cycle is used as a means of obtaining low temperature air. The left part of the casing 9 in the figure is the refrigeration cycle chamber 26, which mainly includes the compressor 27,
It is composed of a condenser 28, an expansion mechanism 29, a pipe 30, a controller 31, and the like. And 32 is an evaporator, where low temperature air is created. These components are connected by a pipe 30. In the figure, the evaporator 32 is provided not in the refrigeration cycle chamber 26 but in the room having the magnetic disk device 10, the outside air is sucked in by the blower 14, the air is cooled by the evaporator 32, and the ambient outside air temperature T _{1 is} exceeded. Air of a low temperature T ₂ is obtained, and its cooling air 12 flows in the cooling passage 11 described above. By using the cooling air 12 having a temperature lower than the ambient temperature in this way, the temperature rise of the magnetic disk drive 1 can be suppressed to a low level. Here, it is necessary to pay attention to the temperature of the air, and it is necessary to control the temperature of the air so as not to fall below the dew point temperature in order to prevent dew condensation in the cooling flow passage 11 and the like. In the figure, the refrigeration cycle chamber 26 is provided in the same housing 9 as the room having the magnetic disk device 10,
The refrigeration cycle chamber 26 may be separated and may be led to the room having the magnetic disk device 10 by the pipe 30.

Although air is used as the cooling fluid in the above embodiments, a liquid such as water may be used. At this time, it is necessary to design and manage the cooling flow path 11 so that an accident such as water leakage does not occur. Further, recently, some computers are also water-cooled, and in the magnetic disk device 10 installed beside such a computer, a part of the cooling water produced by the cooling medium manufacturing device for computer cooling is used as a cooling fluid. You may use.

Next, another embodiment in which the flexible material structure 13 is not used will be described. FIG. 20 shows an example of the cooling flow path 11 including the magnetic disk drive 1 therein, and one magnetic disk drive 1 is provided with two duct-shaped cooling flow paths 11g and 11h. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 20. The magnetic disk drives 1 are provided in four rows in a grid pattern in the depth direction of the housing 9. The magnetic disk drive 1 is attached and fixed to the duct wall between the two cooling flow paths 11g and 11h, and the housing on the side where the heating element 21 such as a motor is located is cooled by the cooling fluid 12c flowing through the cooling flow path 11g. The housing surface is cooled by the cooling fluid 12d flowing through the cooling passage 11h. When the temperature distribution of the magnetic disk drive 1 due to the heating element 21 such as a motor does not matter, the flow velocity of the cooling fluid 12 in the two cooling channels 11g and 11h may be the same. And the like, the flow velocity of the cooling fluid 12c flowing through the cooling flow passage 11g on the side having the heating element 21 is made faster than the flow velocity of the cooling fluid 12d flowing through the cooling flow passage 11h to improve the cooling efficiency, and the temperature distribution of the entire magnetic disk drive 1 is improved. May be made uniform. FIG. 22 shows D- of FIG.
21 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 21. In FIG. 21, the magnetic disk drives 1 are arranged in a grid pattern, but in FIG. 22, the magnetic disk drives 1 are arranged in a staggered arrangement along the flow direction of the cooling fluid 12d flowing through the cooling passage 11h. It is located in. This is the same for the cooling channel 11g. When the magnetic disk drives 1a, 1b, 1c, etc. are arranged in a zigzag arrangement in this manner, the magnetic disk drives 1a, 1b, 1c, etc. are efficiently cooled, unlike when they are arranged in a grid pattern.

FIG. 23 shows another example of the cooling channel 11 including the magnetic disk drive 1 therein. One magnetic disk drive 1 is provided with three duct-shaped cooling channels 11g, 11h and 11i. Similar to FIG. 20, the cooling passage 11g is a passage for cooling the housing on the side where the heating element 21 such as a motor is provided, the cooling passage 11i is a passage for cooling the housing on the opposite surface, and the cooling passage 11h is a magnetic disk. This is a flow path for cooling the other housings of the drive 1. These duct-shaped cooling channels 11
The flow rates of the cooling fluids 12c, 12d, and 12e of g, 11h, and 11i are
It is preferable to control so that the temperature distribution of the entire magnetic disk drive 1 becomes uniform. As a control method, when the temperature distribution of the magnetic disk drive 1 is known in advance, the flow velocity and duct shape of the cooling fluid in each cooling flow path are determined at the design stage, and the flow velocity of the cooling fluid is changed by the blower 14. Good. Further, when the temperature distribution of the magnetic disk drive 1 changes, temperature detectors may be provided at some places of the representative magnetic disk drive 1, and the flow velocity of the cooling fluid in each cooling passage may be changed depending on the temperature.

FIG. 24 shows another example of the cooling flow path 11 including the magnetic disk drive 1 therein. One magnetic disk drive 1 has three duct-shaped cooling flow paths 11g, 11h and 11i.
However, one duct-shaped cooling flow path 11i is shared with the adjacent magnetic disk drive 1. Further, in the figure, an example is shown in which the housings on the side where the heating elements 21 such as motors are located are arranged alternately (left and right), and the cooling channels 11g and 11i have the heating elements 21 such as motors upstream. The housing on the side having the heating element 21 such as the motor of the magnetic disk drive 1 downstream thereof is not affected by the flow of the cooling fluid near the housing on the side. In the shared duct-shaped cooling flow passage 11i, one flow passage faces the housing on the side where the heating elements 21 such as the motors of the left and right magnetic disk drives 1 are located. Since it is exposed on the opposite surface of the wall, it is less susceptible to the flow of the cooling fluid near the housing on the side of the heating element 21 such as the motor of each other magnetic disk drive 1.

In the above description, as the heating element 21, the motor for driving the spindle 4 shown in FIG. 25 is taken as an example, but as another heating element, there is the voice coil motor 8 for positioning the magnetic head 5. When the temperature distribution due to the heat generation of the voice coil motor 8 becomes a particular problem, the cooling channel 11 is divided into, for example, the right side (the voice coil motor 8 side) and the left side (the magnetic disk 3 side) into two (or more). The cooling efficiency may be improved by providing the cooling flow path on the right side (voice coil motor 8 side). The means for improving the cooling efficiency may be a means for increasing the flow velocity of the cooling fluid 12 as described above, or a means for providing a radiation fin on the surface of the housing 2 on the right side (voice coil motor 8 side).

Also in the embodiment of the cooling channel 11 including the magnetic disk drive 1 shown in FIGS. 20 to 24, the above-mentioned means for providing the radiation fins 22 and means for using air and cooling water as the cooling fluid 12. Can be applied.

Although the above-described embodiment has been described mainly by taking a large magnetic disk drive 1 having high reliability as an example, a magnetic disk device having a plurality of magnetic disk drives 1 housed in one housing 9. 10 may be a disk array (redundant array of low-cost disks) in which a large number of small magnetic disk drives 1 having a small disk diameter of 5.25 inches or less are arranged. In this case, the number of magnetic disk drives 1 accommodated in one housing 9 becomes several tens to several hundreds and more, and the probability of failure of the magnetic disk drives 1 also increases. In such a case, according to the cooling structure of the present invention, since the magnetic disk drive 1 is provided outside the cooling channel 11, it is very easy to attach and detach each magnetic disk drive 1. Furthermore, if a detector is provided to detect the operating status of each magnetic disk drive 1 and if a certain magnetic disk drive 1 fails, a system will be introduced to notify the user that the magnetic disk drive 1 has failed. It is possible to provide the magnetic disk device 10 having high reliability (no increase in thermal off-track and reduction in component life).

[0039]

According to the present invention, the size of the housing can be minimized by using a small number of cooling means, each magnetic disk drive can be efficiently cooled, and the failure probability of the cooling means can be reduced. Further, since the magnetic disk drive is installed adjacent to the cooling flow path, the magnetic disk drive can be easily attached and detached, and a highly reliable cooling structure for the magnetic disk device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the side surface of the housing showing the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the liquid-sealing elastic body of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the liquid-sealing elastic body of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an installation position of a magnetic disk drive.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the installation position of the magnetic disk drive.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a high thermal conductive elastic body.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the high thermal conductive elastic body.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a flexible material structure considering the temperature distribution of a magnetic disk drive.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a cooling channel in consideration of temperature distribution.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another structural example of the cooling flow path in consideration of the temperature distribution.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a radiation fin provided inside a cooling flow path.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a corrugated process provided on the outside of a cooling channel.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another structural example of the cooling channel in consideration of the temperature distribution.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a method of inserting a magnetic disk drive.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating another insertion method of the magnetic disk drive.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating another insertion method of the magnetic disk drive.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a cooling means using a refrigeration cycle.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a cooling channel including a magnetic disk drive inside.

21 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

22 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing another cooling flow path including a magnetic disk drive inside.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view showing another cooling flow path including a magnetic disk drive inside.

FIG. 25 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a magnetic disk drive.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Magnetic Disk Drive (HDD) 2 Housing 3 Magnetic Disk 4 Spindle 5 Magnetic Head 6 Head Arm 7 Carriage 8 Voice Coil Motor 9 Housing 10 Magnetic Disk Device 11 Cooling Flow Path 12 Cooling Fluid 13 Flexible Material Structure 14 Blower 15 Suction Port 16 Discharge port 17 Liquid 18 Convection 19 Partition plate 20 Rubber mount 21 Heating element 22 Radiating fin 23 Stopper 24 Laminating stand 25 Enclosing frame 26 Refrigeration cycle chamber 27 Compressor 28 Condenser 29 Expansion mechanism 30 Piping 31 Controller 32 Evaporator

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yuji Nishimura 2880 Kokufu, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi Ltd. Odawara factory (72) Inventor Takao Terayama 502 Kitsumachi, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki Hiritsu Seisakusho Co., Ltd. In the laboratory

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A cooling structure for a magnetic disk device comprising cooling means for cooling a plurality of magnetic disk drives housed in one housing, wherein the cooling means is adjacent to each magnetic disk drive and is a cooling fluid. Through a plurality of flexible material structures that are in close contact with each magnetic disk drive and are in contact with each cooling flow path. A cooling structure for a magnetic disk device, wherein a disk drive is cooled by the cooling fluid. 2. The cooling structure for a magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein at least two cooling passages are provided adjacent to each side surface of each magnetic disk drive. 3. The cooling structure for a magnetic disk device according to claim 1, wherein each of the flexible material structures is a liquid-sealed elastic body in which a liquid is sealed. 4. The cooling structure for a magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein each of the flexible material structures is a high thermal conductive elastic body. 5. A cooling structure for a magnetic disk device comprising cooling means for cooling a plurality of magnetic disk drives housed in one housing, wherein the cooling means includes respective magnetic disk drives therein. A cooling structure for a magnetic disk device, wherein at least two cooling flow paths through which a cooling fluid flows are provided for each magnetic disk drive, and each magnetic disk drive is cooled by the cooling fluid. 6. Each magnetic disk drive comprises:
6. The cooling structure for a magnetic disk drive according to claim 5, wherein the cooling structures are arranged in a staggered arrangement along a flow direction of the cooling fluid in one cooling flow path. 7. The flow velocity of the cooling fluid in each of the cooling flow passages adjacent to the portion of the magnetic disk drive that generates a large amount of heat or dissipates heat faster than the flow velocity of the cooling fluid in the other cooling flow passages. The cooling structure for a magnetic disk device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling structure is formed. 8. A radiation fin is provided in a cooling flow path adjacent to a portion of each cooling flow path where heat generation or heat radiation of the magnetic disk drive is large.
13. A cooling structure for a magnetic disk device according to claim 1. 9. The magnetic disk according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling channel continuously cools a plurality of magnetic disk drives together with the cooling fluid. Equipment cooling structure. 10. A cooling fin is provided in each cooling passage so that a radiation area of the cooling passage gradually increases along the flow direction of the cooling fluid.
9. A cooling structure for a magnetic disk device according to any one of 9 above. 11. The cooling structure for a magnetic disk device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid is cooling air. 12. The cooling of a magnetic disk device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid is cooling air, and the cooling air is cooling air having a temperature lower than the ambient outside air temperature. Construction. 13. The cooling structure for a magnetic disk device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fluid is cooling water. 14. The cooling fluid is cooling water, and the cooling water is cooling water produced by a cooling medium manufacturing apparatus for computer cooling, according to any one of claims 1 to 13. Cooling structure for magnetic disk unit. 15. A disk array comprising the cooling structure for a magnetic disk device according to claim 1. Description: