TWI618056B - Retractable frame assembly for accommodating data storage devices - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable storage device frame assembly for accommodating a plurality of storage devices. The removable storage device frame assembly comprises two slide rail assemblies, two fixed frames and a movable frame. The slide rail assemblies are disposed in parallel with each other, and each of the slide rail assemblies has a fixed rail, a middle rail and a movable rail. The fixed rails extend parallel to each other along an extraction direction; the middle rail is slidably coupled to the fixed rail; and the movable rail is slidably coupled to the middle rail. The two fixing frames are respectively used for the at least one storage device to be accommodated therein, and each of the fixing frames is respectively fixed to the middle rail, and the two fixing frames have a separation distance therebetween. The movable frame is for receiving at least one storage device, the movable frame is coupled to the two slide rail assemblies and movable relative to the middle rails of the two slide rail assemblies, and the movable frame is located between the two fixed frames.

Description

Removable storage device frame assembly

The invention relates to the installation and fixing of a computer storage device, in particular to a removable storage device frame assembly.

A large network server host or data center requires a large number of hard drives to store data. For access efficiency and data preservation, hard disk drives form a Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID). Disperse the access of each hard disk drive and avoid the loss of data caused by the destruction of a single storage device.

Therefore, in the chassis of the aforementioned host, a large number of hard disk drives must be installed to optimize the space utilization. In the prior art, a hard disk drive frame is disposed in the chassis, and each hard disk drive frame has a plurality of receiving slots sized to fit the hard disk drive or the extraction box, thereby accommodating and fixing the hard disk drive in a large amount. To increase the number of hard disk drives, it is to increase the settings of the hard drive frame so that multiple hard drive frames are juxtaposed in the chassis. However, as the number of hard disk drive frames increases, the gap between the frames is reduced, and the mounting opening of the receiving slot is blocked by the adjacent hard disk frame, so that the hard disk drive cannot be directly attached and detached. At this point, the frame must be removed from the chassis for the removal and removal of the hard drive. But for the inability to shut down at any time, you need to use Hot-Swap to disassemble and harden. For the main unit of the disc player, unloading the frame for the disassembly and assembly of the hard disk drive is an unacceptable maintenance operation.

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a removable storage device frame assembly that can increase the number of storage devices installed in the chassis.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a removable storage device frame assembly for accommodating a plurality of storage devices. The removable storage device frame assembly comprises two slide rail assemblies, two fixed frames and a movable frame. The two rail assemblies are disposed in parallel with each other, and each of the rail assemblies has a fixed rail and a middle rail. The fixed rails extend parallel to each other along an extraction direction; the middle rail is slidably coupled to the fixed rail. The two fixing frames are respectively used for at least one of the storage devices to be accommodated therein, and the fixing frames are fixed to the middle rails of the two sliding rail assemblies, and the two fixing frames have a separation distance therebetween. The movable frame is for receiving at least one of the storage devices, the movable frame is coupled to the two slide rail assemblies and movable relative to the middle rails of the two slide rail assemblies, and the movable frame is located between the two fixed frames. The movable frame moves back and forth with respect to the middle rail to facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the storage device to the movable frame or the two fixed frames.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the separation distance is greater than or equal to the sum of the length of the movable frame in the extraction direction plus the length of the storage device in the extraction direction.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the removable storage device frame assembly further includes at least one storage device extraction box for accommodating one of the storage devices, and is accommodated in the movable frame together with the storage device; The distance is greater than the length of the movable frame in the direction of extension plus the sum of the lengths of the storage device extraction cassettes in the direction of extension.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, each of the slide rail assemblies further includes a movable rail slidably coupled to the middle rail, and the movable rail is fixed to the movable frame to slidably couple the movable frame to the middle rail.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the removable storage device frame assembly further includes a positioning member for positioning the movable rail on the middle rail.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, each of the slide rail assemblies further includes an inner rail coupled to the middle rail, and the movable frame is slidably coupled to the inner rail.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the two sides of the movable frame further comprise a sliding structure, and the movable frame is slidably coupled to the inner rail by the sliding structure.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, each of the slide rail assemblies further includes two connecting rails fixedly coupled to the middle rail, and the two connecting rails are respectively fixed to the two fixing frames to fix the fixed frames to the middle rail.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the removable storage device frame assembly further includes a chassis having at least two opposite side frames, and the fixed rails of the two slide rail assemblies are respectively fixed to the two side frames.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the removable storage device frame assembly further includes at least one latching member for detachably fixing the middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies to the chassis.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the latching member is disposed on the middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies for latching in the chassis.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the latching member is disposed in the chassis for latching in a middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the removable storage device frame assembly further includes at least one latch member for detachably fixing the middle rail of one of the two slide rail assemblies to the corresponding fixed rail.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the latching member is disposed on the middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies for latching to the corresponding fixed rail.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the latching member is disposed on the corresponding fixed rail for latching the corresponding fixed rail to the middle rail.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the removable storage device frame assembly further includes a cable arranging mechanism, and the guiding cable extends to the two fixed frames and the movable frame.

The invention effectively improves the number of installable storage devices in the chassis, and through the arrangement of the movable frame, the disassembly and assembly of the storage device is not interfered by the adjacent frame, and the storage device can be directly installed or disassembled on the chassis. It eliminates the need to remove the frame from the chassis, simplifying the process required for assembly or repair.

10‧‧‧Chassis

12‧‧‧ side frame

14‧‧‧floor

100‧‧‧Removable storage device frame assembly

110‧‧‧slide assembly

112‧‧‧ fixed rail

114‧‧‧ Middle track

115‧‧‧ Inner rail

116‧‧‧ movable rail

118‧‧‧Connecting rail

120‧‧‧Fixed frame

130‧‧‧ movable frame

132‧‧‧Sliding structure

140‧‧‧ Cards

142‧‧‧ opponents

144‧‧‧ Positioning parts

150‧‧‧Wire sorting organization

200‧‧‧ storage device

300‧‧‧Storage device extraction box

G‧‧‧ separation distance

Y‧‧‧ extraction direction

P1‧‧‧ first position

P2‧‧‧ second position

1 is an exploded perspective view of a frame assembly of a removable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views of a frame assembly of a removable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively, illustrating different operating states; In the embodiment of the invention, a partial perspective view of the slide rail assembly; FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are perspective views of the frame assembly of the removable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively showing that the movable frame is located at different positions; 7 is a perspective view of a frame assembly of a removable storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating an application of a storage device extraction box; FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of another slide rail assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; The perspective view of the frame assembly of the removable storage device reveals the application of the slide rail assembly of FIG. 8. FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are partial perspective views of the slide rail assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention, revealing different types. FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are schematic cross-sectional views of the middle rail and the movable rail in the embodiment of the present invention, and the arrangement of the positioning members is disclosed.

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , a removable storage device frame assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a chassis 10 , particularly a server cabinet. The chassis 10 has at least two opposite side frames 12 and a bottom plate 14. The two side frames 12 are connected through the bottom plate 14 and are disposed in parallel with each other. The side frame 12 may be a flat plate structure or a hollow frame structure. The front panel and the back panel of the chassis 10 are provided as needed, and are not essential components. Where the chassis 10 is a server cabinet, the removable storage device frame assembly 100 can be a multi-layer structure, that is, a plurality of sets of removable storage device frame assemblies 100 stacked together and combined into a single computer cabinet.

As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the removable storage device frame assembly 100 is configured to accommodate a plurality of storage devices 200 for mounting the storage device 200 in the chassis 10 ; the storage device 200 may be but not Limited to hard drive, CD player or flash memory reader. Extract The storage device frame assembly 100 includes two slide rail assemblies 110, two fixed frames 120, and a movable frame 130.

As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the two rail assemblies 110 are disposed in parallel with each other and are respectively fixed to the two side frames 12 of the chassis 10 . Each rail assembly 110 has a fixed rail 112 and a middle rail 114, respectively. In terms of length, the length of the fixed rail 112 is comparable to the length of the middle rail 114, but typically the length of the fixed rail 112 will be a little larger than the length of the middle rail 114. As shown in FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the fixed rail 112 is wrapped over the middle rail 114 such that the middle rail 114 can move relative to the fixed rail 112.

As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the fixed rails 112 extend along the extraction direction Y, and the fixed rails 112 of the two rail assemblies 110 are respectively fixed to the two side frames 12 of the chassis 10 such that the fixed rails 112 are parallel to each other. The middle rail 114 is slidably coupled to the fixed rail 112 to move relative to the fixed rail 112 such that at least a portion of the middle rail 114 can be slid along the extraction direction Y to be stretched to the exterior of the chassis 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the two fixing frames 120 are respectively used to accommodate at least one of the one or more storage devices 200. The opposite sides of each of the fixed frames 120 are respectively fixed to the middle rails 114 of the two rail assemblies 110, and the two fixed frames 120 have a spacing distance G therebetween. In a specific embodiment, each of the rail assemblies 110 further includes two connecting rails 118 fixedly coupled to the middle rail 114 by screws or other fixing means; and the two connecting rails 118 are respectively fixed to the sides of the two fixing frames 120 at the same time. The fixed frames 120 are fixed to the middle rail 114. However, the connecting rails 118 can be omitted, and the screws are directly locked from the outer side of the middle rail 114 to the two sides of the fixed frame 120, so that the opposite sides of the fixed frame 120 are respectively fixed to the middle rails 114, but will be fixed. The technical means for fixing the frame 120 to each of the intermediate rails 114 is not limited to screws.

As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the movable frame 130 is used to accommodate one or more storage devices 200 . The opposite sides of the movable frame 130 are coupled to the two sliding rail assemblies 110 , and the movable frame 130 can be The middle rail 114 moves back and forth with respect to the two rail assemblies 110. Further, the two fixing frames 120 are substantially fixed to both ends of the middle rail 114, and the movable frame 130 is located between the two fixing frames 120. The movable frame 130 is reciprocable relative to the middle rail 114 and the two fixed frames 120 in a direction parallel to the extraction direction Y between the two fixed frames 120.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in a specific embodiment, each of the slide rail assemblies 110 includes a movable rail 116 slidably coupled to the middle rail 114. As shown in FIG. 4, the middle rail 114 encloses the movable rail 116, and the length of the movable rail 116 is much smaller than the middle rail 114, so that the movable rail 116 has a sufficient reciprocating stroke on the middle rail 114. The movable rail 116 is simultaneously fixed to the side of the movable frame 130 by screws or other fixing means, so that the movable frame 130 is slidably coupled to the middle rail 114 of the two slide rail assemblies 110 through the movable rail 116. The combination of the movable rails 116 is only exemplified, and the side surface of the movable frame 130 may also be provided with a guide groove or other sliding guiding structure combined with the middle rail 114 to directly slidably couple the movable frame 130 to the middle rail 114.

As shown in FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the movable frame 130 and the two fixed frames 120 respectively have mounting openings of the plurality of storage devices 200 for feeding the storage device 200 to place the storage device 200 into the movable frame 130 . And the two fixing frames 120 are taken out by the movable frame 130 and the two fixing frames 120. In the present embodiment, the storage device 200 of the movable frame 130 mounts the opening toward the back side of one of the two fixed frames 120, and the rear side of the movable frame 130 faces the mounting opening of the other fixed frame 120.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the movable frame 130 moves to the first position P1 in the extraction direction Y to abut against one of the two fixed frames 120 (the outer fixed frame 120), The mounting opening of a fixed frame 120 is in an open state. At this time, the separation distance G between the movable frame 130 and the other fixed frame 120 is preferably equal to or greater than the length of the storage device 200 in the extraction direction Y to facilitate the storage device 200 to be inserted into the fixed frame 120 from the mounting opening.

As shown in FIG. 6, similarly, when the movable frame 130 moves to the second position P2 in the extraction direction Y to abut against the other fixed frame 120 (the inner fixed frame 120), the mounting opening of the movable frame 130 at this time. Presenting an open state; at this time, the separation distance G between the movable frame 130 and the front fixed frame 120 is preferably equal to or greater than the length of the storage device 200 in the extraction direction Y to facilitate the storage device 200 to be inserted from the mounting opening. The movable frame 130.

Of course, all of the above-mentioned mounting opening directions are merely exemplified, and the mounting openings of the two fixing frames 120 and the movable frame 130 may be arbitrarily disposed inward or outward. Therefore, the dimensional relationship presented in the foregoing FIGS. 5 and 6 is mainly due to the movement between the movable frame 130 and the other fixed frame 120 after the movable frame 130 is moved to a first position P1 or a second position P2 of the fixed frame 120. The distance needs to be greater than the length of the storage device 200 in the extraction direction Y. The aforementioned dimensional relationship may also be expressed as a separation distance G between the two fixed frames 120, which is greater than or equal to the sum of the length of the movable frame 130 in the extraction direction Y plus the length of the storage device 200 in the extraction direction Y.

As shown in FIG. 7 , in another case, the storage device 200 is accommodated in the storage device extraction box 300 and is accommodated in the two fixed frames 120 or the movable frame 130 together with the storage device 200 . In this case, the aforementioned dimensional conditions need to be modified to the separation distance G between the two fixed frames 120, which is greater than or equal to the length of the movable frame 130 in the extending direction plus the length of the length of the storage device extraction cassette 300 in the extending direction.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, another way of combining the movable frame 130 with the slide rail assembly 110 is shown. Each of the rail assemblies 110 has a fixed rail 112, a middle rail 114, and a Inner rail 115. The fixed rail 112 is wrapped around the middle rail 114 such that the middle rail 114 can move relative to the fixed rail 112. The inner rail 115 is fixed to the middle rail 114, and the length of the inner rail 115 is substantially the same as the separation distance G between the two fixed frames 120, or may be slightly shorter than the separation distance G.

The inner rail 115 is fixedly coupled to the middle rail 114. The two sides of the movable frame 130 are provided with a sliding structure 132. The inner rail 115 can be accommodated in the sliding structure 132 in a loose manner, so that the movable frame 130 is slidably coupled to the inner rail 115, thereby The movable frame 130 is allowed to reciprocate relative to the middle rail 114. The form in which the movable frame 130 is slidably coupled to the inner rail 115 is not limited to the configuration of the sliding structure 132 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, in addition, the removable storage device frame assembly 100 further includes a latching member 140 for fixing and detachably fixing the middle rail 114 to the chassis 10.

As shown in FIG. 10, in one example, the latching member 140 is disposed on the middle rail 114 of one of the two rail assemblies 110, and the chassis 10 is provided with a corresponding counterpart member 142, such as a latching hole. When the middle rail 114 is retracted into the chassis 10, and the two fixing frames 120 and the movable frame 130 are all accommodated in the chassis 10, the latching member 140 is buckled into the counterpart member 142 to be locked to the chassis 10, and the middle rail 114 is detachably fixed. In the chassis 10.

As shown in FIG. 11, the latch member 140 may also be disposed in the chassis 10, and a latching hole as the counterpart member 142 is disposed on the middle rail 114 to cause the latching member 140 to be locked to the middle rail 114. The latch member 140 and the counterpart member 142 need only be disposed for one of the set of rail assemblies 110, and the two sets of rail assemblies 110 are not required to configure the latch member 140 and the counterpart member 142.

Since the fixed rail 112 is fixed to the chassis 10, the latching member 140 may also be disposed between the middle rail 114 and the fixed rail 112.

As shown in FIG. 12, the latching member 140 is disposed on the middle rail 114 of one of the two rail assemblies 110, and the fixed rail 112 is provided with a corresponding counterpart member 142, such as a latching hole.

As shown in FIG. 13, the latching member 140 can be latched to the corresponding fixed rail 112 to the middle rail 114 to detachably fix the middle rail 114 to the corresponding fixed rail 112. Alternatively, the latching member 140 may be disposed on the fixed rail 112, and the latching hole as the counterpart member 142 is disposed on the middle rail 114, and the latching member 140 is latched on the corresponding fixed rail 112 on the middle rail 114.

As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, similarly, a positioning member 144 is disposed on the middle rail 114 at a position substantially at the middle portion for positioning the movable rail 116 on the middle rail 114 to temporarily position the movable frame 130 therein. The rail 114 prevents the movable frame 130 from sliding arbitrarily on the middle rail 114.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , the removable storage device frame assembly 100 further includes a cable arranging mechanism 150 , and the guiding storage device 200 cable extends to the two fixed frames 120 and the movable frame 130 . The wire arranging mechanism 150 may be in the form of a folding plate or a sleeve that restrains the wire from moving within a specific area to prevent the scattered wire from affecting the movement of the removable storage device frame assembly 100 or the movable frame 130.

The invention effectively improves the number of installable storage devices in the chassis 10, and through the arrangement of the movable frame 130, the disassembly and assembly of the storage device 200 is not interfered by adjacent frames, and the storage device can be directly performed on the chassis 10. The installation or removal of the 200 eliminates the need to remove the frame from the chassis, simplifies the procedures required for assembly or repair, and utilizes hot-swap technology to maintain the operation of the mainframe without shutting down.

Claims (15)

A removable storage device frame assembly for accommodating a plurality of storage devices, comprising: two slide rail assemblies disposed parallel to each other, and each slide rail assembly has: a fixed rail extending along an extraction direction and mutually Parallel; a middle rail slidably coupled to the fixed rail; and two fixed frames for respectively receiving at least one of the storage devices, each of the fixing frames being fixed in the two sliding rail assemblies a rail having a spacing distance between the two fixing frames; and a movable frame for receiving at least one of the storage devices, the movable frame being coupled to the two rail assemblies and relative to the rail Moving the middle rail of the two rail assemblies, and the movable frame is located between the two fixed frames; wherein the spacing distance is greater than or equal to the length of the movable frame along the extracting direction plus the length of the storage device along the extracting direction sum. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one storage device extraction box for accommodating one of the storage devices, and accommodating the movable frame together with the storage device Wherein the separation distance is greater than a sum of the length of the movable frame in the extending direction plus the length of the storage device extraction box along the extending direction. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the slide rail assemblies further comprises a movable rail slidably coupled to the middle rail, and the movable rail is fixed to the movable frame. The movable frame is slidably coupled to the middle rail. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 3, further comprising a positioning member for positioning the movable rail on the middle rail. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the slide rail assemblies further includes an inner rail coupled to the middle rail, and the movable frame is slidably coupled to the inner rail. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 5, wherein the two sides of the movable frame further comprise a sliding structure, and the movable frame is slidably coupled to the inner rail by the sliding structure. The detachable storage device frame assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the slide rail assemblies further includes two connecting rails fixedly coupled to the middle rail, and the two connecting rails are respectively fixed to the two fixed frames. To fix each of the fixing frames to the middle rail. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 1, further comprising a chassis having at least two opposite side frames, and the fixed rails of the two slide rail assemblies are respectively fixed to the two side frames. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 8 further comprising at least one latching member for detachably fixing a middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies to the chassis. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 9, wherein the latching member is disposed on a middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies for latching in the chassis. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 9, wherein the latching member is disposed in the chassis for engaging in a middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one latching member for detachably fixing a middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies to the corresponding fixed rail. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 12, wherein the latching member is disposed on a middle rail of one of the two rail assemblies for latching the corresponding fixed rail. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 12, wherein the latching member is disposed on the second fixed rail for latching the corresponding fixed rail to the middle rail. The removable storage device frame assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cable sorting mechanism, the guide wire extending to the two fixed frames and the movable frame.