US20100026148A1

US20100026148A1 - Server chassis

Info

Publication number: US20100026148A1
Application number: US12/397,591
Authority: US
Inventors: Gui-jiao Zhang; Shou-Jen Yang
Original assignee: Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Corp
Priority date: 2008-07-31
Filing date: 2009-03-04
Publication date: 2010-02-04
Also published as: CN101639714B; CN101639714A

Abstract

A server chassis is provided. The server chassis includes a chassis body, a hard disk cage and a top cover. The upper surface of the hard disk cage is fixed on the hard disk cage such that the upper surface of the hard disk cage and the hard disk cage would form an integral whole. The hard disk cage could be removably assembled on the chassis body, so as to conveniently change the hard disks with different sizes therebetween. Therefore, the top cover of the present invention would fully cover the rear portion of the upper surface of the hard disk cage without changing the size or adding another cover, so as to achieve the purpose of integral whole assembling.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Chinese application serial no. 200810129610.6, filed on Jul. 31, 2008. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a server chassis, more particularly, to a server chassis which is fit for hard disks with different sizes.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, servers could be divided into three types such as the tower server, the rack server and the blade server from the structures. For the rack server, it is assembled on the rails of the two sides of the rack; its chassis is generally a rectangular structure, and its height is generally from 1U to 5U (1U=1.75 inches=44.45 millimeters). For conveniently repairing, the chassis of the rack server could be divided into the chassis body and the top cap. For conveniently assembling the rack server on the rack, the hard disks would be performed hot plugging from the front panel, such that the hard disk cage assembling the hard disks generally would install in the front end of the chassis, and the upper surface of the hard disk cage would cooperate with the top cover for shielding the upper portion of the chassis.
For reducing the development and fabrication cost, the development of one chassis would tend to be timely fit different configurations in recently. For servers, theirs hard disks have many specifications such as 2.5 inches and 3.5 inches. Hard disks with different specifications fit for hard disk cages with different sizes. Since the length of the hard disks is different, namely, the size of the upper surface of the 2.5-inch hard disk should smaller than the size of the upper surface of the 3.5-inch hard disk at the direction of the length, such that a problem would be caused, that is, a gap would be formed on the top portion of the chassis when the top cover cooperated with the upper surface of the 3.5-inch hard disk assembles with the 2.5-inch hard disk cage, such that the components in the chassis would be exposed to outside so as to cause the problems of the interference of electromagnetic wave or the leakage of the electromagnetic wave, the noise and the dust. For resolving the above-mentioned problems, let the 2.5-inch hard disk cage and 3.5-inch hard disk cage can be cooperated with the same top cover. When the server assembles on the 2.5-inch hard disk cage, an another independent top cover would be generally added to assemble between the upper wall of the 2.5-inch hard disk cage and the top cover, so as to shield the gap formed on the top portion of the chassis. However, such solution causes that the top cover would be divided into two parts with different sizes in the structure, and thus failing to form an integral whole. Accordingly, on the one hand the fabrication cost would increase and thus increasing the assembly steps and time, and on the other hand, since the top cover is assembled by many parts, so as to increase the risk of the interference of electromagnetic wave or the leakage of the electromagnetic wave.
In summary, it has become a problem to be solved in the industry as to how to design a server chassis which is fit for hard disks with different sizes; and capable of realizing the integral whole assembly, and resolving the problems the interference of electromagnetic wave or the leakage of the electromagnetic wave at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to server chassis including a chassis body, a hard disk cage and a top cover. The chassis body has a front end and a rear end opposite to the front end. The chassis body includes a bottom plate and two sidewalls both parallel and opposite to each other, so as to form an opening. The hard disk cage removably assembles on the front end of the chassis body. The hard disk cage has an upper surface shielding a portion of the opening. The upper surface has a first surface and a first side, wherein a length of the whole hard disk cage is one of sizes, and a length of the upper surface is a fixed size. The top cover assembles on the rear end of the chassis body for shielding the other portion of the opening. The top cover has a second surface and a second side. The second surface and the first surface are coplanar, and the second side is parallel and adjacent to the first side. The top cover further includes a first folded edge and a second folded edge both perpendicular to the second side, wherein the first and the second folded edges respectively have a first section and a second section, both of the first sections shrink inwardly to be placed in the two sidewalls of the chassis body, and both of the second sections are exposed to the two sidewalls of the chassis body.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of first embedded portions protrude from the first side of the upper surface and extend to the bottom of the second surface of the top cover; a plurality of second embedded portions protrude from the second side of the top cover and extend to the bottom of the first surface of the upper surface, wherein the first embedded portions and the second embedded portions are staggered.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first embedded portions are parallel to and separate at a distance from each other to form a plurality of first slots between the first embedded portions.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a width of an opening of the first slots is substantially equal to a width of the corresponding second embedded portions.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second embedded portions are parallel to and separate at a distance from each other to form a plurality of second slots between the second embedded portions.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a width of an opening of the second slots is substantially equal to a width of the corresponding first embedded portions.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface 20 of the hard disk cage and the top cover respectively have at least one fixing hole. The at least one fixing hole of the upper surface of the hard disk cage coincides with the at least one fixing hole of the top cover. The server chassis further includes at least one locking element for respectively penetrating the at least one fixing hole of the upper surface of the hard disk cage and the at least one fixing hole of the top cover to lock the upper surface of the hard disk cage and the top cover.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least one fixing hole of the upper surface of the hard disk cage locates at one of the first embedded portions.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the top cover has a third surface opposite to the second surface, and a reinforcing sheet is disposed on third surface and adjacent to the second side, wherein the reinforcing sheet includes a board and a plurality of connection portions connected between the board and the second side respectively.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcing sheet is formed by processing a remaining material of the second embedded portions so as to fold on the third surface.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface of the hard disk cage and the hard disk cage is an integral whole.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a staggered embedded chassis according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the staggered embedded chassis depicted in FIG. 1 along I-I line, and FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the staggered embedded chassis depicted in FIG. 1 along II-II line.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third surface and two folded sides of a top cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a chassis applying to an electronic module according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a staggered embedded chassis according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the staggered embedded chassis depicted in FIG. 1 along I-I line, and FIG. 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the staggered embedded chassis depicted in FIG. 1 along II-II line.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, the server chassis of the present embodiment at least includes a chassis body 150, a hard disk cage 140 and a top cover 120. The chassis body 150 has a bottom plate (not shown) and two sidewalls 150 a both parallel and opposite to each other, so as to form an opening. The hard disk cage 140 assembles on the front end of the chassis body 150. The hard disk cage 140 has an upper surface 110 shielding the top portion of the hard disk cage 140 and a portion of the opening of the front end of the chassis body 150 at the same time. The top cover 120 assembles on the rear end of the chassis body 150 for shielding the other portion of the opening of the chassis body 150, namely, the top cover 120 connects with the rear end of the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 for cooperating with the upper surface 110 to shield the opening of the chassis body 150. In the present embodiment, the length of the hard disk cage 140 is different for different hard disk's specification, and the length of the upper surface 110 is maintained constant. When the hard disk with 2.5-inch specification should be assembled, the whole length of the hard disk cage 140 is fit for the length of the 2.5-inch hard disk, and the length of the upper surface 110 is substantially equal to the whole length of the hard disk cage 140. However, when the hard disk with 3.5-inch specification should be assembled, the whole length of the hard disk cage 140 is fit for the 3.5-inch hard disk and greater than the length of the 2.5-inch hard disk cage, and the length of the upper surface 110 is maintained constant and equal to the length of the upper surface of the hard disk cage with 2.5-inch specification. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 is fixed on the hard disk cage 140 such that the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 and the hard disk cage 140 would form an integral whole. The hard disk cage 140 could be removably assembled on the chassis body 150, so as to conveniently change the 2.5-inch hard disk and the 3.5-inch hard disk in between. Therefore, the top cover 120 of the present invention would fully cover the rear portion of the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 without changing the size or adding another cover, so as to achieve the purpose of integral whole assembling.
In addition, referring to FIG. 3, the top cover 120 further includes a first folded edge 124 and a second folded edge 126 both perpendicular to the second side D2. The first section 124 a (for example, near the second side D2) of the first folded edge 124 is parallel to the first section 126 a (for example, near the second side D2) of the second folded edge 126, and the first section 124 a (for example, near the second side D2) of the first folded edge 124 is separate at a first size L1 from the first section 126 a (for example, near the second side D2) of the second folded edge 126. The second section 124 b (for example, far from the second side D2) of the first folded edge 124 is parallel to the second section 126 b (for example, far from the second side D2) of the second folded edge 126, and the second section 124 b (for example, far from the second side D2) of the first folded edge 124 is separate at a second size L2 from the second section 126 b (for example, far from the second side D2) of the second folded edge 126. The first size L1 is smaller than the second size L2 (i.e. L1<L2), such that let the top cover 120 opposite between the first folded edge 124 and the second folded edge 126 form different sizes. Since the length size of the hard disk cage 140 is different for different hard disks with different sizes, and the size of the upper surface 110 of the top portion of the hard disk cage 140 is maintained constant. Therefore, the first section 124 a of the first folded edge 124 and the first section 126 a of the second folded edge 126 of the top cover 120 would shrink inwardly to be the first size L1, so that the front end of the top cover 120 would cover the hard disk cage 140 and to be placed in the two sidewalls 150 a, both parallel and opposite to each other, of the chassis body 150. Moreover, the second section 124 b of the first folded edge 124 and the second section 126 b of the second folded edge 126 still keep at the second size L2, accordingly, both of the second sections 124 b and 126 b would be exposed to the two sidewalls 150 a of the chassis body 150. Therefore, the top cover 120 and the two sidewalls 150 a of the chassis body 150 could be fixed each other by alternately inserting in between.
As shown in FIG. 4, since the hard disk cage 140 with different sizes has the upper surface 110 with fixed size, such that the top cover 120 can be assembled with hard disk cages with different sizes, so as to conveniently integral whole assemble for user. In comparison with the conventional manner to mount two independent top covers on an electronic module respectively, the assembly steps and time are simplified by use of the server chassis of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 has a first surface 112 (for example, top surface) and a first side D1. The top cover 120 has a second surface 122 (for example, top surface) and a second side D2. As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, the first surface 112 and the second surface 122 are coplanar. However, in another embodiment (not shown), when the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 is a top cover and the top cover 120 is a side cover, the first surface 112 of the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 is arranged vertically or intersects an angle to the second surface 122 of the top cover 120. Therefore, the first surface 112 and the second surface 122 are coplanar indicated in the drawing of the present embodiment is not limited to the present invention.
Afterwards, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A, a plurality of first embedded portions 110 a (for example, protruding tongue) protrudes from the first side D1 of the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 and extends to the bottom of the second surface 122. The thickness of a front end of the first embedded portions 110 a is slightly smaller than the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 so as to conveniently insert into the top cover 120. The first embedded portions 110 aare parallel to and separate a suitable distance from each other along the first side D1 to form a plurality of first slots S 1 between the first embedded portions 110 a.
In addition, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2B, a plurality of second embedded portions 120 a (for example, protruding tongue) protrudes from the second side D2 of the top cover 120 and extends to the bottom of the first surface 112. The thickness of a front end of the second embedded portions 120 a is smaller then the top cover 120 so as to conveniently insert into the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140. The second embedded portions 120 a are parallel to and separate a suitable distance from each other along the second side D2 to form a plurality of second slots S2 between the second embedded portions 120 a.
In details, when the top cover 120 moves along a assembly direction PI and combines with the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 to form a chassis body, the first embedded portions 110 a and the second embedded portions 120 a are staggered. The first embedded portions 110 a insert into corresponding second slots S2 and the second embedded portions 120 a insert into corresponding first slots S1 so as to prevent the interference of an electromagnetic wave that transmits through the boundary of the first side D1 and the second side D2 into the interior of the chassis.
As shown in FIG. 1, a width of an opening of the first slots S1 is substantially equal to a width of the corresponding second embedded portions 120 a in order to prevent the interference of electromagnetic wave that transmits into the interior of the chassis or leaks from the interior of the chassis. In addition, an opening width S of the second slots S2 is substantially equal to a width W of the corresponding first embedded portions 110 a so as to prevent from the electromagnetic wave transmitting into the interior of the chassis or leaking from the interior of the chassis.
In addition, when the top cover 120 and the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 are combined to form a chassis body, a hole of the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 overlaps a hole of the top cover 120 to form a fixing hole, through which a fastener (for example, a screw) is mounted on the chassis body. In the present embodiment, the hole of the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 is disposed, for example, on the first embedded portions 110 a. The number of the screws is more than one to enhance the locking force. The screw minimizes a tolerance of a gap between the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 and the top cover 120. This is to say, the upper surface 110 of the hard disk cage 140 and the top cover 120 tightly combine to avoid the electromagnetic wave transmitting through the gap smoothly.
Next, referring to FIG. 3 that indicates a schematic view of a third surface and two folded sides of the top cover depicted in FIG. 1. A reinforcing sheet 130 is disposed on a third surface (for example, bottom surface) of the top cover 120 adjacent to the second side D2 in order to improve the strength of the top cover 120. In details, the reinforcing sheet 130 is made by use of a remaining material of the second chassis 120, i.e. a board 134 (for example, long stripe) and a plurality of connection portions 132 (connected between the board 134 and the second side D2) when the top cover 120 is completely fabricated with a plurality of second embedded portions 120 a, and then the reinforcing sheet 130 is folded on the third surface to increase the thickness of the top cover 120. Therefore, the thickness of the edge area of the top cover 120 adjacent to the second side D2 is larger than that of non-edge area to improve the strength of the top cover 120.
It will be apparent to those skills in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A server chassis, comprising:

a chassis body, having a front end and a rear end opposite to the front end, the chassis body comprising a bottom plate and two sidewalls both parallel and opposite to each other, so as to form an opening;

a hard disk cage, removably assembled on the front end of the chassis body, the hard disk cage having an upper surface shielding a portion of the opening, the upper surface having a first surface and a first side, wherein a length of the whole hard disk cage is one of sizes, and a length of the upper surface is a fixed size; and

a top cover, assembled on the rear end of the chassis body, for shielding the other portion of the opening, the top cover having a second surface and a second side, the second surface and the first surface being coplanar, and the second side being parallel and adjacent to the first side, wherein the top cover further comprises a first folded edge and a second folded edge both perpendicular to the second side, the first and the second folded edges respectively have a first section and a second section, both of the first sections shrink inwardly to be placed in the two sidewalls of the chassis body, and both of the second sections are exposed to the two sidewalls of the chassis body.

2. The server chassis according to claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of first embedded portions protrude from the first side of the upper surface and extend to the bottom of the second surface of the top cover; and

a plurality of second embedded portions protrude from the second side of the top cover and extend to the bottom of the first surface of the upper surface,

wherein the first embedded portions and the second embedded portions are staggered.

3. The server chassis according to claim 2, wherein the first embedded portions are parallel to and separate at a distance from each other to form a plurality of first slots between the first embedded portions.

4. The server chassis according to claim 3, wherein a width of an opening of the first slots is substantially equal to a width of the corresponding second embedded portions.

5. The server chassis according to claim 2, wherein the second embedded portions are parallel to and separate at a distance from each other to form a plurality of second slots between the second embedded portions.

6. The server chassis according to claim 5, wherein a width of an opening of the second slots is substantially equal to a width of the corresponding first embedded portions.

7. The server chassis according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the hard disk cage and the top cover respectively have at least one fixing hole, the at least one fixing hole of the upper surface of the hard disk cage coinciding with the at least one fixing hole of the top cover, and the server chassis further comprises at least one locking element for respectively penetrating the at least one fixing hole of the upper surface of the hard disk cage and the at least one fixing hole of the top cover to lock the upper surface of the hard disk cage and the top cover.

8. The server chassis according to claim 7, wherein the at least one fixing hole of the upper surface of the hard disk cage locates at one of the first embedded portions.

9. The server chassis according to claim 2, wherein the top cover has a third surface opposite to the second surface, and a reinforcing sheet is disposed on third surface and adjacent to the second side,

wherein the reinforcing sheet comprises a board and a plurality of connection portions connected between the board and the second side respectively.

10. The server chassis according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcing sheet is formed by processing a remaining material of the second embedded portions so as to fold on the third surface.

11. The server chassis according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the hard disk cage and the hard disk cage is an integral whole.