IP Library Granted Patent US 11,231,093
Granted Patent B2
US 11,231,093 · App. 16/924,548 · Granted Jan 25, 2022

Gear train side latching mechanism for modular information handling resource

Inventors: Harris Di (Shanghai, CN); Qingqiang Guo (Shanghai, CN); Chen Zhao (Shanghai, CN)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
F16H19/04E05C3/12F16H19/001G06F13/409G06F13/4068
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,231,093
App. No.
16/924,548
Granted
Jan 25, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gear train side latching mechanism may include a bracket having one or more guiding features, a handle mechanically coupled to the bracket via the one or more guiding features such that the handle is linearly movable with respect to the bracket, a rack mechanically coupled to the handle comprising a first plurality of gear teeth and configured to move linearly relative to the bracket in a fixed relation to the handle, a driving gear rotatably coupled to the bracket and comprising a compound circular spur gear having a second plurality of gear teeth on an outer diameter of the driving gear and a third plurality of gear teeth on an inner diameter of the driving gear, wherein the second plurality of gear teeth are mechanically coupled to the first plurality of gear teeth, and an actuator gear rotatably coupled to the bracket and comprising a fourth plurality of gear teeth mechanically coupled to the third plurality of gear teeth and further comprising one or more features configured to engage with a corresponding engagement feature of a mechanical member. The gear train side latching mechanism may be arranged such that linear motion of the handle relative to the bracket transmits mechanical energy to the actuator gear via the rack and the driving gear to cause the actuator gear to mechanically interact with the engagement feature to transmit mechanical energy to the engagement feature.

Claims (37)

1. A gear train side latching mechanism, comprising:

a bracket having one or more guiding features;

a handle mechanically coupled to the bracket via the one or more guiding features such that the handle is linearly movable with respect to the bracket;

a rack mechanically coupled to the handle comprising a first plurality of gear teeth and configured to move linearly relative to the bracket in a fixed relation to the handle;

a driving gear rotatably coupled to the bracket and comprising a compound circular spur gear having a second plurality of gear teeth on an outer diameter of the driving gear and a third plurality of gear teeth on an inner diameter of the driving gear, wherein the second plurality of gear teeth are mechanically coupled to the first plurality of gear teeth; and

an actuator gear rotatably coupled to the bracket and comprising a fourth plurality of gear teeth mechanically coupled to the third plurality of gear teeth and further comprising one or more features configured to engage with a corresponding engagement feature of a mechanical member;

wherein the gear train side latching mechanism is arranged such that linear motion of the handle relative to the bracket transmits mechanical energy to the actuator gear via the rack and the driving gear to cause the actuator gear to mechanically interact with the engagement feature to transmit mechanical energy to the engagement feature.

2. The gear train side latching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical member is an information handling resource of an information handling system comprising the gear train side latching mechanism, and the gear train side latching mechanism is further arranged such that linear motion of the handle relative to the bracket transmits sufficient mechanical energy to enable electrical connectors of the mechanical member to mate with corresponding electrical connectors of the information handling system.

3. The gear train side latching mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the mechanical member is a data storage resource.

4. The gear train side latching mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a spring mechanically coupled between the actuator gear and the bracket and having a spring force configured to bias the actuator gear in a particular rotational position relative to the bracket.

5. The gear train side latching mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the mechanical member is an information handling resource of an information handling system comprising the gear train side latching mechanism, and the gear train side latching mechanism is further arranged such that the spring force is able to transmit sufficient mechanical energy to overcome a mating force of electrical connectors of the mechanical member to corresponding electrical connectors of the information handling system.

6. An information handling system comprising:

a chassis comprising a bay for receiving a mechanical member; and

a gear train side latching mechanism mechanically coupled to a wall of the bay and comprising:

a bracket having one or more guiding features;

a handle mechanically coupled to the bracket via the one or more guiding features such that the handle is linearly movable with respect to the bracket;

a rack mechanically coupled to the handle comprising a first plurality of gear teeth and configured to move linearly relative to the bracket in a fixed relation to the handle;

a driving gear rotatably coupled to the bracket and comprising a compound circular spur gear having a second plurality of gear teeth on an outer diameter of the driving gear and a third plurality of gear teeth on an inner diameter of the driving gear, wherein the second plurality of gear teeth are mechanically coupled to the first plurality of gear teeth; and

an actuator gear rotatably coupled to the bracket and comprising a fourth plurality of gear teeth mechanically coupled to the third plurality of gear teeth and further comprising one or more features configured to engage with a corresponding engagement feature of a mechanical member;

wherein the gear train side latching mechanism is arranged such that linear motion of the handle relative to the bracket transmits mechanical energy to the actuator gear via the rack and the driving gear to cause the actuator gear to mechanically interact with the engagement feature to transmit mechanical energy to the engagement feature.

7. The information handling system of claim 6 , wherein the mechanical member is an information handling resource of the information handling system, and the gear train side latching mechanism is further arranged such that linear motion of the handle relative to the bracket transmits sufficient mechanical energy to enable electrical connectors of the mechanical member to mate with corresponding electrical connectors of the information handling system.

8. The information handling system of claim 7 , wherein the mechanical member is a data storage resource.

9. The information handling system of claim 6 , further comprising a spring mechanically coupled between the actuator gear and the bracket and having a spring force configured to bias the actuator gear in a particular rotational position relative to the bracket.

10. The information handling system of claim 9 , wherein the mechanical member is an information handling resource of the information handling system, and the gear train side latching mechanism is further arranged such that the spring force is able to transmit sufficient mechanical energy to overcome a mating force of electrical connectors of the mechanical member to corresponding electrical connectors of the information handling system.

11. A chassis bay for receiving a mechanical member comprising:

a plurality of walls; and

a gear train side latching mechanism mechanically coupled to a wall of the plurality of walls and comprising:

a bracket having one or more guiding features;

a handle mechanically coupled to the bracket via the one or more guiding features such that the handle is linearly movable with respect to the bracket;

a rack mechanically coupled to the handle comprising a first plurality of gear teeth and configured to move linearly relative to the bracket in a fixed relation to the handle;

a driving gear rotatably coupled to the bracket and comprising a compound circular spur gear having a second plurality of gear teeth on an outer diameter of the driving gear and a third plurality of gear teeth on an inner diameter of the driving gear, wherein the second plurality of gear teeth are mechanically coupled to the first plurality of gear teeth; and

an actuator gear rotatably coupled to the bracket and comprising a fourth plurality of gear teeth mechanically coupled to the third plurality of gear teeth and further comprising one or more features configured to engage with a corresponding engagement feature of a mechanical member;

wherein the gear train side latching mechanism is arranged such that linear motion of the handle relative to the bracket transmits mechanical energy to the actuator gear via the rack and the driving gear to cause the actuator gear to mechanically interact with the engagement feature to transmit mechanical energy to the engagement feature.

12. The chassis bay of claim 11 , wherein the mechanical member is an information handling resource of an information handling system comprising the gear train side latching mechanism, and the gear train side latching mechanism is further arranged such that linear motion of the handle relative to the bracket transmits sufficient mechanical energy to enable electrical connectors of the mechanical member to mate with corresponding electrical connectors of the information handling system.

13. The chassis bay of claim 12 , wherein the mechanical member is a data storage resource.

14. The chassis bay of claim 11 , further comprising a spring mechanically coupled between the actuator gear and the bracket and having a spring force configured to bias the actuator gear in a particular rotational position relative to the bracket.

15. The chassis bay of claim 14 , wherein the mechanical member is an information handling resource of an information handling system comprising the gear train side latching mechanism, and the gear train side latching mechanism is further arranged such that the spring force is able to transmit sufficient mechanical energy to overcome a mating force of electrical connectors of the mechanical member to corresponding electrical connectors of the information handling system.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053574/0221) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060333/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053578/0183) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060332/0864 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053573/0535) Recorded Jun 10, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 060333/0106 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 053531 FRAME 0108 Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058001/0371 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053578/0183 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053573/0535 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 053574/0221 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 18, 2020
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 053531/0108 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2020
From: DI, HARRIS; GUO, QINGQIANG; ZHAO, CHEN
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 053163/0636 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,628,301