IP Library Granted Patent US 11,678,461
Granted Patent B2
US 11,678,461 · App. 17/170,571 · Granted Jun 13, 2023

Fan tray system

Inventors: Darren Burke Pav (Round Rock, TX); Jake Hill Lavallo (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
H05K7/20172G06F1/20H05K5/0247H05K7/14H05K7/20145H05K7/20727
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,678,461
App. No.
17/170,571
Granted
Jun 13, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fan tray system includes a fan tray base that couples to a chassis and that includes fan system connector(s) for connecting to a fan system. A fan tray side wall includes fan system guide member(s) that align the fan system for connection to the fan system connector(s), and is connected to the fan tray base by a moveable coupling that allows relative movement between the fan tray side wall and the fan tray base. That relative movement allows the fan tray side wall to be positioned in a first orientation when the fan tray base is coupled to the chassis such that the fan tray side wall is positioned adjacent a chassis wall of the chassis and impedes access component(s) in the chassis. That relative movement also allows the fan tray side wall to be moved to a second orientation that allows access to the component(s) in the chassis.

Claims (40)

1. A fan tray system, comprising:

a fan tray base that is configured to support a fan system;

a fan tray side wall; and

a first rotatable coupling connecting the fan tray side wall to the fan tray base, wherein the first rotatable coupling is configured to allow rotatable relative movement between the fan tray side wall and the fan tray base such that:

the fan tray side wall may be positioned in a first orientation when the fan tray base is tool-lessly coupled to a chassis such that the fan tray side wall is positioned adjacent a first chassis wall of the chassis and impedes access to at least one first component in the chassis; and

the fan tray side wall may be rotated to a second orientation that is different than the first orientation and that allows access to the at least one first component in the chassis when the fan tray base is tool-lessly coupled to the chassis.

2. The fan tray system of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one fan system connector that extends from the fan tray base and that is configured to connect to the fan system.

3. The fan tray system of claim 2 , further comprising: at least one fan system guide member that is included on the fan tray side wall and that is configured to align the fan system with the at least one fan system connector.

4. The fan tray system of claim 1 , further comprising: a securing subsystem that is located on the fan tray side wall, wherein the securing subsystem is configured to secure to the chassis wall when the fan tray base is tool-lessly coupled to the chassis and the fan tray side wall is positioned in the first orientation.

5. The fan tray system of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one keying element that is provided on the fan tray base and that is configured to engage a keying subsystem on the chassis to orient the fan tray base in the chassis when the fan tray base is tool-lessly coupled to the chassis.

6. The fan tray system of claim 1 , wherein the fan tray side wall is a first fan tray side wall that is connected to a first side of the fan tray base by the first rotatable coupling that allows for positioning of the first fan tray side wall adjacent the first chassis wall of the chassis to impede access to the at least one first component in the chassis, as well as rotatable movement of the first fan tray side wall to allow access to the at least one first component in the chassis, and wherein the fan tray system further comprises:

a second fan tray side wall; and

a second rotatable coupling connecting the second fan tray side wall to a second side of the fan tray base that is opposite the fan tray base from the first side, wherein the second rotatable coupling is configured to allow rotatable relative movement between the second fan tray side wall and the fan tray base such that:

the second fan tray side wall may be positioned in a first orientation when the fan tray base is tool-lessly coupled to the chassis such that the second fan tray side wall is positioned adjacent a second chassis wall of the chassis and impedes access to at least one second component in the chassis; and

the second fan tray side wall may be rotated to a second orientation that is different than the first orientation and that allows access to the at least one second component in the chassis when the fan tray base is tool-lessly coupled to the chassis.

7. An Information Handling System (IHS), comprising:

a chassis that includes a first chassis wall;

a cable routed immediately adjacent the first chassis wall;

a fan tray base that is tool-lessly coupled to the chassis;

a fan tray side wall; and

a first rotatable coupling connecting the fan tray side wall to the fan tray base, wherein the first rotatable coupling is configured to allow rotatable relative movement between the fan tray side wall and the fan tray base such that:

the fan tray side wall may be positioned in a first orientation such that the fan tray side wall is positioned adjacent the first chassis wall and impedes access to the cable; and

the fan tray side wall may be rotated to a second orientation that is different than the first orientation and that allows access to the cable.

8. The IHS of claim 7 , further comprising:

at least one fan system connector that extends from the fan tray base and that is configured to connect to a fan system.

9. The IHS of claim 8 , further comprising:

at least one fan system guide member that is included on the fan tray side wall and that is configured to align the fan system with the at least one fan system connector.

10. The IHS of claim 7 , further comprising:

a securing subsystem that is located on the fan tray side wall, wherein the securing subsystem is configured to secure to the chassis wall when the fan tray side wall is positioned in the first orientation.

11. The IHS of claim 7 , further comprising:

at least one airflow directing member that is coupled to the fan tray side wall and that engages the first chassis wall when the fan tray side wall is positioned in the first orientation in order to direct airflow.

12. The IHS of claim 7 , further comprising:

a keying subsystem included on the chassis; and

at least one keying element that is provided on the fan tray base and that is configured to engage the keying subsystem on the chassis to orient the fan tray base in the chassis when the fan tray base is tool-lessly coupled to the chassis.

13. The IHS of claim 7 , wherein the fan tray side wall is a first fan tray side wall that is connected to a first side of the fan tray base by the first rotatable coupling that allows for positioning of the first fan tray side wall adjacent the first chassis wall of the chassis to impede access to the cable, as well as rotatable movement of the first fan tray side wall to allow access to the cable, and wherein the IHS further comprises:

a second chassis wall on the chassis;

a second fan tray side wall; and

a second rotatable coupling connecting the second fan tray side wall to a second side of the fan tray base that is opposite the fan tray base from the first side, wherein the second rotatable coupling is configured to allow rotatable relative movement between the second fan tray side wall and the fan tray base such that:

the second fan tray side wall may be positioned in a first orientation such that the second fan tray side wall is positioned adjacent the second chassis wall and impedes access to at least one component in the chassis; and

the second fan tray side wall may be rotated to a second orientation that is different than the first orientation and that allows access to the at least one component in the chassis.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0001) 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 062021/0844 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0124) 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 062022/0012 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (056295/0280) 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 062022/0255 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 058297/0332 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
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 056295/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
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 056295/0124 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
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 056295/0280 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE MISSING PATENTS THAT WERE ON THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED SUBMITTED BUT NOT ENTERED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 056250 FRAME: 0541. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 17, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 056311/0781 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 14, 2021
From: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 056250/0541 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 9, 2021
From: PAV, DARREN BURKE; LAVALLO, JAKE HILL
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 055195/0926 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 15691346 · Aug 30, 2017
Related Publication 20210168967A1 · Jun 3, 2021