Release lever mechanism for server chassis sleds
A compact lever mechanism for assisting in removing and inserting a sled in a chassis is disclosed. The lever mechanism has a longitudinal lever member. A spur gear having gear teeth is coupled to one end of the longitudinal lever member. An ejector component is rotatably connected to the sled. The ejector component has a frame defined by an internal gear support, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The spur gear is positioned within the frame and engages the internal gear support to rotate the ejector component. The first support arm includes a tab engaging a flange of the chassis to apply force to remove the sled from the chassis when rotated in a first direction. The second support arm includes a second tab engaging a cutout in the chassis to apply force to insert the sled in the chassis when rotated in a second direction.
1 . A lever mechanism for insertion to and removal of a sled from a chassis, the lever mechanism comprising:
a longitudinal lever member having a release end and an opposite pivot end;
a spur gear having gear teeth coupled to the pivot end of the longitudinal lever member, wherein the spur gear is rotated by rotating the longitudinal lever member; and
an ejector component rotatably connectable to the sled, the ejector component having a frame defined by an internal gear support, a first support arm, and a second support arm, wherein the spur gear is positioned within the frame and engages gear teeth on an interior surface of the internal gear support to rotate the ejector component, wherein the first support arm is connected to an end of the internal gear support, and includes a first tab extending from an opposite exterior surface of the internal gear support for engaging a flange of the chassis to apply force to remove the sled from the chassis when the longitudinal lever member is rotated in a first direction and the second support arm is connected to an opposite end of the internal gear support, and includes a second tab extending from the opposite exterior surface of the internal gear support for engaging a cutout of the chassis to apply force to insert the sled in the chassis when the longitudinal lever member is rotated in a second direction, and wherein the gear teeth of the interior surface of the internal gear support face away from the first and second tabs.
2 . The lever mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support plate rotatably attached to the spur gear and ejector component; and
a spring having one end connected to the support plate and an opposite end connected to the spur gear, the spring biasing the spur gear in a first rotational direction.
3 . The lever mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the release end of the longitudinal lever member includes a tab that engages a latch mechanism on the sled to hold the longitudinal lever member in place.
4 . The lever mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the latch mechanism rotates between a position engaging the tab and a position releasing the tab.
5 . The lever mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the release end of the longitudinal lever member includes a handle.
6 . The lever mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the spur gear is connected to a cylindrical support, and wherein the longitudinal lever member is connected to the cylindrical support.
7 . The lever mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal lever member, the spur gear, and the ejection component generate force to disconnect connectors of the sled from connectors of the chassis when rotated in the first direction.
8 . The lever mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the spur gear has a triangular shape defined by a distal semi-circular edge with gear teeth, and two sides having respective ends each coupled to the distal semi-circular edge, the two sides having opposites ends joined to define a proximal apex point with hole holding a pin to rotationally attach the spur gear to the pivot end of the longitudinal lever member.
9 . A sled for insertion into a bay of a chassis defined by two edge members each having a flange and a cutout, the sled comprising:
a tray holding electronic components;
a front panel coupled perpendicularly to the tray; and
a first lever mechanism mounted on a side of the front panel, the first lever mechanism including:
a longitudinal lever member having a release end and an opposite pivot end;
a spur gear having gear teeth coupled to the pivot end of the longitudinal lever member, wherein the spur gear is rotated by rotating the longitudinal lever member; and
an ejector component rotatably connected to the sled, the ejector component having a frame defined by an internal gear support, a first support arm, and a second support arm, wherein the spur gear is positioned within the frame and engages gear teeth on an interior surface of the internal gear support to rotate the ejector component, wherein the first support arm is connected to an end of the internal gear support, and includes a first tab extending from an opposite exterior surface of the internal gear support for engaging one of the flanges to apply force to remove the sled from the bay when the longitudinal lever member is rotated in a first direction and the second support arm is connected to an opposite end of the internal gear support, and includes a second tab extending from the opposite exterior surface of the internal gear support for engaging one of the cutouts to apply force to insert the sled in the bay when the longitudinal lever member is rotated in a second direction, and wherein the gear teeth of the interior surface of the internal gear support face away from the first and second tabs.
10 . The sled of claim 9 , further comprising a second lever mechanism mounted on an opposite side of the front panel, the second lever mechanism including:
a longitudinal lever member having a release end and an opposite pivot end;
a spur gear having gear teeth coupled to the pivot end of the longitudinal lever member, wherein the spur gear is rotated by rotating the longitudinal lever member; and
an ejector component rotatably connected to the sled, the ejector component having a frame defined by an internal gear support, a first support arm, and a second support arm, wherein the spur gear is positioned within the frame and engages the internal gear support to rotate the ejector component, wherein the first support arm includes a tab engaging the other one of the flanges to apply force to remove the sled from the bay when the longitudinal lever member is rotated in the first direction and the second support arm includes a second tab engaging the other one of the cutouts to apply force to insert the sled in the bay when the longitudinal lever member is rotated in the second direction.
11 . The sled of claim 10 , wherein the first and second lever mechanisms generate sufficient force to disconnect connectors of the sled from connectors of the bay when rotated in the first direction.
12 . The sled of claim 9 , further comprising:
a support plate rotatably attached to the spur gear and ejector component; and
a spring having one end connected to the support plate and an opposite end connected to the spur gear, the spring biasing the spur gear in a first rotational direction.
13 . The sled of claim 9 , further comprising a latch mechanism on the front panel, wherein the release end of the longitudinal lever member includes a tab that engages the latch mechanism to hold the longitudinal lever member in place.
14 . The sled of claim 13 , wherein the latch mechanism rotates between a position engaging the tab and a position releasing the tab.
15 . The sled of claim 9 , wherein the release end of the longitudinal lever member includes a handle.
16 . The sled of claim 9 , wherein the spur gear is connected to a cylindrical support, and wherein the longitudinal lever member is connected to the cylindrical support.
17 . The sled of claim 9 , wherein the spur gear has a triangular shape defined by a distal semi-circular edge with gear teeth, and two sides having respective ends each coupled to the distal semi-circular edge, the two sides having opposites ends joined to define a proximal apex point with hole holding a pin to rotationally attach the spur gear to the pivot end of the longitudinal lever member.
18 . A computer system comprising:
a chassis having two side walls, a shelf between the two side walls, and a bay defined by the two side walls and the shelf, each of the two side walls having edge members with longitudinal flanges; and
a sled insertable in the bay of the chassis between the two side walls, wherein the sled includes a front panel, a tray, and a rotating lever mechanism on the front panel, the rotating lever mechanism including:
a longitudinal lever member having a release end and an opposite pivot end;
a spur gear having gear teeth coupled to the pivot end of the longitudinal lever member, wherein the spur gear is rotated by rotating the longitudinal lever member; and
an ejector component rotatably connected to the sled, the ejector component having a frame defined by an internal gear support, a first support arm, and a second support arm, wherein the spur gear is positioned within the frame and engages gear teeth on an interior surface of the internal gear support to rotate the ejector component, wherein the first support arm is connected to an end of the internal gear support, and includes a first tab extending from an opposite exterior surface of the internal gear support for engaging one of the longitudinal flanges to apply force to remove the sled from the bay when the longitudinal lever member is rotated in a first direction and the second support arm is connected to an opposite end of the internal gear support, and includes a second tab extending from the opposite exterior surface of the internal gear support for engaging a cutout on one of the two side walls to apply force to insert the sled in the bay when the longitudinal lever member is rotated in a second direction, and wherein the gear teeth of the interior surface of the internal gear support face away from the first and second tabs.