IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,141,153
Granted Patent B2
US 9,141,153 · App. 14/023,991 · Granted Sep 22, 2015

Hard disk drive assemblies with open side wall areas

Inventors: Kevin W. Mundt (Austin, TX); Haesung Kwon (Austin, TX); Frank W. Yu (Austin, TX)
Assignee: Dell Products LP
G06F1/187
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,141,153
App. No.
14/023,991
Filed
Sep 11, 2013
Granted
Sep 22, 2015
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2835
USPC
361/679.33
Abstract

The side profile of a hard drive assembly may be configured with one or more open areas to allow cooling air to pass side-to-side across the hard drive assembly through a lateral flow channel provided by a cavity defined in the base portion of the hard drive assembly.

Claims (32)

1. A hard drive assembly comprising:

a top portion and a base portion, the base portion having a front end, a back end, and two opposing side walls extending between the front end and the back end;

a bottom surface having a drive cavity defined therein between the two opposing side walls of the base portion;

at least one open area defined in each of the opposing side walls of the base portion, the open area of each side wall being in fluid communication with the drive cavity; and

where the at least one open area defined in each of the given opposing side walls of the base portion provides a total combined open area through the given side wall of the base portion that represents at least about 20% of the total dimensional side area of the given side wall.

2. The hard drive assembly of claim 1 , where the at least one open area defined in each of the given opposing side walls of the base portion provides a total combined open area through the given side wall that represents from about 20% to about 60% of the total dimensional side area of the given side wall of the base portion.

3. The hard drive assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more threaded mounting holes defined in each given one of the opposing side walls of the base portion; and where each given one of the two opposing side walls of the base portion is configured to be mechanically coupled to a different one of two opposing side rail components of a drive carrier assembly by a threaded fastener received through each of a mounting hole defined in one of the side rail components of the drive carrier assembly and one of the threaded mounting holes of the given one of the side walls of the hard drive assembly such that an open flow area of the given side rail component is at least partially aligned with the open flow area of the given one of the opposing side walls of the base portion to form an air flow channel across the drive cavity of the hard drive assembly between the two opposing side walls of the base portion and the two opposing side rail components.

4. The hard drive assembly of claim 1 , where the opposing side walls of the base portion extend in a longitudinal direction between the front end and back end of the hard drive assembly in parallel relation to each other; and where multiple adjacent air flow openings are defined in each of the opposing side walls of the base portion in adjacent longitudinal spaced relationship to each other.

5. The hard drive system of claim 4 , where the multiple adjacent air flow openings comprise multiple circular-shaped holes.

6. The hard drive system of claim 4 , where the multiple adjacent air flow openings comprise multiple square-shaped or rectangular-shaped slots.

7. The hard drive assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly disposed on the bottom surface of the hard drive assembly adjacent the front end of the hard drive assembly; and where the drive cavity is defined in the bottom surface of the hard drive assembly between the PCB assembly and the back end of the hard drive assembly.

8. The hard drive assembly of claim 1 , where the top portion includes a hermetically sealed space that contains the drive media and read/write arm (heads); and where the base portion includes the bottom surface and drive cavity defined therein.

9. The hard drive assembly of claim 8 , where the hard drive assembly comprises a 3.5 inch hard disk drive (HDD) having a lateral dimensional width of about 3.5 inches.

10. A hard drive assembly comprising:

a front end, a back end, and two opposing side walls extending between the front end and back end of the hard drive assembly;

a bottom surface having a drive cavity defined therein between the two opposing side walls;

one or more threaded mounting holes defined in each of the opposing side walls; and

at least one open area defined in each of the opposing side walls that is separate and different from the threaded mounting holes, the open area of each side wall being in fluid communication with the drive cavity.

11. The hard drive assembly of claim 10 , where each given one of the two opposing side walls of the hard drive assembly is configured to be mechanically coupled to a different one of two opposing side rail components of a drive carrier assembly by a threaded fastener received through each of a mounting hole defined in one of the side rail components of the drive carrier assembly and one of the threaded mounting holes of the given one of the side walls of the hard drive assembly such that an open flow area of the given side rail component is at least partially aligned with the open flow area of the given one of the opposing side walls of the hard drive assembly to form an air flow channel across the drive cavity of the hard drive assembly between the two opposing side walls and the two opposing side rail components.

12. The hard drive assembly of claim 10 , where the opposing side walls of the hard drive assembly extend in a longitudinal direction between the front end and back end of the hard drive assembly in parallel relation to each other; and where multiple adjacent air flow openings are defined in each of the opposing side walls in adjacent longitudinal spaced relationship to each other, the multiple adjacent air flow openings being separate and different from the threaded mounting holes.

13. The hard drive system of claim 12 , where the multiple adjacent air flow openings comprise multiple circular-shaped holes.

14. The hard drive system of claim 12 , where the multiple adjacent air flow openings comprise multiple square-shaped or rectangular-shaped slots.

15. The hard drive assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly disposed on the bottom surface of the hard drive assembly adjacent the front end of the hard drive assembly; and where the drive cavity is defined in the bottom surface of the hard drive assembly between the PCB assembly and the back end of the hard drive assembly.

16. The hard drive assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:

a top portion that includes a hermetically sealed space that contains the drive media and read/write arm (heads); and

a base portion that includes the bottom surface and drive cavity defined therein.

17. The hard drive assembly of claim 10 , where the one or more threaded mounting holes comprise three threaded mounting holes defined in each of the opposing side walls.

18. The hard drive assembly of claim 17 , where the hard drive assembly comprises a 3.5 inch hard disk drive (HDD) having a lateral dimensional width of about 3.5 inches.

19. The hard drive assembly of claim 10 , where the hard drive assembly comprises:

a top portion that includes a hermetically sealed space that contains the drive media and read/write arm (heads); and

a base portion that includes the two opposing side walls extending between the front end and the back end, and that further includes the bottom surface and drive cavity defined therein.

20. The hard drive assembly of claim 19 , where the at least one open area defined in each of the given opposing side walls of the base portion provides a total combined open area through the given side wall that represents at least about 20% of the total dimensional side area of the given side wall of the base portion.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2013
From: MUNDT, KEVIN W.; KWON, HAESUNG; YU, FRANK W.
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 031184/0724 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150070828A1 · Mar 12, 2015