Patent Application
20110176271
1. Technical Field
The disclosure generally relates to computer systems, and more particularly, to a computer system having a plurality of cooling airflow passages for enhancing a heat dissipation efficiency thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a plurality of electronic components, such as hard disk drives, is installed in a computer system such as a server system. For minimal size and volume, the electronic components in the computer system are densely arranged. However, heat generated during operation of the electronic components is not easily dissipated as a result.
What is needed, therefore, is a computer system which can overcome the limitations described.
Referring to
The casing 20 is hollow and cuboid, preferably made of sheet metal, and includes a bottom plate 21, a top plate 23, two side plates 25 and an end plate 27. The bottom plate 21 and the top plate 23 are the same size and shape, and parallel to each other. The bottom plate 21 is elongated and rectangular. The side plates 25 extend up from opposite sides (left and right sides in
In this embodiment, the top plate 23 includes two segments, i.e., a front segment 230 and a rear segment 232, each detachable from the casing 20. Referring also to
The drawer 30 is made of metal, and is cuboid. A top side and a rear side of the drawer 30 are open. The drawer 30 includes a bottom surface 33, two sidewalls 32, and a front wall 31. The front wall 31 of the drawer 30 is rectangular, and substantially the same size as the opening of the casing 20. When the drawer 30 is entirely received in the casing 20, the front wall 31 of the drawer 30 seals the opening of the casing 20. A plurality of through holes 310 are defined in the front wall 31 of the drawer 30, corresponding to the ventilating holes 270 of the end plate 27 of the casing 20. In this embodiment, a sliding rail 35 is formed on each of the sidewalls 32 of the drawer 30, for facilitating sliding of the drawer 30. The sliding rails 35 can be omitted in alternative embodiments.
Referring to
In this embodiment, three brackets 70 are deployed. A plurality of tabs 72 protrude outwards from each supporting board 71 towards the other supporting board 71 of the same bracket 70. In this embodiment, the tabs 72 of each supporting board 71 are arranged in two rows, one row above the other. The tabs 72 of each row are arranged in a series of pairs. The pairs of tabs 72 of each row are evenly spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of the supporting board 71. The tabs 72 are integrally formed with the supporting board 71 by punching. An aperture 78 is defined in the supporting board 71 between each pair of tabs 72. The aperture 78 is rectangular, and elongated. A plurality of vent slots 77 is defined in each supporting board 71, corresponding to the apertures 78. Each aperture 78 has two corresponding vent slots 77. One of the two corresponding vent slots 77 is located over and communicates with the aperture 78, and the other corresponding vent slot 77 is located under and communicates with the aperture 78.
Each pair of tabs 72 includes a first tab 722 and a second tab 724, which are bent from the supporting board 71. The first tab 722 is adjacent to the lateral side of one aperture 78 at one side of the pair of tabs 72, and the second tab 724 is adjacent to the lateral side of another aperture 78 at the other opposite side of the pair of tabs 72. Preferably, the first tab 722 and the second tab 724 are parallel to each other, and are both perpendicular to the supporting board 71. A holding slot 73 is defined between the first tab 722 and the second tab 724 of each pair of tabs 72, for guiding and holding one end of a corresponding one of the HDDs 90 received in the drawer 30 of the casing 20. An intervening space (not labeled) is defined between each pair of directly opposite holding slots 73 of the two supporting boards 71 of each bracket 70. Such intervening space and the pair of holding slots 73 cooperatively define a receiving space (not labeled) for accommodating a corresponding HDD 90 therein. A plurality of latching holes 76 is defined in a top edge portion of the supporting board 71, with each latching hole 76 located above a respective holding slot 73.
Each HDD 90 has a connector 91 at a bottom end thereof, matching a corresponding one of the sockets 61 of the circuit board 60. Two latching members 92 are connected to opposite lateral thin sides of the HDD 90, respectively. Each latching member 92 includes a fixing arm 93 and a latching arm 94. The fixing arm 93 is fixed to the corresponding lateral side of the HDD 90 by fasteners (not labeled) such as screws. The latching arm 94 is generally L-shaped (or “7-shaped”), and includes an elastic piece 95, an operating piece 96 and a latching tab 97. The elastic piece 95 extends at an oblique angle outwards from a top end of the fixing arm 93. The latching tab 97 protrudes outwards from the elastic piece 95. An angled guiding face 970 is defined on an outer side of the latching tab 97. The operating piece 96 bends from a top end of the elastic piece 95 towards the other latching member 92. The operating pieces 96 are located over the top end of the HDD 90, parallel to the HDD 90. A notch 960 is defined in each of the operating pieces 96.
During installation of the HDDs 90, the drawer 30 is pulled out of the casing 20. Each HDD 90 is positioned over the drawer 30 and aligned with one corresponding receiving space. Then the HDD 90 is pressed downwardly along the holding slots 73 until the latching tabs 97 of the latching member 92 are snappingly received in the latching holes 76 of the bracket 70. In such position, the connector 91 at the bottom end of the HDD 90 electrically couples to the socket 61 of the circuit board 60. Since the elastic pieces 95 of the latching arms 94 are obliquely angled, when the elastic pieces 95 reach the top edges of the supporting boards 71 of the bracket 70 during installation of the HDD 90, the elastic pieces 95 deform toward each other to be generally vertical, thereby reducing the distance therebetween. After the latching tabs 97 are received in the latching holes 76, the elastic pieces 95 still remain slightly deformed, and apply counterforce to keep the latching tabs 97 securely engaged in the latching holes 76. Thus the HDDs 90 assembled in the drawer 30 are stably held in position. When all of the HDDs 90 are installed, the drawer 30 can be pushed back into the casing 20, and the computer system 10 can begin to operate.
When any of the HDDs 90 is to be detached from the drawer 30, first, the drawer 30 is pulled out of the casing 20. Then external force is applied by a user to the operating pieces 96 of the latching arms 94 of the HDD 90. This causes the elastic pieces 95 to deform toward each other, reducing the distance therebetween. Accordingly, the latching tabs 97 withdraw from the latching holes 76 when the distance between the elastic pieces 95 reaches a predetermined value. The HDD 90 can then be pulled up out of the receiving space by the operating pieces 96. Instead of the drawer 30 being pulled out of the casing 20, alternatively, the front segment 230 of the top plate 23 corresponding to the drawer 30 can be detached from the casing 20.
Referring to
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of certain embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201010300372.8 | Jan 2010 | CN | national |
