Patent EP0584979A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0584979A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Disk array subsystem for use in a data processing system
Assignee: EMC Corp
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Filing: 1993-08-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A disk array subsystem for use in a data processing system. In one embodiment, the disk array subsystem comprises a generally rectangular chassis having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, an open front end and an open rear end. A fan pack is removably mounted over the open rear of the chassis to cool the contents thereof by drawing air into the chassis through the open front end and out of the chassis through the open rear end. Disposed within the chassis are three power supplies, a pair of controller boards, a backplane, and a set of twenty disk drive modules. A mounting structure comprising four first disk drive module guide plates and a pair of second disk drive module guides is fixedly mounted within the chassis for removably mounting the disk drive modules in the chassis through the open front end and for placing the disk drive modules in approximate alignment with the backplane for electrical connection therewith. Each first guide plate is shaped to include five parallel slotted channels, and each second disk drive module guide plate is shaped to include ten parallel grooves. Each of the twenty disk drive modules includes an elongated frame having a longitudinally extending T-bar adapted for slidable insertion into one of the slotted channels and a longitudinally extending fin adapted for slidable insertion into one of the grooves. The T-bar is shaped to include a detent, and the slotted channel is shaped to include a pawl, the detent and the pawl being interengageable so as to permit the disk drive module to be secured in place on its associated slotted channel.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward K. Driscoll
- 👤 Arthur R. Nigro
- 👤 Thomas D. Fillio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:34
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/12; G11B33/125; G11B33/127; G11B33/128; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/18; G06F1/183; G06F1/184; G06F1/187; H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/20536; H05K7/20554; H05K7/20572
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A disk array subsystem for use in a data processing system, said disk array subsystem comprising: a) a chassis; b) a backplane fixedly mounted inside said chassis; c) disk drive module guide plate means, said disk drive module guide plate means including a first disk drive module guide plate fixedly mounted in said chassis, said first disk drive module guide plate having a plurality of parallel slotted channels; d) a plurality of disk drive modules slidably and removably mounted on said first disk drive module guide plate, each disk drive module including a frame having an elongate T-bar adapted to be slidably mounted in one of said parallel slotted channels; e) said first disk drive module guide plate being mounted on said chassis so as to place said disk drive modules in approximate alignment with said backplane for electrical connection therewith when mounted on said first disk drive module guide plate; f) controller means for controlling the operations of said disk drive modules; and g) power supply means for powering said disk drive modules.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A disk array subsystem for use in a data processing system, said disk array subsystem comprising: a) a chassis; b) a backplane fixedly mounted inside said chassis; c) disk drive module guide plate means, said disk drive module guide plate means including a first disk drive module guide plate fixedly mounted in said chassis, said first disk drive module guide plate having a plurality of parallel slotted channels; d) a plurality of disk drive modules slidably and removably mounted on said first disk drive module guide plate, each disk drive module including a frame having an elongate T-bar adapted to be slidably mounted in one of said parallel slotted channels; e) said first disk drive module guide plate being mounted on said chassis so as to place said disk drive modules in approximate alignment with said backplane for electrical connection therewith when mounted on said first disk drive module guide plate; f) controller means for controlling the operations of said disk drive modules; and g) power supply means for powering said disk drive modules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chassis is a generally rectangular, box-like structure having a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, an open front end and an open rear end, said disk array subsystem further comprising cooling means for dissipating heat within said chassis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cooling means includes a fan pack mounted at said open rear end for drawing air longitudinally through the inside of said chassis from said open front end and out said open rear end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 3 wherein said disk drive modules are oriented along the longitudinal axis of said chassis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein said backplane has a plurality of electrical connectors extending outwardly therefrom and wherein each of said disk drive modules includes an edge connector for mating with one of said electrical connectors on said backplane when said disk drive module is mounted on said first plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 5 wherein said edge connector is movably mounted on frame of said disk drive module so as to facilitate mating said edge connector with its corresponding electrical connector on said backplane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said disk drive modules includes a 3.5 inch disk drive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein said chassis is adapted to hold as many as twenty of said disk drive modules arranged in two rows of ten of said disk drive modules per row.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said disk drive modules contains a 3.5 inch disk drive and wherein said chassis has an outer length of 19 inches and an outer width of 14 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first disk drive module guide plate is a unitary structure shaped to define five of said parallel slotted channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said disk drive modules and its associated slotted channel include a pawl and detent combination for securing said disk drive module in place on its associated slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 11 wherein said disk drive module includes said detent and wherein said slotted channel includes said pawl.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The disk array subsystem as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame of said disk drive module further includes an elongated fin and wherein said disk drive module guide plate means includes a second disk drive module guide plate fixedly mounted in said chassis, said second disk drive module guide plate having a plurality of grooves, said elongated fin being adapted to be slidably mounted in one of said grooves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
78 words
A disk drive module adapted for use in a data processing system, said disk drive module comprising: a) an elongate frame, said elongate frame including a longitudinally extending T-bar for use in aligning said elongate frame in a data processing system; b) a disk drive mounted on said elongated frame; and c) a regulator card mounted on said elongated frame, said regulator card being electrically connected to said disk drive and electrically connectable to said data processing system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A disk drive module adapted for use in a data processing system, said disk drive module comprising: a) an elongate frame, said elongate frame including a longitudinally extending T-bar for use in aligning said elongate frame in a data processing system; b) a disk drive mounted on said elongated frame; and c) a regulator card mounted on said elongated frame, said regulator card being electrically connected to said disk drive and electrically connectable to said data processing system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The disk drive module as claimed in claim 14 wherein said disk drive is a 3.5 inch disk drive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The disk drive module as claimed in claim 15 wherein said elongated frame is approximately 41.8mm in width and approximately 135mm in height.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The disk drive module as claimed in claim 16 fur- thercomprising a handle fixedly mounted on said elongated frame to assist in inserting and removing said elongated frame into and from said data processing system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The disk drive module as claimed in claim 14 wherein said elongated frame includes a plurality of bosses and wherein said regulator card is provided with a plurality of oversized holes through which said bosses are inserted so that said regulator card is movably mounted relative to said elongated frame in the plane of said regulator card.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
The disk drive module as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of said bosses is a bifurcated squeezable snap having a tab for limiting upward movement of said regulator card relative to said frame and wherein the thickness of said regulator card is appropriately selected so as to permit said regulator card to move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said regulator card.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A frame for holding a disk drive, said frame comprising an elongate, generally rectangular, unitary structure shaped to include a front wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall, said bottom wall including a longitudinally extending T-bar, said top wall including a longitudinally extending fin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
A frame for holding a disk drive, said frame comprising an elongate, generally rectangular, unitary structure shaped to include a front wall, a bottom wall, and a top wall, said bottom wall including a longitudinally extending T-bar, said top wall including a longitudinally extending fin.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
95 words
A disk drive module assembly for use in a disk array subsystem, the disk array subsystem including a chassis, said disk drive module assembly comprising: a) a first disk drive module guide plate fixedly mountable in the chassis, said first disk drive module guide plate having a plurality of parallel slotted channels; and b) a plurality of disk drive modules slidably and removably mounted on said first disk drive module guide plate, each disk drive module including a frame having an elongated T-bar adapted to be slidably mounted in one of said parallel slotted channels.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
95 words
A disk drive module assembly for use in a disk array subsystem, the disk array subsystem including a chassis, said disk drive module assembly comprising: a) a first disk drive module guide plate fixedly mountable in the chassis, said first disk drive module guide plate having a plurality of parallel slotted channels; and b) a plurality of disk drive modules slidably and removably mounted on said first disk drive module guide plate, each disk drive module including a frame having an elongated T-bar adapted to be slidably mounted in one of said parallel slotted channels.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
A disk drive module assembly for use in a disk array subsystem, the disk array subsystem including a chassis, the disk drive module assembly comprising a disk drive module guide plate fixedly mountable in the chassis and a plurality of disk drive modules slidably and removably mountable on the disk drive module guide plate by means of a sliding retaining conformation provided between the guide plate and each module.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
69 words
A disk drive module assembly for use in a disk array subsystem, the disk array subsystem including a chassis, the disk drive module assembly comprising a disk drive module guide plate fixedly mountable in the chassis and a plurality of disk drive modules slidably and removably mountable on the disk drive module guide plate by means of a sliding retaining conformation provided between the guide plate and each module.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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