Base chassis including extension to support additional storage cage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11262809-B2
Application number	US-201916408884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2019
Priority date	May 10, 2019
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A base chassis supports a set of storage cages. The base chassis includes a front portion that is removably attachable to a first storage cage. The base chassis also includes an extension portion. The extension portion has a first end that is fixedly attachable to the front portion to extend a length of the base chassis to support an additional storage cage when the first storage cage is detached from the front portion. The extension portion also has a second end that is attachable to the first storage cage to support the first storage cage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a base chassis to support a set of linearly aligned storage cages, the base chassis including:
a front portion that is removably attachable to a first storage cage; and
an extension portion that, when attached to the front portion, increases a length of the base chassis by an amount sufficient to install an additional one of the set of linearly aligned storage cages, the extension portion and the first storage cage being alternatively attachable to the front portion, the extension portion including:
a first end that is fixedly attachable to the front portion to extend the length of the base chassis to support the additional one storage cage when the first storage cage is detached from the front portion and the additional one storage cage is installed therein; and
a second end that is attachable to the first storage cage to support the first storage cage such that the first storage cage and the additional one storage cage are both members of the set of linearly aligned storage cages supported by the base chassis;

the base chassis further including a front side portion and an extension side portion to which a rail is attachable to secure attachment of the extension portion to the front portion; and
the front side portion and the extension side portion of the base chassis defining apertures into which spools on the rail fit to fixedly attach the rail to the front side portion and the extension side portion to secure the front portion to the extension portion in a fixed relative position with respect to one another,
wherein the apertures defined within the front side portion and the extension side portion define closed circular shapes.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the front portion includes spools over which apertures defined by the first storage cage fit to removably attach the first storage cage.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the front portion includes spools over which apertures defined by the first end of the extension portion fit to fixedly attach the extension portion to the front portion.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the extension portion is attached to the front portion using a securing device.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the extension portion includes spools over which apertures defined by the first storage cage fit to attach the first storage cage.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the extension portion includes a raised portion that fits within a U-shaped portion on the first storage cage to secure attachment of the first storage cage.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the rail is secured to the front side portion and the extension portion using a securing device.

8. A system comprising:
a set of linearly aligned storage cages including a first storage cage and an additional storage cage;
a base chassis to support the set of storage cages, the base chassis including:
a front portion that is removably attachable to the first storage cage, the front portion supporting the first storage cage when the first storage cage is attached to the front portion;
a front side portion; and
an extension portion that, when attached to the front portion, increases a length of the base chassis by an amount sufficient to install an additional one of the set of linearly aligned storage cages, the extension portion and the first storage cage being alternatively attachable to the front portion, the extension portion including:
a first end that is fixedly attachable to the front portion to extend the length of the base chassis to support the additional one storage cage when the first storage cage is detached from the front portion and the additional one storage cage is installed therein; and
a second end that is attachable to the first storage cage to support the first storage cage such that the first storage cage and the additional one storage cage are both members of the set of linearly aligned storage cages supported by the base chassis;

a rail that is attachable to a side of the base chassis to further secure attachment of the extension portion to the front portion, the rail including spools; and
the front side portion and the extension portion defining closed circular apertures that are configured to receive respective ones of the spools of the rail to fixedly attach the rail to the front side portion and an extension side portion of the extension portion to secure the front side portion in a fixed relative position with respect to the extension portion.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the front portion includes spools over which apertures defined by the first storage cage fit to removably attach the first storage cage.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the front portion includes spools over which apertures defined by the first end of the extension portion fit to fixedly attach the extension portion to the front portion.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the extension portion includes spools over which apertures defined by the first storage cage fit to attach the first storage cage.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising an additional rail that is attachable to an opposite side of the base chassis to secure attachment of the extension portion to the front portion.

13. A method comprising:
providing a front portion, of a base chassis, to support at least a first storage cage that is removably attached to the front portion;
detaching the first storage cage from the front portion;
providing an extension portion, of the base chassis, including a first end and a second end;
fixedly attaching the first end of the extension portion to the front portion of the base chassis, the extension portion to extend a length of the base chassis to support an additional storage cage;
attaching the additional storage cage within the extension portion;
attaching the first storage cage to the second end of the extension portion to support the first storage cage such that the additional storage cage and the first storage cage together represent members of a set of linearly aligned storage cages for an extended base chassis; and
attaching a rail, which includes one or more spools, to at least one side of the extended base chassis to fixedly attach the extension portion to the front portion, the rail to act as a guide when the extended base chassis is being inserted into or removed from a rack of a computing system,
wherein the at least one side of the base chassis defines at least one closed circular aperture that is configured to receive a respective one of the one or more spools of the rail such that a relative position of the extension portion is fixed with respect to the front portion.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein detaching the first storage cage includes sliding the first storage cage to release apertures defined by the first storage cage from spools on the front portion over which the apertures fit.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein fixedly attaching the first end of the extension portion includes sliding the extension portion toward the front portion such that apertures defined by the extension portion fit over spools on the front portion.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein attaching the first storage cage to the second end of the extension portion includes sliding the first storage cage toward the second end of the extension portion such that apertures defined by the first storage cage fit over spools on the second end.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Pham Kenny H
• Moore Earl W
• Westphall Paul E
• Tower Daniel W

Classifications

• G06F1/187 Primary

  Mounting of fixed or removable disk drives · CPC title

• H05K7/1487

  Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade · CPC title

• G11B33/124

  of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis · CPC title

• G11B33/128

  of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis · CPC title

• G06F1/183

  Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for supporting printed circuit boards · CPC title