Thermal chamber partition and fan unit for computer system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9310860-B2
Application number	US-201114116412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 15, 2011
Priority date	Jun 15, 2011
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A method and apparatus are configured to partition a computing system chassis ( 22, 222 ) interior into first and second thermal chambers ( 60, 62, 260, 262 ), wherein the first thermal chamber ( 60, 260 ) includes a processor ( 24, 224 ), a memory ( 30, 230 ) and a chipset ( 28, 228 ) and the second thermal chamber ( 62, 262 ) includes an optical disk drive cage ( 46, 246 ), a hard disk drive ( 44, 244 ) and a power supply ( 40, 240 ). A fan unit ( 110, 410 ) is configured to be secured within the optical disk drive cage ( 46, 246 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a partition configured to be secured in place in a chassis of a computer system so as to divide the chassis into a first thermal chamber having a processor a memory and a chipset and a second thermal chamber having an optical disk drive cage a hard disk drive and a power supply;
cable clips in the partition, the cable clips to receive cables; and
a fan unit configured to be secured in the optical disk drive cage.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fan unit is configured to be releasably snapped, in a tool less manner, into securement with the optical disk drive cage.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , when the fan unit is configured to extend across the optical disk drive cage, in a snapping interlocking engagement with opposite side walls of the optical disk drive cage.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the fan unit includes first and second resiliently flexible arms configured to resiliently engage the opposite side walls of the optical disk drive cage.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first and second resiliently flexible arms carry first and second catches, respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the partition is configured to releasably snap, in a tool less manner, into opposite walls of the chassis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the partition includes a first portion extending in a first plane and a second portion extending in a second plane offset from the first plane.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first portion is adjacent to a first end of the chassis and wherein the second portion is adjacent to a second end of the chassis opposite the first end.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the partition is configured to be mounted in the chassis so as to extend between a fan in the first chamber and the optical disk drive cage in the second chamber on a first end of the chassis and so as to extend between a full height card slot in the first chamber and the power supply in the second chamber on a second end of the chassis opposite to the first end.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more vented slot covers configured to be mounted to the chassis in place of substantially imperforate card slot covers.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a vented bezel configured to be mounted to the chassis over an optical disk drive opening of the chassis.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising the chassis, the optical disk drive cage, the processor, the memory, the chipset, the hard disk drive and the power supply.

13. A method comprising:
removing an optical disc drive from an optical disk drive cage within a chassis of a computer system;
securing a fan unit within the optical disk drive cage; and
snapping a partition, in a tool less manner, into opposite walls of the chassis to divide the chassis into a first thermal chamber having a processor, a memory and a chipset and a second thermal chamber having the optical disk drive cage, a hard disk drive and a power supply.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
securing a vented bezel over an optical disk drive opening in the chassis; and
replacing a substantially imperforate card slot cover with a vented card slot cover.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a partition configured to be secured in place in a chassis of a computer system so as to divide the chassis into a first thermal chamber having a processor, a memory and a chipset and a second thermal chamber having an optical disk drive cage, a hard disk drive and a power supply,
wherein the partition is configured to be mounted in the chassis so as to extend between a fan in the first chamber and the optical disk drive cage in the second chamber on a first end of the chassis and so as to extend between a full height card slot in the first chamber and the power supply in the second chamber on a second end of the chassis opposite to the first end; and
a fan unit configured to be secured in the optical disk drive cage.

Assignees

• Anuez Tony O
• Austin Peter W
• Hewlett Packard Development Co

Inventors

• Anuez Tony O
• Austin Peter W

Classifications

• Y10T29/49025

  Making disc drive · CPC title

• G06F1/181

  Enclosures (for portable computers G06F1/1613) · CPC title

• G06F1/20 Primary

  Cooling means · CPC title