Thermal cooling system for densely packed storage devices
AssigneeQuantum Corporation
InventorRobert Fairchild
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cooling system (27) for use with a storage system (10) having a storage device (18) includes a drive rail (22), a rail channel (24) that is adjacent to and at least partly bounded by the drive rail (22), and a fluid source (20) that provides a fluid to remove heat from the storage system (10). The storage device (18) is coupled to the drive rail (22). As the storage device (18) operates it generates heat. At least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source (20) is moved through the rail channel (24) to remove the heat from the storage system (10).
Claims30
A storage system comprising:
- a plurality of storage devices;
- a drive rail having a channel side and an attachment side, the drive rail having a plurality of fins that cantilever away from the channel side of the drive rail substantially perpendicularly;
- and
- a bracket adapted to receive the plurality of storage devices and to secure the plurality of storage devices to the attachment side of the drive rail, the bracket being adapted to transfer heat away from the plurality of storage devices to the drive rail.
A storage system comprising:
- a housing;
- a first drive rail positioned within the housing, wherein the first drive rail has an attachment side and a channel side, the first drive rail having a fin that cantilevers away from the channel side substantially perpendicularly to the channel side, the first drive rail being made from material with a thermal conductivity of at least approximately 3 W/IN-C°;
- a first rail channel bounded by the housing and the channel side of the first drive rail;
- a plurality of brackets secured to the attachment side of the first drive rail, the plurality of brackets being made from material with a thermal conductivity of at least approximately 3 W/IN-C°;
- a plurality of storage devices adapted to fit within the plurality of brackets, wherein three storage devices are adapted to fit within each of the plurality of brackets;
- and
- a fluid source that provides a fluid, wherein at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid source is moved through the first rail channel to remove heat that is transferred from the plurality of storage devices to the first drive rail.
A method for cooling a storage system having a storage device that generates heat while in operation, the method comprising:
- providing a drive rail having a channel side and an attachment side;
- coupling the storage device to the attachment side of the drive rail;
- providing a rail channel positioned adjacent to and at least partly bounded by the channel side of the drive rail;
- and
- directing a fluid through the rail channel to remove heat that is transferred from the storage device to the drive rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.