초록 ▼

A fan tray assembly. The assembly comprises a module, housing electronic components that require cooling, and one or more fan trays having fans that direct a cooling air flow through the module. The assembly facilitates easy and fast removal and replacement of the fan trays with respect to the modul

A fan tray assembly. The assembly comprises a module, housing electronic components that require cooling, and one or more fan trays having fans that direct a cooling air flow through the module. The assembly facilitates easy and fast removal and replacement of the fan trays with respect to the module. These desirable attributes are achieved by five main features of the assembly: (1) a retaining slot-and-tab engagement pivotally attaching each fan tray to one side of the module, (2) a channel-in-track automatically aligning each fan tray as it closes against the module, (3) a leaf spring releasably locking each fan tray into a closed position, (4) a floating power-and-signal connector on each fan tray electrically and mechanically engaging a corresponding receptacle on the module, and (5) a pull ring facilitating manipulation of each fan tray.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fan tray assembly comprising: a module adapted to house electronic components that require cooling, the module having an open front, a first side, and a second side including an alignment track; one or more fan trays, each fan tray having: (a) at least one fan directing air

What is claimed is: 1. A fan tray assembly comprising: a module adapted to house electronic components that require cooling, the module having an open front, a first side, and a second side including an alignment track; one or more fan trays, each fan tray having: (a) at least one fan directing air through the module to cool the electronic components when the fan tray occupies a first position in which the fan tray closes the open front of the module and not directing air through the module when the fan tray occupies a second position in which the fan tray leaves unobstructed the open front of the module, and (b) an alignment channel engaging the alignment track upon closing the fan tray relative to the module, achieving automatic alignment between the fan tray and the module; a pivot releasably attaching each fan tray to the module at the first side of the module, each fan tray pivoting toward and away from the module, about a vertical axis which extends through the pivot, between the first and second positions; and a locking mechanism releasably locking each fan tray to the module at the second side of the module when the fan tray is in the first position. 2. The fan tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein each fan tray has a first end and a second end and the pivot includes (a) at least one tab located on the first end of each fan tray, and (b) a corresponding slot located in the first side of the module. 3. The fan tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein each fan tray has a first end and a second end and the locking mechanism includes (a) a spring located on the second end of each fan tray, and (b) a corresponding notch located near the second side of the module. 4. The fan tray assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more fan trays, when closed relative to the module, cover substantially the entire open front of the module. 5. The fan tray assembly according to claim 1, each fan tray further having a connector adapted to electrically and mechanically engage a corresponding receptacle, the connector floating and including beveled side portions to facilitate automatic alignment and engagement with the receptacle. 6. The fan tray assembly according to claim 1, each fan tray further having a front face including a finger well. 7. The fan tray assembly according to claim 6, each fan tray further having a pull ring disposed in the finger well. 8. The fan tray assembly according to claim 6, further comprising a cover removably disposed over the finger well. 9. The fan tray assembly according to claim 1, further comprising means for minimizing leakage of electromagnetic interference radiation from the electronic components. 10. The fan tray assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a gasket disposed along at least one edge of the fan tray. 11. A fan tray assembly comprising: (a) a module adapted to house electronic components that require cooling, the module having an open front, a first side including a plurality of slots, and a second side including a column defining a track with a notch; and (b) one or more fan trays, each fan tray having: a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a rear face, and a front face including a finger well opening near the second end, at least one fan directing air through the module to cool the electronic components when the fan tray is in a closed position relative to the module and not directing air through the module when the fan tray is in an open position relative to the module, a pair of tabs located along the first end and slidably received into and removed from the slots located along the first side of the module, allowing the at least one fan tray to pivot toward and away from the module about a vertical axis which extends through the tabs and slots, a post formed near the second end at an edge of the finger well opening, the post including flanges defining a channel, and a spring affixed to the post and including a detent, wherein the channel of the post of the fan tray engages the track located in the column on the module upon closing the fan tray relative to the module, achieving automatic alignment, and the detent of the spring on the post engages the notch located in the module to lock the fan tray into its closed position over the front of the module. 12. The fan tray assembly according to claim 11, wherein the one or more fan trays, when closed relative to the module, cover substantially the entire front of the module. 13. The fan tray assembly according to claim 11, wherein the module and the one or more fan trays are each made of sheet metal. 14. The fan tray assembly according to claim 13, wherein the post is formed from the metal cut to form the finger well and the column is formed from the metal used to form the module. 15. The fan tray assembly according to claim 11, each fan tray further having a connector adapted to electrically and mechanically engage a corresponding receptacle, the connector floating and including beveled side portions to facilitate automatic alignment and engagement with the receptacle. 16. The fan tray assembly according to claim 11, each fan tray further having a pull ring located near the second end at the edge of the finger well. 17. The fan tray assembly according to claim 11, wherein the pull ring is a plastic living hinge pivotably affixed to the fan tray. 18. The fan tray assembly according to claim 11, further comprising means for minimizing leakage of electromagnetic interference radiation from the electronic components. 19. The fan tray assembly according to claim 18, wherein the leakage minimizing means includes a shield covering the rear face of each fan tray. 20. The fan tray assembly according to claim 18, wherein the leakage minimizing means includes a band spring creating a conductive path between the fan tray and the module when the fan tray is in its closed position, providing electromagnetic interference grounding. 21. The fan tray assembly according to claim 18, wherein the leakage minimizing means includes a gasket disposed along at least one edge of the fan tray. 22. The fan tray assembly according to claim 18, wherein the leakage minimizing means includes a cover removably disposed over the finger well. 23. The fan tray assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a gasket disposed along at least one edge of the fan tray. 24. The fan tray assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a cover removably disposed over the finger well. 25. A fan tray assembly comprising: (a) a module adapted to house electronic components that require cooling, the module having an open front, a first side including a plurality of slots, and a second side including a column defining a track with a notch; (b) one or more fan trays, each fan tray having: (i) a first end, a second end, a top, a bottom, a rear face, and a front face including a finger well opening near the second end, (ii) at least one fan directing air through the module to cool the electronic components when the fan tray occupies a closed position relative to the module, in which the fan tray covers substantially the entire open front of the module, and not directing air through the module when the fan tray occupies an open position relative to the module, (iii) a pair of tabs located along the first end and slidably received into and removed from the slots located along the first side of the module, allowing the fan tray to pivot toward and away from the module about a vertical axis which extends through the tabs and slots, (iv) a post formed near the second end at an edge of the finger well opening, using the material cut to create the finger well, the post including flanges defining a channel, (v) a pull ring located near the second end at the edge of the finger well, (vi) a spring affixed to the post and including a detent, and (vii) a connector adapted to electrically and mechanically engage a corresponding receptacle, the connector floating and including beveled side portions to facilitate automatic alignment and engagement with the receptacle, wherein the channel of the post of the fan tray engages the track located in the column on the module upon closing the fan tray relative to the module, achieving automatic alignment, and the detent of the spring on the post engages the notch located in the module to lock the fan tray into its closed position over the front of the module; and means for minimizing leakage of electromagnetic interference radiation from the electronic components.