US20090289532A1

US20090289532A1 - Modular structure of storage device

Info

Publication number: US20090289532A1
Application number: US12/125,812
Authority: US
Inventors: Wei-Min Chou
Original assignee: Accusys Inc
Current assignee: Accusys Inc
Priority date: 2008-05-22
Filing date: 2008-05-22
Publication date: 2009-11-26

Abstract

A modular structure of a storage device applied in a network attached storage (NAS) system includes: a control device, having a system board, and the system board having a positioning board and a positioning space; a storage device, installed on the positioning space of the system board, and having a shock-resisting element sheathed onto the storage device; a casing, covered onto the storage device, and having a connecting device disposed on the casing; and a ventilating device, covered on an external side of the casing, and having a ventilation body and a ventilation passage interconnected with each other, and a ventilation opening disposed at an end of the ventilation passage. The storage device can be expanded by a modular design, and the invention can achieve better shock resisting and heat dissipating effects of the storage device, so as to enhance the stability, safety and competitiveness of the storage device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a modular structure of a storage device, and more particularly to a structure used in a network attached storage (NAS) system for providing a shock resisting and heat dissipating effect and expanding the storage capacity by a modular design of the storage devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, present existing computers and servers include a storage device (such as a hard disk) for accessing data. Due to the inconvenience of the expandability of the storage capacity and the limitation of the storage method, a new network attached storage (NAS) system is introduced, and such NAS system becomes increasingly popular. The network attached storage (NAS) system is a system of attaching a storage device to a network architecture, and using a universal network protocol to assign storage spaces to a server or a workstation on the network to share data files on the network. As to the applications of the network, the network attached storage (NAS) system is similar to a general server. As to users, the network attached storage (NAS) system is similar to a general large file server. Since the network attached storage (NAS) system has the advantages of expanding the storage space and accessing data via the network to overcome the shortcomings of the limited expandability of storage space and the inconvenient access method.
The large storage equipments of this sort require a stable storage operation, and a better protecting environment such as taking a shock resisting and heat dissipating measure for the hard disk. If the quantity of hard disks is increased to expand the storage capacity, the installation of the hard disks is limited by the containing space, so that it is necessary to increase the original space for accommodating the hard disks, and users are unable to expand the space for installing the hard disks directly by the attaching method in order to facilitate the way of installing more hard disks. As a result, the storage capacity cannot be expanded flexibly and the cost cannot be lowered, and all these are unfavorable for the development and application of the network attached storage (NAS) system. Therefore, it is an important subject for designers and manufacturers to find a way of overcoming the shortcomings of the traditional storage equipments.
In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, the inventor of the present invention based on years of experience in the related industry to conduct extensive researches and developments, and finally developed a convenient, low-cost and flexible modular structure of a storage device to service the general public and promote the industry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a modular structure of a storage device for expanding the storage capacity of the storage device conveniently to improve the cost-effectiveness and product competitiveness of the storage device.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a modular structure of a storage device for providing an operating environment with better shock resisting and heat dissipating effects to the storage device to improve the stability and safety of the operation of the storage device.
To achieve the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides a modular structure of a storage device, comprising: a control device, having a system board, and the system board having at least one positioning board and a positioning space defined by the positioning board and the system board; a storage device, fixed into the positioning space, and having a shock-resisting element sheathed onto the storage device; a casing, covered onto the exterior of the storage device and having a plurality of connecting devices corresponding to each other; and a ventilating device, covered onto an external side of the casing, and having a ventilation body, and the ventilation body having a ventilation passage interconnected to the ventilation passage, and an end of the ventilation passage having a ventilation opening.
The invention further comprises: a storage device and a shock-resisting element sheathed onto an external side of the storage device; and a casing, sheathed onto the exterior of the storage device, and having a connecting device for connecting other casings in a modular way.
To make it easier for our examiner to understand the technical characteristics and effects of the present invention, we use preferred embodiments and related drawings for the detailed description of the present invention as follows:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an installing status of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of installing an assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a modular assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a modular structure of a storage device in accordance with the present invention, the modular structure of the storage device is applied in a network attached storage (NAS) system, and the modular structure of the storage device 1 comprises a control device 10, a storage device 20, a casing 30 and a ventilating device 40. The control device 10 includes a system board 11, and the system board 11 includes a plurality of electronic devices (not shown in the figure) and a plurality of electrically coupled connector modules 110, and the system board 11 includes an upwardly extended positioning board 12 (which includes two corresponding plates in this embodiment) and a positioning space 13 defined by the positioning boards 12 and the system board 11. Further, each positioning board 12 has an embedding notch 121 disposed at a front end of the positioning board 12 and a latching notch 122 disposed at a rear end of the positioning board 12 (according to the direction indicated in the figure), and the front and rear ends of the system board 11 on the external side of the positioning board 12 have a positioning slot 111 and a positioning screw pillar 112 respectively. A lateral side of the system board 11 has an upwardly extended fixing board 14 (which is in the shape of a plate in this embodiment), and the fixing board 14 includes a plurality of connectors 141 and fixing holes 142, and a front end of the system board 11 includes a clamping plate 15 protruded substantially from the middle position and an L-shaped distal board 16 disposed at a corner position of the system board 11, and the distal board 16 has a fixing hole 161.
The storage device 20 is a hard disk or any other storage medium for storing data, and a front end of the storage device 20 includes a connector 201 and a latch groove 203 disposed at the bottom side of an internal side of the storage device 20, and the internal side of the storage device 20 has a plurality of elastic protruding members 202. An external side of the storage device 20 is sheathed with a shock-resisting element 21 which is a disc made of a shock resisting material (or flexible material) and covered onto the top and bottom of the storage device 20 respectively for providing the shock resisting effect. The shock-resisting element 21 has an indent 211 at the bottom of the connector 201, and a plurality of ribs 212 disposed around the lower periphery of the shock-resisting element 21, and a plurality of ribs 212 disposed around the upper periphery of the shock-resisting element 21.
The casing 30 includes a top 31 and two lateral sides 32, 33, and the top 31 includes a plurality of heat dissipating slots 311 in different shapes and a connecting slot 312, 313 disposed separately on both sides of the front end, and each lateral side 32, 33 has an insert plate 321, 322 protruded separately from both ends and a slot 323 between the insert plates 321, 322, and the rear end of the lateral side 32 includes a positioning plate 324 having a positioning hole, and the bottom of the lateral side 32, 33 has an inwardly bent supporting board 34, 35, and a front end of the supporting board 34, 35 includes a positioning press plate 341, 351. The positioning press plate 341, 351 at the bottom of the casing 30 and the connecting slot 312, 313 at the top of the casing 30 form a connecting device, and the connecting device can be a positioning device such as an insert plate or an insert slot for a connection with each other.
The ventilating device 40 is a hollow casing with a bottom side and a rear side, and includes a ventilation body 41 interconnected to the rear side and a front ventilation passage 42. The ventilation body 41 includes a positioning hole 411 disposed separately on both lateral sides and a positioning insert 412 disposed at the bottom side. The ventilation passage 42 is smaller than the ventilation body 41 and has a ventilation opening 421 disposed at a front end of the ventilation passage 42.
Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 for an assembly of a modular structure of a storage device 1 in accordance with the present invention, the shock-resisting element 21 is sheathed onto both top and bottom of the storage device 20 (as shown in FIG. 3) for protecting the storage device 20 and providing a shock resisting effect. The casing 30 is pushed forward to assemble the shock-resisting element 2 and set the storage device 20 into a positioning space 13 between the system board 11 and the positioning board 12 (as shown in FIG. 4). When the casing 30 is engaged with the storage device 20, the supporting board 34, 35 is used for supporting the storage device 20. During the assembling process, the positioning press plate 341, 351 is latched and positioned by a latch groove 203 at the bottom of the storage device 20. Further, the insert plates 321, 322 of the lateral sides 32, 33 of the casing 30 are embedded into the embedding notch 121 and the latching notch 122 of the positioning board 12 respectively, and a screw 325 is provided for securing the positioning plate 324 and the positioning screw pillar 112, so that the storage device 20 assembled to the casing 30 can be positioned on the system board 11. The ventilating device 40 is sheathed onto the casing 30 (as shown in FIG. 5) to latch the positioning holes 411 on both sides of the ventilation body 41 into the insert plate 321, and the positioning insert 412 is inserted into the positioning slot 111 of the system board 11. Now, the ventilation passage 42 is embedded and positioned at the clamping plate 15 of the system board 11 to complete assembling the modular structure of a storage device 1 (as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6).
Referring to FIG. 7 for installing an assembly of the present invention, the modular structure of a storage device 1 is installed in a casing 50 and the fixing board 14 of the modular structure of the storage device 1 is secured by a screw fixture 52, and the distal board 16 is screwed onto a retaining board 51 of the casing 50, and the casing 50 has a stand (not shown in the figure) for facilitating the installation and application. Further, the casing 50 has a fan module 60 disposed therein and at a position corresponding a ventilation opening 421 (not shown in the figure) of the ventilation passage 42 for dissipating the heat produced by the operation of the storage device 20 (not shown in the figure) of the fan module 60 to the outside through the ventilation passage 42 and the ventilation opening 421, so as to achieve a better heat dissipating effect, and provide a stable operating environment of the storage device 20.
Referring to FIG. 8 for expanding the storage capacity of a modular structure of a storage device 1 in accordance with the present invention, a storage device 20B is added to the basic structure of a storage device 20A, and the storage device 20A is installed on the system board 11 after the casing 30A is assembled, and then the storage device 20B is installed onto the storage device 20A after the casing 30B is installed. The positioning press plates 341, 351 at the bottom of the casing 30B are inserted and connected into the connecting slots 312, 313 at the top of the casing 30A for connecting the storage device 20A and the storage device 20B, and then the ventilating device 40 is sheathed onto the storage device 20A and the storage device 20B after the assembling process. Now, the ventilating device 40 has a greater depth (or height) to be assembled and positioned on the system board 11, such that the storage capacity of the modular structure of the storage device 1 can be expanded.
With the modular design of the storage device of the invention, the storage capacity of the storage devices can be expanded in a more convenient and cost-effective way. In the meantime, the storage device of the invention provides a better shock resisting and heat dissipating effect to the operating environment, so as to enhance the stability and safety of the storage operation, and improve the cost-effectiveness and product competitiveness of the storage device.
In summation of the above description, the present invention herein enhances the performance than the conventional structure and further complies with the patent application requirements and is thus duly filed for patent application. While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A modular structure of a storage device, applied in a network attached storage device (NAS), comprising:

a control device, further comprising:

a system board, for installing a plurality of electronic devices and a plurality of connector modules;

at least one positioning board, installed on the system board, and the positioning board and the system board defining a positioning space;

a storage device, accommodated in the positioning space, and sheathed with a shock-resisting element;

a casing, covered onto a shock-resisting element on the storage device;

a ventilating device, covered onto an external side of the casing, and including a ventilation body and a ventilation passage interconnected with each other, and a ventilation opening disposed at a front end of the ventilation passage.

2. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the casing includes a top and two lateral sides, and a plurality of connecting devices disposed at the top and the bottom of the lateral sides respectively.

3. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 2, wherein the positioning board includes two corresponding plates, and the positioning board further includes an embedding notch disposed at a front end of the positioning board and a latching notch disposed at a rear end of the positioning board, and the lateral side of the casing includes an insert plate corresponding to the embedding notch and the latching notch.

4. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 2, wherein the connecting device includes a connecting slot disposed at the top of the casing and a positioning press plate disposed at the bottom of the lateral side.

5. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 4, wherein the lateral side of the casing includes an inwardly bent supporting board for installing the positioning press plate.

6. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 2, wherein the lateral side of the casing includes a positioning plate having a positioning hole, and the system board includes a positioning screw pillar disposed at a position corresponding to the positioning plate.

7. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the system board includes a positioning slot thereon, and the ventilation body includes a positioning insert corresponding to the positioning slot.

8. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the system board includes a fixing board and an L-shaped distal board disposed on a side of the system board respectively, and the fixing board and the distal board separately include a fixing hole.

9. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the system board includes a clamping plate protruded from the system board for positioning the ventilation passage.

10. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage device is a hard disk.

11. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the shock-resisting element is a disc made of a shock absorbing material or a flexible material.

12. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 2, wherein the top or the lateral side of the casing includes a heat dissipating slot.

13. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 3, wherein the ventilation body includes two lateral sides corresponding to the positioning hole of the insert plate of the casing.

14. A modular structure of a storage device, comprising:

a storage device, having a shock-resisting element sheathed onto the storage device; and

a casing, sheathed onto an external side of the storage device, and having a modular connecting device.

15. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 14, wherein the storage device is a hard disk.

16. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 14, wherein the connecting device includes a connecting slot disposed at the top of the casing and a positioning press plate disposed at the bottom of a lateral side of the casing.

17. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 16, wherein the lateral side of the casing includes an inwardly bent supporting board for installing the positioning press plate.

18. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 16, wherein the lateral side of the casing includes a positioning plate having a positioning hole.

19. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 16, wherein the lateral side of the casing includes an insert plate.

20. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 14, wherein the shock-resisting element is a hollow disc made of a shock absorbing material or a flexible material.

21. The modular structure of a storage device as recited in claim 16, wherein the casing has a heat dissipating slot disposed at the top or the lateral side of the casing.