International Business Machines Corporation

Albert N Hamper

David S Gaunt

Eric A Johnson

Ian Golledge

Ivor W Bolton

Stanley J Cutts

David J Gray

David Newmarch

John Veal

A modular housing for first and second groups of replaceable functional units, e.g., disk files comprises a chassis for supporting the units within a first compartment extending along the length of a chassis support structure and removable via opposite openings in the chassis. Replaceable cooling and power supply assemblies are located within a second compartment of the drawer and can be removed from drawer via one of the openings without removing either of the groups of functional units. The fan of a combined cooling and power supply unit is arranged centrally within the second compartment such that it draws cooling air past the first group of units and exhausts air towards the second group of units.

Modular housing

A multimedia data storage system including a compartmentalized drawer which can be tailored to accommodate the differing cooling requirements of different device types thus allowing each device type to be mounted in any device position. A cover in the form of a frame having a plurality of openings fits onto the front of the drawer. A first device type includes a front bezel which fills one opening in the cover and is cooled by air passing through a number of holes located along the length of the lower surface of the frame. A second device type is cooled by air passing through a number of holes located along the length of the lower surface of the frame. A second device type is cooled by air passing through a louvred panel located in one opening in the cover. The panel includes a blanking member which blocks off the frame cooling holes located in front of the second device type. Thus, for this device type, there is no air flow through the cooling holes. In addition, noise coming through the holes from inside the drawer is reduced.

Data storage system with device dependent flow of cooling air

Growing community of inventors

Southampton, United Kingdom

Albert N Hamper