Storage Technology Corporation

Robert J Miosek

Steven D Bock

Gregory D Volan

Christopher S Vinton

Roger A Lopez

Robert F Walsh

Abdul-Karim H Kaissi

Arthur W Klein

Cabinet for a disk drive array

A method and apparatus for mounting mated floating, electrical connectors is disclosed. Floating connectors are used to isolate the component parts of the connectors from the vibrations of devices which are semi-rigidly mounted with respect to one another and to which the connectors are movably mounted. The floating connector of the present invention provides a high degree of freedom to float both side to side and up and down. The connector has flanges extending over the walls of an opening into which the connector is movably mounted. This allows the connector a wide range of freedom to float. Both a snap-in and a twist-in connector design are shown. A flexible wiring circuit attached to the floating connector provides both electrical connections to an associated device as well as a spring bias tension to further retain the connector within the receptacle. Obscured (often called 'blind') connections are simplified by the connector because the high degree of float permits a wide range of misalignment as the floating connector mates with another connector. This easy to assemble connector apparatus allows for inexpensive, reliable, floating, blind connections between devices.

Apparatus and method for floatable electrical connection of semi-rigidly

Cabinet for a disk drive

The disk drive positioning and interlock apparatus consists of a rectangular shaped frame that contains a plurality of rectangular shaped disk drive cartridge mounting openings each of which has a front side and a back side thereto, with the back side including an electrical connector for electrically interconnecting the disk drive cartridge to the backplane wiring of the disk drive housing. Each opening in the frame includes a pair of tapered channels extending from the front side of the opening to the back side and mate with a corresponding rail on the disk drive cartridge. The tapered channels provide a guide that initially has significant tolerance variation for the insertion of the disk drive cartridge and, as the disk drive cartridge is inserted further into the opening, provides a tighter conforming fit to provide precise alignment of the disk drive cartridge within the opening. The disk drive cartridge is locked into place by the use of a camming apparatus that forces the disk drive cartridge to seat in the opening.

Cartridge positioning and interlock apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Berthoud, CO, United States of America

Robert J Miosek