Mounting apparatus for removable module

Relevant subject matter is disclosed in a pending U.S. patent application, with application Ser. No. 13/442,877, filed on Apr. 10, 2012, and entitled “MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR REMOVABLE MODULE, which is assigned to the same assignee with this patent application.

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to mounting apparatuses and, more particularly, to an apparatus for mounting a removable module in a chassis.

2. Description of Related Art

Many electronic devices, such as computers and servers, include a plurality of removable modules, such as data storage modules and power supply modules, mounted in chassis of the electronic devices. The traditional structure of the chassis cannot satisfy the requirement to assemble or disassemble the removable module rapidly.

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawing. The components in the drawing are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing a removable module separated from a chassis.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the removable module of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 2 , showing a state of use.

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , show an embodiment of a mounting apparatus provided to mount a removable module 10 , such as a server module or a data storage module, in a chassis 20 . The mounting apparatus includes a locking member 30 and an operation member 40 .

The chassis 20 includes a bottom wall 21 and two sidewalls 22 perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the bottom wall 21 . Each sidewall 22 defines two parallel locking slots 221 .

The removable module 10 includes a bottom plate 11 , with two side plates 12 perpendicularly extending from opposite sides of the bottom plate 11 . In addition, an end plate 13 perpendicularly extending from one end of the bottom plate 11 and connected between the side plates 12 . A through slot 131 is defined in the end plate 13 , adjacent to one of the side plates 12 . Each side plate 12 defines two parallel through slots 121 . Two mounting pins 123 protrude in from an inner side of each side plate 12 , near the end plate 13 . A mounting hole 125 is defined in each side plate 12 , above the mounting pins 123 . A raised bridge 127 is formed on the inner side of each side plate 12 , above the through slots 121 . Two positioning portions 128 protrude from the inner side of each side plate 12 , around the mounting hole 125 . A distance from the mounting hole 125 to one of the positioning portions 128 is equal to a distance from the mounting hole 125 to the other positioning portion 128 .

The locking member 30 is a resilient sheet, and includes a mounting piece 31 and a resilient piece 33 slantingly extending from one end of the mounting piece 31 . Two wedges 331 protrude from a distal end of the resilient piece 33 opposite to the mounting piece 31 . The mounting piece 31 defines two mounting holes 311 .

The operation member 40 is a plate, and includes a substantially fan-shaped main body 41 , a handle 45 formed on a first side of the main body 41 around an opening 48 defined in a center of the main body 41 . In addition, a pressing portion 43 is formed from a circumference of the main body 41 , and a protrusion 431 is extending out from a second side of the main body 41 and adjacent to an end of the pressing portion 43 . A pivot hole 411 is defined in a center of a circle of the main body 41 . Two positioning holes 46 are defined in the main body 41 , near the corresponding first and second side respectively. A distance from the pivot hole 411 to one of the positioning holes 46 is equal to a distance from the pivot hole 411 to the other positioning hole 46 . A flexible tape 47 is attached to the handle 45 .

In assembly, the locking member 30 is fixed to the inner side of the side plate 12 through the mounting pins 123 engaging in the corresponding mounting holes 311 . The resilient piece 33 slantingly extends away from the side plate 12 . The wedges 331 face and align with the corresponding through slots 121 . A fastener 50 extends through the pivot hole 411 to screw into the mounting hole 125 , to pivotably mount the operation member 40 to the inner side of the side plate 12 . The locking member 30 is sandwiched between the side plate 12 and the operation member 40 . The handle 45 can be exposed out of or drawn back into the removable module 10 through the through slot 131 . The fastener 50 may be a rivet or a screw.

When assembling the removable module 10 in the chassis 20 , the removable module 10 is pushed into the chassis 20 until the through slots 121 align with the corresponding locking slots 221 . The handle 45 is manipulated to rotate the operation member 40 . The pressing portion 43 presses the resilient piece 33 to be deformed toward the side plate 12 , until the wedges 331 extends through the corresponding through slots 121 to engage in the corresponding locking slots 221 . Therefore, the removable module 10 is locked in the chassis 20 . The positioning portions 128 engage in the corresponding positioning holes 46 , to position the operation member 40 . The protrusion 431 extends through and engages in the bridge 127 to fix the operation member 40 .

When releasing the removable module 10 from the chassis 20 , the operation member 40 is rotated out until the pressing portion 43 is removed from the resilient piece 33 . The resilient piece 33 is restored to make the wedges 331 release from the corresponding locking slots 221 . Therefore, the removable module 10 is easily pulled out from the chassis 20 . The positioning portion 128 near the through slot 131 engages in the positioning hole 46 near the protrusion 431 , to position the operation member 40 .

In this embodiment, the handle 45 can withdraw back into the removable module 10 through the through hole 131 , to avoid interference with other elements. When it is needed to operate the operation member 40 , the tape 47 can be manipulated to pull out the handle 45 first, the handle 45 is then operated to move the operation member 40 further.

The two side plates 12 each can be equipped with a mounting apparatus of the embodiment, to more firmly mount the removable module 10 .

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.