Hot-pluggable disk drive carrier having enhanced rotational drive vibration control capability

摘要

A hot-pluggable disk drive is supported on a carrier structure that is slidably and removably insertable rearwardly into a sheet metal cage portion of a computer system to releasably couple an SCA connector on the rear end of the drive to a corresponding electrical connector on a backplane structure within a rear interior portion of the cage. The carrier structure includes a base wall upon which the disk drive rests, and a pair of transverse side walls disposed on opposite side edge portions of the base wall. To substantially reduce self-induced, performance degrading operational vibration of the inserted drive about the rotational axis of its platter section, outward projections are formed on the opposite side wall portions of the carrier in a forwardly offset relationship with the rotational axis of the drive. As the drive is inserted into the cage, these projections slidingly engage and form an interference fit with inwardly bent opposing side wall portions of the cage. This interference fit between the carrier and the cage substantially reduces the performance degrading vibration about its rotational axis that the disk drive is capable of generating during its operation.