Abstract: Selectively tuning frequency modes of a structure, including: identifying, by a finite element analysis module, a plurality of frequency modes of the structure; and selectively altering, by the finite element analysis module, a target frequency mode a greater amount than the other frequency modes of the structure, including modifying a local attribute of a portion of the structure associated with the target frequency mode without modifying the attribute over the entire structure.

Abstract: An isolation system for a transportation pallet, a transportation pallet, and a method of providing an isolation system are provided. The isolation system comprises a plunger assembly comprising a graduated surface area having a first end with a relatively smaller surface area than a second end having a relatively larger surface area. The isolation system further comprises a cushion pad coupled to the plunger assembly such that when a load is applied to the plunger assembly, the plunger assembly is pressed into the cushion pad to cause the cushion pad to bear the load over a surface area of the plunger assembly corresponding to the magnitude of the load. When the load is increased, a larger surface area of the plunger assembly and the cushion pad supports the load and as the load decreases, a smaller surface area of the plunger assembly and cushion pad supports the load.

Abstract: An isolation system for a transportation pallet, a transportation pallet, and a method of providing an isolation system are provided. The isolation system comprises a plunger assembly comprising a graduated surface area having a first end with a relatively smaller surface area than a second end having a relatively larger surface area. The isolation system further comprises a cushion pad coupled to the plunger assembly such that when a load is applied to the plunger assembly, the plunger assembly is pressed into the cushion pad to cause the cushion pad to bear the load over a surface area of the plunger assembly corresponding to the magnitude of the load. When the load is increased, a larger surface area of the plunger assembly and the cushion pad supports the load and as the load decreases, a smaller surface area of the plunger assembly and cushion pad supports the load.

Abstract: An isolation system for a transportation pallet, a transportation pallet, and a method of providing an isolation system are provided. The isolation system comprises a plunger assembly comprising a graduated surface area having a first end with a relatively smaller surface area than a second end having a relatively larger surface area. The isolation system further comprises a cushion pad coupled to the plunger assembly such that when a load is applied to the plunger assembly, the plunger assembly is pressed into the cushion pad to cause the cushion pad to bear the load over a surface area of the plunger assembly corresponding to the magnitude of the load. When the load is increased, a larger surface area of the plunger assembly and the cushion pad supports the load and as the load decreases, a smaller surface area of the plunger assembly and cushion pad supports the load.

Abstract: An isolation system for a transportation pallet, a transportation pallet, and a method of providing an isolation system are provided. The isolation system comprises a plunger assembly comprising a graduated surface area having a first end with a relatively smaller surface area than a second end having a relatively larger surface area. The isolation system further comprises a cushion pad coupled to the plunger assembly such that when a load is applied to the plunger assembly, the plunger assembly is pressed into the cushion pad to cause the cushion pad to bear the load over a surface area of the plunger assembly corresponding to the magnitude of the load.

Abstract: A pallet comprised of a first deck, a second deck, a dampening device and a shield. The first deck includes an interior surface, an exterior surface and an edge. The second deck includes an interior surface. The dampening device located between the interior surface of the first deck and the interior surface of the second deck. The dampening device configured to contract to counteract a compression force when the first deck and the second deck are pressed together and further configured to deform to counteract an expansive force when the first deck and the second deck are pulled apart. The shield having a first planar member adjacent to the exterior surface of the first deck opposite the dampening device and a second planar member extending from the first planar member to the interior surface of the second deck and adjacent to the edge of the first deck.

Abstract: A pallet comprised of a first deck, a second deck, a dampening device and a shield. The first deck includes an interior surface, an exterior surface and an edge. The second deck includes an interior surface. The dampening device located between the interior surface of the first deck and the interior surface of the second deck. The dampening device configured to contract to counteract a compression force when the first deck and the second deck are pressed together and further configured to deform to counteract an expansive force when the first deck and the second deck are pulled apart. The shield having a first planar member adjacent to the exterior surface of the first deck opposite the dampening device and a second planar member extending from the first planar member to the interior surface of the second deck and adjacent to the edge of the first deck.

Abstract: Selectively tuning frequency modes of a structure, including: identifying, by a finite element analysis module, a plurality of frequency modes of the structure; and selectively altering, by the finite element analysis module, a target frequency mode a greater amount than the other frequency modes of the structure, including modifying a local attribute of a portion of the structure associated with the target frequency mode without modifying the attribute over the entire structure.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for sending a data request from a host bus adapter logic processor to a hard disk drive, setting a standard time out period for receiving a reply from the hard disk drive, sensing vibration in the hard disk drive, sending a vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive to the host bus adapter logic processor in response to the sensed vibration exceeding a predetermined amount of vibration, and, in response to receiving the vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive, the host bus adapter logic processor establishing an extended time out period for receiving the reply. The rotational vibration sensor used by the hard disk drive for repositioning the read/write head may also be used to sense the vibration and form the basis for the vibration alert signal, such as a vibration error code. By extending the time out period during high vibration events, the hard disk drive can ride out the event without being tagged as having failed.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for sending a data request from a host bus adapter logic processor to a hard disk drive, setting a standard time out period for receiving a reply from the hard disk drive, sensing vibration in the hard disk drive, sending a vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive to the host bus adapter logic processor in response to the sensed vibration exceeding a predetermined amount of vibration, and, in response to receiving the vibration alert signal from the hard disk drive, the host bus adapter logic processor establishing an extended time out period for receiving the reply. The rotational vibration sensor used by the hard disk drive for repositioning the read/write head may also be used to sense the vibration and form the basis for the vibration alert signal, such as a vibration error code. By extending the time out period during high vibration events, the hard disk drive can ride out the event without being tagged as having failed.

Abstract: A reduced-vibration air mover assembly comprises a first blade housing to support a first motor housing and a first motor through a first set of struts, the first motor rotatably coupled to a first blade, and a second blade housing to support a second motor housing and a second motor through a second set of struts, the second motor rotatably coupled to a second blade, and a layer of damping material having a first surface adhered to at least one of the first motor housing, the first set of struts and the first blade housing, and a second surface adhered to at least one of the second motor housing, the second set of struts and the second blade housing. A method of reducing vibration transfer to a computer chassis comprises adhesively securing a layer of damping material intermediate a first air mover and a second air mover.

Abstract: A damping device with a top element, a bottom element, and a viscoelastic element between the top and bottom elements. The damping device exerts significant shear displacement across the viscoelastic element upon deflecting. The damping device may have first and second ends and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The damping device may have a generally longitudinal extension with an elevation in the direction of the top element in the intermediate portion. The elevation may have a substantially triangular V-shape when the damping device is unloaded. A system in accordance with the principles of the present invention including a system cabinet, a plurality of carriers mounted in the system cabinet for receiving hard disk drives, and a plurality of damping devices according to the invention mounted between the carriers and the system cabinet.

Abstract: A damping device with a top element, a bottom element, and a viscoelastic element between the top and bottom elements. The damping device exerts significant shear displacement across the viscoelastic element upon deflecting. The damping device may have first and second ends and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The damping device may have a generally longitudinal extension with an elevation in the direction of the top element in the intermediate portion. The elevation may have a substantially triangular knee-shape when the damping device is unloaded. A system in accordance with the principles of the present invention including a system cabinet, a plurality of carriers mounted in the system cabinet for receiving hard disk drives, and a plurality of damping devices according to the invention mounted between the carriers and the system cabinet.

Abstract: A damping device with a top element, a bottom element, and a viscoelastic element between the top and bottom elements. The damping device exerts significant shear displacement across the viscoelastic element upon deflecting. The damping device may have first and second ends and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends. The damping device may have a generally longitudinal extension with an elevation in the direction of the top element in the intermediate portion. The elevation may have a substantially V-shape when the damping device is unloaded. A system in accordance with the principles of the present invention including a system cabinet, a plurality of carriers mounted in the system cabinet for receiving hard disk drives, and a plurality of damping devices according to the invention mounted between the carriers and the system cabinet.

Abstract: A disk-drive chassis of the invention has stiffening and damping members for reducing the transmission of vibrations between disk-drive units of a disk-drive array. The stiffening members include vertical dividers that are mechanically coupled between top and middle panels of the chassis. The stiffening members also include a corrugated stiffener attached to a bottom surface of the middle panel. The stiffener's corrugations are aligned parallel with a spindle axis of the respective disk-drive units. The damping member includes a constrained-layer damping plate which is attached to a top surface of the top panel by a visco-elastic damping adhesive. The chassis allows improved performance by the individual disk-drive units.

Abstract: The present invention is a system for direct docking of a storage device/carrier to a back plane of a support frame. The system includes a storage device/carrier including guidance tracks. Guidance rails are connected to the support frame, engage the guidance tracks respectively and guide and support the storage device/carrier into a mating engagement with a connector on a backplane of the support frame. Each guidance rail includes at least one spring element which raises the storage device/carrier away from the support frame as it is inserted thereinto. Further, the storage device/carrier includes opposed, outwardly extending spring elements which bear against the support frame. In operation, the opposed spring elements on the storage device/carrier are compressed as the storage device/carrier is inserted onto the guidance rails and bias the storage device/carrier against the support frame.