Abstract: An EMI shielded enclosure has a plurality of electrically conductive walls. The conductive walls are electrically connected so electromagnetic radiation from within the enclosure cannot radiate through the walls. An EMI shield plate, that makes up at least one wall of the enclosure, is an electrically non-conductive, plastic wall with tunnel holes through the wall. The holes provide for air flow into and out of the enclosure. A conductive coating on the non conductive wall and the holes converts the non-conductive plastic wall into a conductive wall with waveguide attenuating. The waveguide attenuating holes, when so coated with the conductive layer, attenuate electromagnetic radiation passing from inside the enclosure through said holes to outside the enclosure. The waveguide attenuating holes effectively attenuate electromagnetic radiation at frequencies up to 5 gigahertz.

Abstract: A connection structure between a disk drive housing and a rack to eliminate a source of vibration, and hence improve the performance of the disk drive. An interference-fit tab and slot vibration reduction structure is described, where the tab is formed on the housing and the slot is formed on the shelf. The tab and slot vibration reduction structure includes a disk drive having an outer housing, the housing having a bottom surface. A tab extends from the bottom of the housing. A shelf is provided on the rack system for receiving one or a plurality of disk drive housings, and one slot is formed in a front edge of the shelf for each drive housing. When the disk drive housing is positioned on the shelf with the tab positioned in the slot to create an interference fit, the housing is rigidly attached to the shelf.

Abstract: Racks of modules especially useful for retaining disk drives, tape drives, controllers, computers and the like are fabricated via use of tower building blocks. Each block contains a latch arrangement for securing it to another block, a base unit or a cap unit with the latch effecting interlocking of the blocks so as to form a sturdy assembled structure. Power and/or electrical communication lines are provided in each block with power passing through one vertical array of blocks and electrical communications passing through the other so as to reduce the need for shielding one from the other. An arrangement of alignment pins and mating receptacle holes in conjunction with selected placement of sliding latch elements can facilitate proper coupling of blocks which have similar electrical path boards therein.

Abstract: In a multiblower system for cooling electronic components, each blower has a backflow preventor. The backflow preventor has two pieces of flexible material and a screen attached to the intake side of the blower assembly. Each of the pieces of flexible material is scored through to form a petaled opening through which air may pass. The scores on one of the pieces of flexible material are out of alignment with the scores on the other piece when assembled together in the blower assembly. When the blower is running, the petals in the pieces of flexible material open to allow air to pass through the blower assembly. When the blower is stopped, the petals are closed against the screen due to the pressure differential between the inside of the enclosure and the outside of the enclosure caused by the effect of the draw of the other blowers in the system.

Abstract: A composite shelf in a shelf frame supports a plurality of disk drives and attenuates vibrations in the shelf. In the composite shelf, there is a double wall having an outer wall and an inner wall for supporting the disk drives mounted on the shelf. A stiffener between the inner wall and outer wall strengthens the composite shelf to reduce flexure in the composite shelf when the shelf is loaded by disk drives mounted on the shelf. A damping layer is placed between the stiffener and one of the inner wall or outer wall. This damping layer attenuates vibrations in the composite shelf so as to reduce vibrations transmitted from the composite shelf to the disk drives supported by the composite shelf. A second damping layer is placed between the stiffener and the other wall. Both damping layers attenuate vibrations in the composite shelf so as to reduce vibrations transmitted from the composite shelf to the disk drives supported by the composite shelf. A third damping layer may be placed within the stiffener.