Storage Technology Corporation

Arpad Gorove

Lester M Yeakley

A low pressure air bearing and rolling flexure bearing support for relative movement of carriage actuators in a disk drive system. Air generated by the disk rotation or by a simple blower mounted on the spindle is directed through conduits in the carriage support system. The air is channeled in small orifices formed into bearing pads to provide air pressure on both sides of planar carriages. The bearing pads extend beyond the direction of travel of the carriages. By providing air pressure over relatively large areas of the carriages, low pressure air can be used, generated by the system itself. Rolling flexure bearings provide constraint tot he carriage orthogonal to that of the air bearing and to the direction of travel.

Planar actuators using low pressure air bearings and rolling flexure

A magnetic disk drive has an improved air exhaust valve positioned over the outlet for pressurized air from the enclosure for the head disk assembly. The valve includes an elliptical housing having one closed face with the other open face being positioned over the air outlet. Ports are positioned along the minor diameter of the elliptical housing. An elastic band, which otherwise seals the ports, is distended by air pressure.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Arpad Gorove