Quantum Corporation

Jabil Circuit, Inc.

Eurologic Systems Limited

Carl D Williams

Jackie Cordova

Richard E Mills

Ewaryst Z Polch

Grant Edward Carlson

Shuo-Hao Chen

Phillip John Bannister

John William McSweeney

A system and method for installing a peripheral device on a printed circuit board (PCB) is provided. In the system and method, the PCB has a board connector portion and the peripheral device has a device connector portion. The method includes providing a connector adapter housing enclosing a first mating portion configured for mating with the board connector portion and a second mating portion configured for mating with the device connector portion. The method also includes engaging the second mating portion with the device connector portion to position the first mating portion to extend substantially perpendicular to the surface of the PCB. The method further includes depositing the peripheral on the PCB using a motion substantially perpendicular to the surface of the PCB, the motion engaging the board connector portion and the first mating portion.

Electronic connectors and form factor adapters for electronic components

In a disk drive enclosure system having carriers fitting into slots in the enclosure, each carrier has a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism has a part which rotates between locked and unlocked positions, and the part has a feature that blocks removal of the carrier when the part is in the locked position, while permitting removal of the carrier when the part is in the unlocked position. The part is plastic and is molded of a clear material serving as a light pipe. A light source is behind the part, so that the ability of light to pass through the part is affected by the locked/unlocked position of the part. The part has a shape feature that assists a user in distinguishing between locked and unlocked positions, and the light indicator further assists the user in this way. Valuable bezel space is saved, especially in comparison with some prior-art locking mechanisms.

Locking mechanism for disk drive carrier enclosure system

A coating system and method for facilitating the cleaning of hydrodynamic bearings and their associated structure is effectuated by applying a surface energy lowering coating to selected portions of the bearing other than the surface tension seal producing gaps thereof prior to a lubricant fluid fill. The coating system and method of the present invention may also advantageously be utilized to produce a secondary barrier seal extending a relatively short distance within and adjoining the opening of the surface tension seal producing gaps.

Coating system and method for filling of a hydrodynamic bearing and a

A hydrodynamic bearing journaling a shaft includes a rotatable bushing journaling the shaft and thrust plates on the shaft at opposite ends of the bushing. The bushing is encased in a cylindrical sleeve. Lubricant containing clearance spaces are formed between the shaft, bushing, sleeve, and thrust plates. An internal radial chamber in the sleeve between the bushing and sleeve stores lubricant and collects foreign particles. Radial ports through the bushing provide for flow of lubricant between the journal bearing and the shaft and thrust plates.

Bearing with particle trap

A method, and associated apparatus, or applying fluid lubricant to hydrodynamic bearing. Clearance spaces of the bearing which are to be filled with the fluid lubricant are evacuated. The fluid lubricant is then applied to the clearance spaces. Once the fluid lubricant has been applied to the clearance spaces, or concurrent therewith, the clearance spaces are returned to ambient pressure levels. Any pockets of air, or other gas, trapped within the bearing are collapsed as the clearance spaces are returned to the ambient pressure levels. The method is amenable to a high volume, assembly line-like process wherein large numbers of bearings may be filled with the fluid lubricant in a short period of time. A conveyor conveys the bearings into a pool of fluid lubricant in a vacuum tank having a pressure level adjustable between an ambient pressure level and an evacuated pressure level, through the pool of fluid lubricant, beyond the pool, and out of the vacuum tank.

Method and apparatus for applying lubricant to a hydrodynamic bearing

An improved hydrodynamic bearing comprising a longitudinally extending sleeve and an elongated shaft with the shaft being disposed within the sleeve for rotation relative thereto. A first thrust plate is coupled to one end of the shaft and a second thrust plate is coupled to the opposite end. A lubricant is disposed between the shaft and the sleeve as well as between the first and second thrust plates and the sleeve. The first thrust plate extends radially outward adjoining a corresponding first end of the sleeve forming a gap for containing the lubricant therebetween and the first thrust plate further extends axially inward toward a center of the bearing along an outer surface of the sleeve defining a surface tension seal forming gap therebetween. In a particular embodiment, the surface tension seal forming gap may be tapered to grow wider as it extends axially inward toward the center of the bearing to form a surface tension seal. The inverted surface tension seal configuration allows for an increased distance between the centers of force acting at the upper and lower bearing journals, thereby resulting in an enhanced tilt stiffness.

Hydrodynamic bearing having inverted surface tension seals

A method, and associated apparatus, of applying fluid lubricant to a hydrodynamic bearing. Clearance spaces of the bearing which are to be filled with the fluid lubricant are evacuated. The fluid lubricant is then applied to the clearance spaces. Once the fluid lubricant has been applied to the clearance spaces, or concurrent therewith, the clearance spaces are returned to ambient pressure levels. Any pockets of air, or other gas, trapped within the bearing are collapsed as the clearance spaces are returned to the ambient pressure levels. The method is amenable to a high volume, assembly line-like process wherein large numbers of bearings may be filled with the fluid lubricant in a short period of time.

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Colorado Springs, CO, United States of America

Carl D Williams