Seagate Technology Incorporated

Seagate Technologies, Inc.

Applied Motion Products, Inc.

Donald J MacLeod

Klaus Dieter Kloeppel

Robert Michael Pelstring

John C Dunfield

Frederick Frank Kazmierczak

Michael John Raffetto

Hans L Leuthold

Long Van Nguyen

Clifford T Jue

Robert Alan Nottingham

Roger Allen Addy

Wesley R Clark

Alex Gredinberg

Gregg P Stevens

Peter G Robinson

Norbert Steven Parsoneault

Gunter Karl Heine

David John Jennings

Chris Michael Woldemar

Jerry Joseph Weingord

Neyram Hemati

Alain M Cassat

Alireza Rahimi

Gerold Heiner

Peyman K Nejad

Greg Zariphopoulos

A circular magnetizer is disclosed comprising circular insulating inset holding pans of axially disposed wires, each pair carrying a current oppositely directed from the adjacent pair, the insert being disposed within and facing a back iron across a circular gap of sufficient width to allow a circular magnet to be disposed therein and spaced by a gap from the insert and/or back iron. The pan's of wires are arranged to create flux lines which will establish alternating magnetic poles separated by null zones in the magnet.

Magnetizing apparatus

Apparatus for defining patterns electrochemically on conductive materials by forming the patterns as conductive features of a tool, providing insulative properties about the conductive features so the patterns are defined; then providing an immersive medium including an etchant or plating material for defining the pattern on a workpiece, providing an electric direct current so that the immersive medium is concentrated at desired locations defined by the conductive features on the conductive materials; and etching the conductive materials by applying the electric current in a quantity and for an elapsed time to etch or plate patterns in or on the conductive materials.

Electrode design for electrochemical machining of grooves

A spindle drive for a rotating media for data storage in computer systems with a single piece base, the base having a sleeve for fixedly holding a rotating shaft through hydrodynamic bearings, the shaft further affixed to a hub for rotating the media, the base also having a drive assembly with a stator and permanent magnets.

Low cost hydrodynamic spindle

A novel spindle motor assembly is disclosed that utilizes a fixed shaft and places the motor rotor components on the outside wall of the spindle hub directly below its disc stack supporting flange. The structure disclosed provides a compact yet powerful motor having a relatively low profile.

Spindle motor assembly for disc drives

An method and apparatus for the assembly of motors utilizing curable adhesives. The method includes stations for: treating motor components with adhesive, assembling the motor components piece by piece, holding assembled motor components under compressive tension, overgramming components as needed, and an operational and life testing station. Integral to using the method are multi-position preload/cure fixtures. These fixtures include frame and base pieces. The frame holds assembled and adhesive treated motor components under compressive tension with spring loaded guide shafts during the curing process. The frame rests on the base. The base features nests which align the motor components for engagement with the guide shafts. The base also features a retractor bar to facilitate the insertion and removal of motor components. The base also features an overgramming means which supplies a brief overgramming pressure on the motor components to fully seat motor components. The present invention enables the rapid assembly and curing of motor components allowing efficient mass production of motors.

Apparatus for assembling disc drive motors utilizing multiposition preload/cure fixtures

A spindle for a disc drive which can be assembled without the use of adhesives is disclosed. Stator electromagnets are encapsulated in a plastic overmold. The stator is clamped to the base with a clamp spring arrangement. An offset between the stator surface and the base flange is covered by a clamp spring such that binding of the clamp spring by a fastener allows for an adjustable biasing force to secure the stator in place. The magnet and flux shield are attached to the rotor sleeve by an easily positioned retaining ring. An elastic foam washer provides a controlled force to secure the magnet and flux shield in place on the rotor. A second elastic foam washer and a shield provide a controlled biasing force to hold magnetic fluid and magnetic poles to the rotor. Bearings are laser welded to the rotor and the shaft to rotatably mount the rotor about the shaft.

Adhesiveless disc drive spindle assembly

Method and apparatus for assembling disc drive motors utilizing

A disc drive spindle motor which has an increased resistance to operating and non-operating shock and vibration is provided, which improves the resistance to non-operating shock, is easy to manufacture and assemble, and which remains low in weight, low in height, and has low power consumption.

Damping insert and isolation pad to reduce acoustic levels and vibration

A disc drive for storing and retrieving data from at least one memory storage disc includes a drive base and a spindle motor. The spindle motor includes a rotor hub, a shaft, a bearing unit. The bearing unit rotatably supports the rotor hub about an axis. A controlled resistance electrical pathway is established from the rotor hub to ground to control disc potential and to prevent excess static charge buildup. In one embodiment, the spindle motor includes structural elements made of a conducting plastic having a controlled resistance to establish a controlled resistance electrical pathway from the rotor hub to ground. In a second embodiment, the shaft of the spindle motor includes a conductive contact button electrically connected to the shaft and operatively coupled with a contact shield electrically grounded by an electrical conductor having a controlled resistance. In another embodiment, the spindle motor includes a rod made of conductive material extending from an electrically grounded contact shield and received within the shaft. An electrical pathway between the shaft and the rod is established by a conducting fluid between the rod and the shaft. Alternatively, the electrical pathway from the shaft to the rod is established by a conducting unit. The conducting unit includes a seal, a magnetic conductive material, and a ferro-fluid. The seal is positioned within the shaft. The magnetic conductive material is coupled to the rod. The ferro-fluid is supported between the seal and the magnetic conductive material.

Disc drive spindle motor with controlled resistance pathway from disc to

Disc drive spindle motor with rotor isolation and controlled resistance

A magnetic fluid seal is provided located in an L-shaped holder for defining the location of the seal relative to the shaft and bore. The magnetic seal is located inside the knee of the L-shaped holder, with a small magnetic fluid filled gap between the end of the magnetic seal and the fixed shaft. Immediately below the pieces and magnet of the magnetic seal is a gasket which provides for an airtight seal between the edge of the L-shaped holder and the outer wall or rotor. The entire assembly is held reliably in place by a shield which is typically press-fitted in place. The shield is designed to incorporate two key design features; (1) the outside diameter of the shield is a press-fit to the inside of the bore defined by the rotor; and (2) at its final axial location the shield presses vertically against the gasket, whereby the gasket is compressed to an approximate degree (for example about 50%) to provide press fitted contact covering the opening between the seal face outside diameter, and the bore of the rotor, thus providing a complete airtight seal at the outer diameter of the seal.

Adhesiveless seal assembly incorporating magnetic seal for use with disc

A spindle motor for use in a disc drive comprises a shaft, bearings located on either end of said shaft, said bearings having inner and outer races, a hub supported on the outer race of said bearings, for rotation therewith, said inner race of said bearings being welded to said shaft, said outer race of said bearings being laser welded to said hub whereby the components of said motor are permanently fixed relative to one another.

Adhesiveless assembly with laser welding

A disc drive for storing and retrieving data from at least one memory storage disc includes a drive base and a spindle motor. The spindle motor includes a rotor hub, a shaft, a bearing sleeve, and a bearing unit. The bearing unit is operably coupled to the rotor hub and includes an inner race secured to the shaft, an outer race secured to the bearing sleeve, and bearing balls fitted between the inner race and the outer race. The bearing balls rotatably support the rotor hub about an axis. At least one structural element of the spindle motor has a high resistivity so as to electrically isolate the hub from the base. In another embodiment, the drive base has an interface surface for coupling with the spindle motor. The interface surface includes a layer of high resistivity material. In another embodiment, the bearing ball is made of ceramic or ruby material to improve performance characteristics. In yet another embodiment, an insert is inserted between the bearing sleeve and the shaft to improve performance characteristics.

High resistivity bearing balls for spindle motor isolation

A specially designed disc-mounting hub is provided having a disc-mounting flange protruding from a substantially cylindrical hub portion. A disc-mounting flange has a raised surface about the periphery of the flange upon which the disc rests. A lapped or ground spacer rests on the surface of the hub above the flange, and the disc in a single disc system or the bottommost disc in a multiple disc system rests upon this spacer. The opposite side of the disc in a single disc device is then clamped in place; if a plurality of discs are being utilized, the remainder of the discs are alternately stacked with spacer rings upon the first disc. A clamping ring is attached opposite the disc or discs-mounting flange and working cooperatively with the flange and ground spacer imparts a force upon the disc and spacer ring stack to hold the discs in place.e

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Donald J MacLeod