Seagate Technology Incorporated

Other

Erming Luo

John D Stricklin

Roy Lynn Wood

Xiong Liu

Nigel Frank Misso

Steven S Eckerd

Mathew Daniel

An inventive method of manufacturing precisely-compressed multi-layer stacks is presented. Two stacks are assembled. One stack, having a compression sensor between two layers, is then compressed with an initial compression force, and the signal from the sensor is measured. The other stack is then compressed with a force derived from the measurement.

Method of manufacturing precisely compressed stacks

Apparatus and method for individually clamping discs in a disc stack assembly to improve mechanical shock resistance of a disc drive. A clamping spacer includes a circumferentially extending body portion having a hub contact surface rigidly affixable to a hub of a spindle motor used to rotate first and second discs. The clamping spacer further includes top and bottom spring flanges which extend radially from the body portion away from the spindle motor hub so that the body portion and the spring flanges form a generally c-shaped cross-section. When the body portion is affixed to the spindle motor hub above the first disc and below the second disc, the bottom spring flange exerts a first axially directed clamping force upon the first disc and the top spring flange independently exerts a second axially directed clamping force upon the second disc.

Independent clamping spacers in a disc drive assembly

Apparatus in a disc drive for improving resistance of a disc drive disc stack to radially directed mechanical shocks. A disc is disposed about a rotatable spindle motor hub. Opposing first and second disc support members (such as a disc clamp, disc spacers, or a hub flange) circumferentially extend about the outer hub surface and cooperate to apply a clamping force to the disc to secure the disc relative to the spindle motor hub. The disc support members each comprise a circumferentially extending ring of high friction material having a contact surface that axially extends toward the disc. The clamping force applied to the disc is localized at the rings and at nodes extending from the disc support members so that respective gaps are formed between the disc and remaining portions of the disc support members, thereby reducing radial disc slip, increasing disc dampening, and reducing the likelihood of disc coning and warping.

High friction disc support member to increase disc drive mechanical shock resistance

Apparatus and method for clamping discs in a disc stack assembly to provide even distribution of clamping force upon the discs. A teeth lock ring disposed atop a disc stack includes an annular member with a central opening for passing over a spindle motor hub. The teeth lock ring further includes a plurality of grooves and wedge shaped portions alternatively and circumferentially disposed about an inner diameter. Corresponding teeth on the spindle motor hub lock into each of the plurality of grooves. The circumferentially extending wedge shaped portions secure within corresponding grooves on the spindle motor hub. The teeth lock ring effectively compresses a clamp to provide uniform contact between the clamp and a top most disc to prevent disc waviness.

Teeth lock ring for a disc stack

The present invention provides a double grooved spacer for reducing coning of discs. A double grooved spacer includes a body portion with a plurality of spring flanges radially extending therefrom to form an inner radial groove and an outer radial groove. The body portion in conjunction with the plurality of spring flanges form a generally I-shaped cross-section. The double grooved spacer further includes circumferentially extending contact nodes disposed on the spring flanges so that the clamping force is localized at selected positions on the discs and the double grooved spacers to provide uniform distribution of the clamping force within the disc stack.

Growing community of inventors

Norman, OK, United States of America

Erming Luo