Seagate Technology Incorporated

Phillip R Ridenour

Roy Lynn Wood

Kenneth Lee Pottebaum

David S Allsup

Carl Fred Adams

Steven S Eckerd

Jon P Baker

Jeffrey Don Andress

Suzanne M Zampaloni

Apparatus for reducing bearing contaminant migration from a cartridge bearing assembly of a hard disc drive actuator assembly. The cartridge bearing assembly includes a stationary shaft, a bearing assembly and a cartridge bearing sleeve. The bearing assembly is disposed between and rigidly affixed to the stationary shaft and the cartridge bearing sleeve so as to facilitate radial movement of the cartridge bearing sleeve relative to the stationary shaft. A retention disc is rigidly affixed to a portion of the cartridge bearing sleeve adjacent the bearing assembly to form a retention chamber adjacent the bearing assembly to minimize the migration of contaminants from the bearing assembly to the interior of the disc drive. Adhesive is used to bond the retention disc to the cartridge bearing sleeve, the adhesive providing additional sealing against the passage of contaminants between the retention disc and the cartridge bearing sleeve. A circular flange is provided at an inner diameter of the retention disc, the flange disposed in close proximity to and substantially parallel with the stationary shaft, the flange and the shaft cooperating to form a labyrinth seal to further minimize the migration of contaminants from the retention chamber to the interior environment of the disc drive.

Reducing bearing contaminant migration from a hard disc drive cartridge bearing assembly

An improved attachment of an actuator E-block of an actuator apparatus to a cartridge bearing assembly for a hard disc drive, the actuator apparatus having an E-block with a central bore having a pair of cartridge bearing alignment edges and a relief area, the cartridge bearing alignment edges disposed within the central bore to engage the cartridge bearing assembly. Mounting members extend through the wall of the E-block into the central bore to apply a frictional load there against and a compressive load against the cartridge bearing assembly sufficient to maintain contact between the cartridge bearing alignment edges of the E-block and the cartridge bearing assembly.

Actuator assembly attachment in a disc drive

A snubber assembly for a disc drive having a plurality of rotatable discs and an actuator assembly supporting read/write heads for flying support above the data surfaces of the discs, the snubber assembly being positioned outboard to the outer perimeters of the discs in a disc clearing position when the disc drive is in the operational mode. The snubber assembly has a plurality of snubber members that nest the discs to limit the deflection of the discs when the snubber assembly is moved to a disc nesting position. A latch member secures the actuator assembly when the snubber assembly is moved to the disc nesting position. In the preferred embodiment, ramp members extend from the snubber members to lift the heads from the data surfaces when the snubber assembly is moved to the disc nesting position.

Rotary snubber assembly for a disc drive

Apparatus and method for enhancing the convective cooling of a voice coil motor (VCM) of a disc drive. A portion of an air flow established by the rotation of a disc of the disc drive is diverted from the disc and is directed through a channel to the VCM. In one embodiment, an air foil is provided to support first and second magnetic paths of the VCM, the air foil having a shroud surface adjacent portions of the circumference of the disc and a diverter surface angularly extending from the shroud surface, the diverter surface diverting the air to the VCM. Alternatively, a base deck of the disc drive is provided with a shroud circumferentially adjacent portions of the disc and the channel extends through the shroud to direct the air from the disc to the VCM.

Growing community of inventors

Mustang, OK, United States of America

Phillip R Ridenour