Seagate Technology Incorporated

Robert J Miles

James A Dunckley

Wantjinarjo Suwito

Ernst W Ridinger

Andrew J Gleason

A disk drive () is disclosed that uses an integral load/unload ramp () with one or more integrated air features. In one embodiment, the load/unload ramp () includes a body (), a plurality of head load/unload sections () for head parking operations, a plurality of air dams () for affecting the airflow on at least part of the primary data storage surfaces of the data storage disks () used by the disk drive (), and a plurality of disk extenders () for affecting the airflow at the perimeter () of the various data storage disks (). There is no joint of any kind between the body () and any of the head load/unload sections (), between the body () and any of the air dams (), or between the body () and any of the disk extenders ().

Disk drive load/unload ramp with integrated air features

Disk stators or air deflectors are provided for controlling undesirable air flow characteristics in a disk drive. In a four-disk pack arrangement, the stators are arranged in a group of three stacked stators wherein a middle or interior stator is planar, and the upper and lower stators each have complementary shapes with offset mounting brackets thereby providing gaps between the stators. Openings formed in the stators are aligned with one another when assembled enabling a locating pin protruding from the base of the disk drive to be received within the openings. The disk stators can also be incorporated in other disk pack arrangements such as two and three disk packs. The stators are preferably formed in a stamping manufacturing process thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

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Longmont, CO, United States of America

Robert J Miles