Seagate Technology Incorporated

Stephen Peter LeClair

David Douglas Koester

Peter Fei Wang

Michael D Schroeder

Jackson Wagner Nichols

Peter Roman Janik

Mehdi S Haidari

Steven D Knopp

(Peter) Fei Wang

Robert W Mead

Paul D Lofstrom

A base support member for a disc drive is provided. The base support member includes a disc support cavity configured to house and support a spinning disc, and a filter support cavity configured to house and support a filter. The base support member also includes at least one surface that defines an airborne filtering channel that is generally disposed within the filter support cavity of the base support member. The airborne filtering channel has an inlet opening positioned in a first location proximate the disc support cavity and an outlet opening positioned in a second location proximate the disc support cavity. The airborne filtering channel is configured to receive a flow of air from the spinning disc at the inlet opening, pass the flow of air through the filter cavity and to discharge the flow of air at the outlet opening.

Disc drive air borne filtering channel

A housing providing for improved windage characteristics in a disc drive, the housing having a multiple bypass configured to receive and direct fluid flow away from a rotating disc pack assembly. The housing further includes a shroud to contain some fluid flow with the disc pack assembly.

Multiple shroud bypass for bulk windage reduction

A base support member for a disc drive is provided. The base support member includes a disc support cavity configured to house and support a spinning disc, and a component support cavity configured to house and support a set of electrical and mechanical disc drive components. The base support member also includes at least one surface that defines an airflow channel that is generally disposed within the component support cavity of the base support member. The airflow channel has an inlet opening positioned in a first location proximate the disc support cavity and an outlet opening positioned in a second location proximate the disc support cavity. The airflow channel is configured to receive a flow of air from the spinning disc at the inlet opening and to discharge the flow of air at the outlet opening.

Airflow channel within a disc drive housing

A cover for a disc drive assembly including multiple damped cover plates. The multiple damped cover plates include a first cover plate and a second cover plate. Each of the first and second cover plates includes a damped structure, such as a viscoelastic damping layer, to damp vibration of the cover to reduce acoustic.

Cover including multiple cover plates with damped layers

A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes an actuator assembly rotatably attached to said base and a device for moving the actuator assembly. A cover is attached to the base. The combination of the cover and base form a disc enclosure for enclosing the disc the actuator assembly and the device for moving the actuator assembly. The cover includes a first layer having a rubber gasket attached thereto, a second layer, and a third layer of damping material positioned between the first layer and second layer. The gasket may be attached to the cover. The gasket may also be formed integral with the cover. The cover reduces relative motion between the actuator assembly and the base while under any type of servo control that requires corrections to be implemented with the voice coil motor. The disc drive may also include a base having first and second layers of stainless steel, a rubber gasket attached to the first layer, and a layer of damping material between the first and second layers.

Integrated cover and gasket assembly

A housing structure for a disc drive including a rigid housing having opposed inner and outer surfaces and a spindle opening. A spindle cap is sized to fit in the spindle opening and includes opposed inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface of the spindle cap is raised above or spaced from the inner surface of the rigid housing for spindle clearance.

Housing cover with spindle cap

A specially designed disc mounting spindle hub having a disc mounting flange protruding frm a substantially cylindrical hub portion. The disc mounting flange has a raised area about the periphery of the flange upon which a disc rests. The remainder of the discs are alternately stacked with spacer rings upon the first disc. A clamping ring is attached to the substantially cylindrical hub portion opposite the disc mounting flange and, working cooperatively with the flange, imparts a force upon the disc and spacer ring stack to hold the discs in place. The maximum force applied to the stack is in line with the raised peripheral ara that the first disc rests upon. Additionally, the force bends the disc mounting flange. However, the first disc pivots upon the raised area maintaining its parallel orientation with respect to the other discs.

Growing community of inventors

Burnsville, MN, United States of America

Stephen Peter LeClair