Donaldson Comapny, Inc.

Vijay Kumar Garikipati

Daniel L Tuma

Andrew C Dahlgren

Katsushi Isogawa

Randy J Logan

Patrick L McPhail

Carl Soldner

Stanley B Miller, Iii

Andre D Leier

Christopher M Johnson

Shu Lam Sin

Kristin Fischer

James P Hand

A filter assembly for use in a disk drive assembly is disclosed. The filter assembly is configured to remove contaminants within the drive assembly and to prevent entry of contaminants into the drive assembly. In one implementation the filter assembly includes a housing configured for placement in a disk drive assembly containing a rotating disk, the housing including an air scoop having an entrance configured for placement beneath the rotating disk in the drive assembly; and a major surface having a wall and an opening in the wall, the opening configured for receiving a filter material and being in fluid communication with the entrance to the air scoop. A filter element is positioned within the housing and configured so that a first portion of the element filters air directed from the air scoop, while a second portion of the element filters air from the exterior of the drive assembly, the first and second portions sealed by a common filter material placed over the opening in the major surface.

Focused flow filter

A multiple diffusion channel filter assembly is disclosed. The filter assembly provides filtration of air entering and exiting an electronic enclosure through a breather hole. In one implementation, the filter assembly contains a housing with an adsorbent component and a first diffusion channel and a second diffusion channel. In another implementation, the filter assembly contains a first layer and a second layer which surround an adsorbent component and a first and a second diffusion channel that are in fluid communication with the interior space defined by the first and second layers. In yet another implementation, the invention, includes a filter accessory containing a diffusion channel configured to work in conjunction with a separate filter assembly thereby adding an additional diffusion channel to the existing design.

Dual diffusion channel filter

A multilayer filter assembly for use inside an electronic enclosure, such as a hard disk drive enclosure containing a rotating disk, is disclosed. The filter assembly provides filtration of air entering the enclosure, as well as air circulating within the enclosure. The filter assembly is generally a single-piece unit that can be formed without a rigid frame, thus allowing the filter assembly to be produced at a reduced cost. In one implementation of the invention, the multilayer filter assembly contains at least two particulate removal layers covering, enclosing, and dividing at least two adsorbent regions. One of the adsorbent regions is configured to be placed flush against an interior wall of the electronic enclosure to allow air to flow in and out of the enclosure, while the other adsorbent region is configured to be placed in an upright position in the enclosure with exposed surfaces that allow airflow through this portion of the filter assembly.

Electronic enclosure filter

A breather bag filter assembly for use with an electronic enclosure, such as a hard disk drive enclosure containing a rotating disk, is disclosed. The filter assembly provides filtration of air entering and exiting an electronic enclosure through a breather hole. The filter assembly is a deformable sealed cavity that exchanges air with the drive enclosure as the air pressure inside the drive enclosure fluctuates. In one implementation of the invention the filter assembly contains three layers of material. Two layers of material form the exterior of the filter assembly surrounding a third layer that is composed of an adsorbent material.

Electronic breather bag filter

A filter assembly includes a shaped adsorbent article disposed in a housing. The shaped adsorbent article has one or more projections extending from a surface of the article toward the housing to provide for flow of fluid between the shaped adsorbent article and the housing. The filter assembly may optionally include a diffusion channel for additional filtering and/or one or more porous polymer films disposed over inlet or outlet openings in the housing to reduce or prevent particulate contamination. The filter assembly may be used in a device, such as a computer disk drive, to filter a fluid, such as air, within and/or entering or exiting the device.

Filter assembly with shaped adsorbent article; and devices and methods of use

A filter assembly includes a shaped adsorbent article disposed in a housing. The shaped adsorbent article has one or more projections extending from a surface of the article toward the housing to provide for flow of fluid between the shaped adsorbent article and the housing. The filter assembly may optionally include a diffiusion channel for additional filtering and/or one or more porous polymer films disposed over inlet or outlet openings in the housing to reduce or prevent particulate contamination. The filter assembly may be used in a device, such as a computer disk drive, to filter a fluid, such as air, within and/or entering or exiting the device.

Growing community of inventors

Eagan, MN, United States of America

Vijay Kumar Garikipati