The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 05, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 19, 1997
Mark T Girard, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Jeffry S Bennin, Hutchinson, MN (US);
David A Ziegler, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Hutchinson Technology Incorporated, Hutchinson, MN (US);
Abstract
In a suspension assembly for a disk drive, a welding isolation structure for creating an isolated weld point and for substantially eliminating undesirable propagation of welding stresses during the welding of elements of the suspension assembly. The welding isolation structure is placed on selected locations on suspension assembly elements. The isolation structure includes a welding area, at least one isolation slot including a through aperture delineating at least a portion of the perimeter of the welding area, and at least one junction tab bridging the isolation slot and connecting the welding area to the remainder of the load beam. The isolation slots are designed to substantially relieve and contain welding stresses. In the suspension assembly, the tabs of each weld point are oriented generally in directions other than towards other weld points, such that additive and uneven propagation of welding stresses is prevented. The tabs can include curves, such as S-shapes, to attenuate propagation of remaining welding stresses. Additional isolation slots can be placed adjacent and generally opposite the junction tabs from the welding area to further relieve remaining welding stresses.