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:
Sep. 10, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 21, 1997
Phillip R. Ridenour, Mustang, OK (US);
Suzanne M. Zampaloni, Tinker Air Force Base, OK (US);
Seagate Technology LLC, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
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.