Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080239574 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING STREAMLINED CONTOUR AND REDUCED AXIAL FLOW AT THE ACTUATOR ATTACHMENT INTERFACE BETWEEN A FLEXIBLE CABLE AND FLEXURE - An airflow diverter is used to overcome the adverse effect of flow-induced vibration of a disk drive pivot actuator. The diverter may be formed as a separate component or as an integral portion of the flex stiffener or the actuator itself. The invention streamlines the actuator to the incoming airflow and helps reduce the torque disturbance to the actuator as it reduces the sail or parachute effect. This helps reduce power consumption due to a lower drag from the actuator assembly. The contour of the flow deflector is designed to conform closely to the curvature of the disk boundaries when the actuator is rotated to the ID position on the disk. This design serves as a shroud around the disk stack which further helps to reduce power by preserving flow momentum. | 10-02-2008 |
20080316640 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AND SEALING AIRFLOW AROUND DISK DRIVE BYPASS WALLS - A seal is formed between bypass walls and a cover for a disk drive to improve control and regulation of airflow in the disk drive. The seal is formed with a gasket comprising a bead of form-in-place gasket between the upper edge of the bypass wall and the cover. The seal also may be formed between the cover and the slit shroud, spoiler, and filter. Minimum compression of the gasket is required to form the seal. | 12-25-2008 |
20090002879 | Apparatus and method for reducing turbulence of airflow in a hard disk drive - A sickle-shaped disk drive spoiler for reducing turbulence of airflow in a hard disk drive is provided. The sickle-shaped spoiler includes a body portion for directing airflow generated by a rotating disk, the rotating disk comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter and wherein the body portion of the spoiler directs airflow away from the outer diameter of the disk and wherein the body portion is curved to substantially mirror the outer diameter of the disk. The sickle-shaped spoiler also includes a first end portion for gradually directing airflow away from the body portion and towards the inner diameter and a second end portion for gradually directing airflow towards the body portion and towards the inner diameter. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002890 | Spoiler with integrated bypass channel wall for HDD applications - A spoiler implementable in a hard disk drive. The spoiler includes a structure. The structure includes a diffuser integrated therewith. The structure further includes an extension emanating there from, the extension configured to complete a wall of a bypass channel in said hard disk drive, said inner wall having a portion removed there from. | 01-01-2009 |
20090034125 | Load/unload ramp spoiler for a hard disk drive - A load/unload ramp spoiler for a hard disk drive is disclosed. One embodiment provides a load/unload ramp body having at least one load/unload ramp associated therewith, the at least one load/unload ramp for receiving at least one slider coupled with an actuator assembly. In addition, at least one spoiler is integrated with the load/unload ramp body to reduce detrimental local excitation of an airflow encountering the load/unload ramp body. | 02-05-2009 |
20090091857 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR MASS-BALANCED SPOILER IN DISK STORAGE DEVICES - A system and apparatus for reducing flutter in disk drive spoilers positions the center of mass of the mean aerodynamic section of the spoiler at or ahead of the quarter-chord location nearest the leading edge of the spoiler. A balance weight may be formed in or attached to the spoiler. The center of gravity is located no farther back from the leading edge than one quarter-chord in a direction of the flow field. Alternatively, the spoiler trailing edge is lightened by making the trailing edge more porous or thinner than other sections of the spoiler. | 04-09-2009 |
20090103206 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WALL SLOT IN DISK DRIVE BYPASS CHANNEL FOR ENHANCED VOICE COIL MOTOR COOLING - A hard disk drive bypass channel architecture incorporates enhanced cooling for voice coil motors. A cooling slot formed in a bypass channel component that is adjacent to the VCM alleviates VCM overheating problems. The slot compromises airflow from the bypass channel to provide sufficient secondary flow to cool the VCM and actuator coil area. The slot may be formed in the integrated wall of the spoiler or diverter. The spoiler has an extension in which the cooling slot is formed. | 04-23-2009 |
20090268341 | MINIMIZING FLOW INDUCED VIBRATION IN A HARD DISK DRIVE WITH A HYBRID PLANAR PLATE HAVING A BYPASS CHANNEL - An airflow control device for a hard disk drive comprises an outer perimeter having a radius equal to or greater than an outer radius of a disk in the hard disk drive. The airflow control device has a thickness less than the spacing between adjacent disks in the hard disk drive. The airflow control device has a central opening with an inner perimeter greater than the outer circumference of a spacer ring of the hard disk drive. A notch in the outer perimeter is configured to accommodate the actuator assembly of the hard disk drive. A bypass slot transecting the perimeter has a bend with a radius nearly centered to the central opening. | 10-29-2009 |
20090279203 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED BYPASS CHANNEL AND DIVERTER FOR HARD DISK DRIVES - An integrated bypass channel and diverter assembly for hard disk drives having small form factors is disclosed. A bypass channel is formed directly in the base plate to allow a partial bypass to exist with or without a diverter feature. The design addresses the issue of proper disk shrouding at the same time as providing the desired features for small form factor drives. The invention includes three datum planes for aligning the machined features of the bypass channel with the drive during assembly. The machined bypass channel and the upstream diverter may be combined to form the integrated assembly. The primary air flow direction from the disk stack is through the integrated partial bypass in the enclosure body and around the diverter into the main bypass channel. The invention provides a drop-in position for the diverter that has minimal encroachment into the VCM area of the drive. | 11-12-2009 |
20100290329 | CONDUCTIVE PATHS IN A HARD DISK DRIVE ENCLOSURE - A hard disk drive enclosure with conductive paths. A base plate comprising an electrically conductive material with at least one contact surface that allows for an electrically conductive path, wherein the at least one contact surface has a substantially flat surface. A cover comprising an electrically conductive material comprising at least one tab with a substantially flat surface for contacting the at least one contact surface of the base plate, wherein the at least one tab contacts the at least one contact surface of the base plate with a force and forms an electrically conductive path between the cover and the based plate, and wherein the at least one tab deforms upon the contact with the at least one contact surface of the base plate with the force. | 11-18-2010 |
20110043946 | AIRFLOW DIVERTER IN A HARD DISK DRIVE SYSTEM - An airflow diverter in a hard disk drive system. A top portion configured to couple with a top housing of the disk drive system. A thickness configured to create a top clearance between the diverter and a top actuator arm of the disk drive system wherein the top clearance approximates a bottom clearance between a bottom housing of the disk drive system and a bottom actuator arm of the disk drive system. At least one surface configured to divert the airflow in the disk drive system during the operation of the disk drive system. | 02-24-2011 |
20110090593 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING TURBULENCE OF AIRFLOW IN A HARD DISK DRIVE - A sickle-shaped disk drive spoiler for reducing turbulence of airflow in a hard disk drive is provided. The sickle-shaped spoiler is configured to direct airflow generated by a rotating disk and includes a tapered first end portion configured to direct the airflow toward the inner diameter of the disk and to reduce the airflow on the side of the disk opposing the spoiler. | 04-21-2011 |
20110128650 | ISOLATING UNSTABLE AIR PRESSURE IN A HARD DISK DRIVE (HDD) - A hard disk drive (HDD) includes a base plate where the base plate includes a disk housing, at least one disk located within a disk shroud in the base plate, a drive cover configured to cover the at least one said disk within said base plate and a reservoir between the base plate and the drive cover and the reservoir is proximate along a periphery of the at least one disk. The HDD also includes a reservoir seal configured to isolate unstable air pressure in the reservoir from the at least one disk. | 06-02-2011 |