EP0038030A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air-flow system for a disk file
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1981-04-09
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2001-04-09
Abstract
Abstract An air-flow system for a disk file is divided by a partition (14) into two compartments (15, 16). A spindle (32) is journalled in the partition for driving both a recording disk (18) in one compartment (15) and a fan (34) in the other compartment (16). The fan drives air through a main filter (38) across the disk and back to an intake plenum to which make-up air is also fed from a breather filter, the impedance of which is very high compared to that of the main filter. This assures that pressure in the disk compartment exceeds that of the fan compartment so that any flow of air through the spindle bearing passes through the main filter before reaching the disk - thus assuring a clean atmosphere at the disk.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman P. Gruczelak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:28
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/50; G11B23/505; G11B23/507
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
An air-flow system for a disk file comprising a-housing,defining a chamber containing (a) a blower, (b) a channel containing a main filter through which all air from the blower must pass, (c) at least one rotating memory disk and associated transducer at the outlet of said channel, (d) a breather filter, and (e) an intake plenum to feed into the blower both recirculating air and make-up air from the breather filter, said air-flow system being characterized in that: (1) a partition divides said chamber into two compartments, (2) a drive spindle for both said blower and said disk is journalled in the partition, the blower being in one compartment and the disk and associated transducer in the other, and (3) The novel arrangement provides a number of benefits.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
An air-flow system for a disk file comprising a-housing,defining a chamber containing (a) a blower, (b) a channel containing a main filter through which all air from the blower must pass, (c) at least one rotating memory disk and associated transducer at the outlet of said channel, (d) a breather filter, and (e) an intake plenum to feed into the blower both recirculating air and make-up air from the breather filter, said air-flow system being characterized in that: (1) a partition divides said chamber into two compartments, (2) a drive spindle for both said blower and said disk is journalled in the partition, the blower being in one compartment and the disk and associated transducer in the other, and (3) The novel arrangement provides a number of benefits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An air-flow system as defined in claim 1 further characterized in that: said housing consists essentially of a central casting including said partition plus top and bottom covers sealed to the central casting.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An air-flow system as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that: said central casting includes a spiral scroll, said drive spindle is journalled on the axis of the scroll, and said blower is provided by a squirrel cage fan mounted within the scroll.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An air-flow system as defined in any of claims 1, 2 or 3 further characterized in that: said one compartment is a lower compartment defined by said central casting and bottom cover, and said blower and motor for driving the spindle are within said lower compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
An air flow system as defined in claim 4 further characterized in that: the central casting has outer walls extending downwardly from said partition, thus partially enclosing space outside said lower compartment to accommodate said breather filter, and an opening in the partition adjacent the breather filter and a second opening in the partition adjacent the intake plenum permit make-up air from the breather filter to reach the intake plenum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An air-flow system as defined in claim 4 further characterized in that: said bottom cover has a bell-shaped area concentric with said scroll for receiving said motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An air-flow system as defined in claim 6 further characterized in that: the external surface of said bell-shaped area has cooling fins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
An air-flow system as defined in claim 7 further characterized in that: the central casting has a series of flanges which together with its spiral scroll create an essentially continuous level surface, and the bottom cover has an essentially continuous level surface at its periphery which mates with said surface of the central casting to seal said lower compartment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An air-flow system as defined in claim 2 further characterized in that: said top cover and said central casting are sealed together by a gasket substantially at their peripheries.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3740735A
Cited
US3912278A
Cited
US4054931A
Cited
US4092687A
Cited
US4170146A
Cited
US4147299A
Cited
GB2051458A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.