US3700855A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic disc assembly
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1970-12-21
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1990-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic disc assembly including a system for efficiently maintaining the temperature in the disc compartment at a prescribed operating level. Disc compartment temperature is maintained at a prescribed level elevated above ambient by the combined effect of moving ambient air around a cylindrical convoluted shroud surrounding the disc compartment for cooling and by selectively activating elements within the compartment for heating. The shroud is surrounded by a concentric cylindrical cover and the ambient air flows between the shroud and the cover. The heater elements serve to quickly bring the disc compartment temperature up to the elevated operating level and to add heat as required to maintain that level. The heater elements are incorporated in the compartment within the shroud convolutions and are activated in response to a temperature sensor within the compartment. An ambient air temperature sensor controls the ambient air flow. A disc stack assembly supported in the disc compartment includes a plurality of discs mounted on a common shaft secured to a rotatable hub. In operation, the discs spin very rapidly causing the air within the compartment to move in the same direction as the disc surfaces. A flared baffle mounted within the compartment interrupts the moving air and creates a pressure differential between the upstream and downstream sides of the baffle. This pressure differential is employed to circulate the air within the compartment through a filter.
Inventors
- 👤 Clifford J Helms
- 👤 Norman Mcmillan
- 👤 Stelios B Papadopoulos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:13
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
A magnetic disc storage assembly including: a shaft mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof; a plurality of discs mounted on said shaft and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof; a substantially cylindrical shroud fixedly mounted around said discs to define a substantially enclosed disc compartment; a cover surrounding said shroud and spaced therefrom so as to provide a passageway between the shroud and the cover; means including an air intake conduit for drawing ambient air through said passageway and over the outer surface of said shroud to thereby remove the heat from said compartment; electrically actuatable heater means disposed in said compartment; first temperature sensing means in said compartment for indicating when the temperature therein is below a prescribed operating level; means responsive to said temperature sensing means indicating the compartment temperature is below said operating level for energizing said heater means; second temperature sensing means for detecting the temperature of the ambient air, and air control means responsive to the second temperature sensing means to vary the flow of ambient air over the shroud whereby the cooling effect of said ambient air flow over said shroud and tHe heat produced by said heater means operates to stabilize the temperature in said compartment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
A magnetic disc storage assembly including: a shaft mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof; a plurality of discs mounted on said shaft and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof; a substantially cylindrical shroud fixedly mounted around said discs to define a substantially enclosed disc compartment; a cover surrounding said shroud and spaced therefrom so as to provide a passageway between the shroud and the cover; means including an air intake conduit for drawing ambient air through said passageway and over the outer surface of said shroud to thereby remove the heat from said compartment; electrically actuatable heater means disposed in said compartment; first temperature sensing means in said compartment for indicating when the temperature therein is below a prescribed operating level; means responsive to said temperature sensing means indicating the compartment temperature is below said operating level for energizing said heater means; second temperature sensing means for detecting the temperature of the ambient air, and air control means responsive to the second temperature sensing means to vary the flow of ambient air over the shroud whereby the cooling effect of said ambient air flow over said shroud and tHe heat produced by said heater means operates to stabilize the temperature in said compartment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein said ambient air is drawn into said passageway at a first position on the circumference of said shroud and wherein said passageway extends from said first position through upper and lower semicylindrical passageway portions; and exhaust openings formed in said upper and lower passageway portions at positions substantially diametrically displaced from said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The storage assembly of claim 2 including a plurality of electronic circuit modules; and conduit means coupled between at least one of said exhaust openings and said electronic circuit modules for exhausting air from said passageway adjacent to said circuit modules for cooling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The storage assembly of claim 1 wherein said shroud is comprised of a wall formed of good heat conductive material and having a plurality of convolutions formed therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The storage assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said convolutions extends around the circumference of said cylindrical shroud; and wherein said heater means is comprised of at least one arcuate heater element supported in one of said convolutions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
The storage assembly of claim 1 including: a plate fixedly mounted in said disc compartment and extending perpendicular to said shaft longitudinal axis; a fixed baffle member projecting perpendicularly from said plate t toward the surface of one of said discs; a first conduit having an opening supported adjacent a first side of said baffle member; a second conduit having an opening supported adjacent a second side of said baffle member; and filter means coupling said first and second conduits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a magnetic disc storage assembly which includes: a shaft mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof; at least one disc mounted on said shaft and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof; a substantially cylindrical shroud fixedly mounted around said disc to define a substantially enclosed disc compartment; and a plate fixedly mounted in said disc compartment and extending perpendicular to said shaft longitudinal axis; the improvement which comprises; a fixed baffle member projecting perpendicularly from said plate toward the surface of said disc; a first conduit having an opening supported adjacent a first side of said baffle member; a second conduit having an opening supported adjacent a second side of said baffle member; and filter means coupling said first and second conduits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a magnetic disc storage assembly which includes: a shaft mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof; at least one disc mounted on said shaft and extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof; a substantially cylindrical shroud fixedly mounted around said disc to define a substantially enclosed disc compartment; and a plate fixedly mounted in said disc compartment and extending perpendicular to said shaft longitudinal axis; the improvement which comprises; a fixed baffle member projecting perpendicularly from said plate toward the surface of said disc; a first conduit having an opening supported adjacent a first side of said baffle member; a second conduit having an opening supported adjacent a second side of said baffle member; and filter means coupling said first and second conduits.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said baffle member is flared and has a width which decreases smoothly measured at increasing displacements from said plate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |