US3731291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated positive pressure and self-purge system
Assignee: Unisys Corp
•
Filing: 1971-04-12
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Granted: 1973-05-01
•
Expires: 1991-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic memory disk file system operates with a rotating memory disk within a closed housing. The air in the housing is preferably maintained at a slight positive pressure by addition of filtered air. Generation or release of particles within the housing during rotation of the disk may interfere with the magnetic memory system and are, therefore, removed by a selfpurging loop taking air from the housing through a filter and returning it to the housing. The pressurization and self-purging systems are combined by way of an ejector pump for vectorially adding gas streams, thereby in one embodiment providing a positive pressure throughout the interior of the housing due solely to the ''''pumping'''' action of the rotating disk without a requirement for auxiliary pressurization. In another embodiment, a source of pressurizing gas induces self-purging within the housing whether or not the disk is rotating.
Inventors
- 👤 R Walsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:11
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/50; G11B23/505; G11B23/02; G11B23/03; G11B23/032; G11B23/0321; G11B5/00; G11B5/48; G11B5/58; G11B5/60; G11B5/6005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/54; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A combination for pressurizing and cleaning gas in a housing comprising: a rotatable member in the housing; means for rotating the rotatable member; means for extracting a portion of gas from the housing relatively nearer the periphery of the rotatable member; means for returning a portion of gas to the housing; and a filter and an ejector pump connected serially between the means for extracting and the means for returning for vectorially adding gas flow from within the housing and gas flow from without the housing and filtering both gas flows for enhancing the flow of filtered gas to the means for returning.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A combination for pressurizing and cleaning gas in a housing comprising: a rotatable member in the housing; means for rotating the rotatable member; means for extracting a portion of gas from the housing relatively nearer the periphery of the rotatable member; means for returning a portion of gas to the housing; and a filter and an ejector pump connected serially between the means for extracting and the means for returning for vectorially adding gas flow from within the housing and gas flow from without the housing and filtering both gas flows for enhancing the flow of filtered gas to the means for returning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
A combination for pressurizing and cleaning gas in a housing comprising: a rotatable member in the housing; means for rotating the rotatable member; means for extracting a portion of gas from the housing relatively nearer the periphery of the rotatable member; means for returning a portion of gas to the housing; an ejector pump having a jet inlet for pumping connected to the means for extracting, a suction inlet in fluid communication with the ambient air, and an outlet connected to the means for returning for vectorially adding gas flow from within the housing and gas flow from without the housing for enhancing the flow of gas to the means for returning; and a filter connected serially with the ejector pump between the means for extracting and the means for returning.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
131 words
A combination for pressurizing and cleaning gas in a housing comprising: a rotatable member in the housing; means for rotating the rotatable member; means for extracting a portion of gas from the housing relatively nearer the periphery of the rotatable member; means for returning a portion of gas to the housing; an ejector pump having a jet inlet for pumping connected to the means for extracting, a suction inlet in fluid communication with the ambient air, and an outlet connected to the means for returning for vectorially adding gas flow from within the housing and gas flow from without the housing for enhancing the flow of gas to the means for returning; and a filter connected serially with the ejector pump between the means for extracting and the means for returning.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the ejector pump operates with subsonic flow of the gas therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A combination as defined in claim 2 further comprising a second filter having an inlet open to the ambient air and an outlet connected to the suction inlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A combination as defined in claim 4 wherein: the first mentioned filter is connected between the means for extracting and the jet inlet; the rotatable member comprises a magnetic memory disk; and the means for extracting comprises a scoop adjacent the periphery of the disk and having an opening facing counter to the direction of rotation of the disk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the means for returning a portion of gas comprises: a flow deflector adjacent a portion of the rotatable disk; and a gas return orifice adjacent the flow deflector in the direction of disk rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 further comprising: means for supplying gas under pressure; and whereiN the ejector pump has a jet inlet for pumping, a suction inlet, and an outlet; the jet inlet is connected to the means for supplying gas; and the suction inlet is connected to the means for extracting.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A combination as defined in claim 7 wherein the ejector pump operates with subsonic flow of the gas therethrough.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A combination as defined in claim 8 further comprising a second filter between the means for supplying gas and the jet inlet; and wherein the rotatable member comprises a magnetic memory disk; and the means for extracting comprises a scoop adjacent the periphery of the disk and having an opening facing counter to the direction of rotation of the disk.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A combination as defined in claim 9 wherein the means for returning a portion of gas comprises: a flow deflector adjacent a portion of the disk; and a gas return orifice adjacent the flow deflector in the direction of disk rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the rotatable member comprises a pair of spaced apart magnetic memory disks rotatable together; and the means for extracting comprises a scoop having a central opening between the pair of disks and a pair of side openings, one adjacent the periphery of each disk and extending therebeyond, the openings all facing counter to the direction of rotation of the disks.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for maintaining a clean atmosphere and a positive pressure in a chamber subject to leakage and to particle generation within the chamber comprising the concurrent steps of: forming a circulating gas stream from a first region of the chamber to a second region of the chamber; forming a make-up gas stream from outside the chamber into the second region of the chamber; passing both gas streams through a subsonic ejector pump having a jet inlet, a suction inlet and a common outlet so that one gas stream induces flow in the other gas stream and the gas streams are mixed between the pump outlet and the second region of the chamber; and filtering both gas streams.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for maintaining a clean atmosphere and a positive pressure in a chamber subject to leakage and to particle generation within the chamber comprising the concurrent steps of: forming a circulating gas stream from a first region of the chamber to a second region of the chamber; forming a make-up gas stream from outside the chamber into the second region of the chamber; passing both gas streams through a subsonic ejector pump having a jet inlet, a suction inlet and a common outlet so that one gas stream induces flow in the other gas stream and the gas streams are mixed between the pump outlet and the second region of the chamber; and filtering both gas streams.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 12 wherein at least one of the gas streams is filtered upstream from the ejector pump.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for maintaining a clean atmosphere and a positive pressure in a chamber subject to leakage and to particle generation within the chamber comprising the concurrent steps of: rotating a member within the chamber for creating a relatively higher pressure in a first region of the chamber and a relatively lower pressure in a second region of the chamber; and wherein the step of passing comprises: forming a circulating gas stream from the first region of the chamber to the second region; forming a make-up gas stream from outside the chamber into the second region of the chamber; passing the circulating gas stream through the jet inlet of a subsonic ejector pump passing the make-up gas stream through the suction inlet of the subsonic ejector pump, whereby the circulating gas stream induces flow in the make-up gas stream; passing the combined circulating gas stream and the make-up gas stream from the outlet of the ejector pump to the second region of the chamber; and filtering both gas streams.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for maintaining a clean atmosphere and a positive pressure in a chamber subject to leakage and to particle generation within the chamber comprising the concurrent steps of: rotating a member within the chamber for creating a relatively higher pressure in a first region of the chamber and a relatively lower pressure in a second region of the chamber; and wherein the step of passing comprises: forming a circulating gas stream from the first region of the chamber to the second region; forming a make-up gas stream from outside the chamber into the second region of the chamber; passing the circulating gas stream through the jet inlet of a subsonic ejector pump passing the make-up gas stream through the suction inlet of the subsonic ejector pump, whereby the circulating gas stream induces flow in the make-up gas stream; passing the combined circulating gas stream and the make-up gas stream from the outlet of the ejector pump to the second region of the chamber; and filtering both gas streams.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as defined in claim 12 wherein the step of forming the make-up gas stream comprises supplying gas under pressure; and the passing step comprises: passing the make-up gas stream through the jet inlet; and passing the circulating gas stream through the suction inlet, whereby the make-up gas stream induces flow in the circulating gas stream.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination for pressurizing and cleaning gas in a housing comprising: means for supplying gas to the housing under pressure; means for filtering the gas before entering the housing; and an ejector pump having a jet inlet connected to the means for supplying, a suction inlet connected to the housing, and an outlet connected to the housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
57 words
A combination for pressurizing and cleaning gas in a housing comprising: means for supplying gas to the housing under pressure; means for filtering the gas before entering the housing; and an ejector pump having a jet inlet connected to the means for supplying, a suction inlet connected to the housing, and an outlet connected to the housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
A combination as defined in claim 16 wherein the eJector pump is subsonic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
A combination as defined in claim 16 further comprising: a rotatable magnetic memory disk in the housing; means connected to the ejector pump suction inlet for extracting gas from a relatively higher pressure area in the housing adjacent the disk; and means connected to the ejector pump outlet for returning gas to a relatively lower pressure area in the housing, whereby gas circulates through the ejector pump when the disk is rotating whether or not the means for supplying gas is operating.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
A self-cleaning magnetic recording disk file comprising: a disk file housing; a magnetic recording disk mounted in the housing; means for rotating the disk; a gas outlet scoop for extracting gas from the housing adjacent the periphery of the disk; a gas inlet into the housing; means for supplying gas under pressure; a subsonic ejector pump having a jet inlet connected to the means for supplying gas, a suction inlet connected to the outlet scoop, and an outlet connected to the gas inlet; and means connected serially with the ejector pump for filtering the gas supplied and the gas extracted from the housing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
103 words
A self-cleaning magnetic recording disk file comprising: a disk file housing; a magnetic recording disk mounted in the housing; means for rotating the disk; a gas outlet scoop for extracting gas from the housing adjacent the periphery of the disk; a gas inlet into the housing; means for supplying gas under pressure; a subsonic ejector pump having a jet inlet connected to the means for supplying gas, a suction inlet connected to the outlet scoop, and an outlet connected to the gas inlet; and means connected serially with the ejector pump for filtering the gas supplied and the gas extracted from the housing.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
124 words
A disk file as defined in claim 19 further comprising: a second disk file housing; a second magnetic recording disk mounted in the second housing; means for rotating the second disk; a gas outlet scoop for extracting gas from the second housing adjacent the periphery of the second disk; and a gas inlet into the second housing; a second suction inlet in the ejector pump connected to the outlet scoop of the second disk file housing; and wherein the means for filtering comprises: a first filter connected between the means for supplying gas and the jet inlet; and a filter for removing all particles over a selected size connected between the ejector pump outlet and the gas inlets to the first and second housings.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
94 words
A self-cleaning magnetic recording disk file comprising: a disk file housing; a magnetic recording disk mounted in the housing; means for rotating the disk; a gas outlet scoop for extracting gas from the housing adjacent the periphery of the disk; a gas inlet into the housing; a subsonic ejector pump having a jet inlet connected to the gas outlet scoop, a suction inlet in fluid communication with the ambient air, and an outlet connected to the gas inlet; and means connected serially with the ejector pump for filtering gas before reaching the gas inlet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
94 words
A self-cleaning magnetic recording disk file comprising: a disk file housing; a magnetic recording disk mounted in the housing; means for rotating the disk; a gas outlet scoop for extracting gas from the housing adjacent the periphery of the disk; a gas inlet into the housing; a subsonic ejector pump having a jet inlet connected to the gas outlet scoop, a suction inlet in fluid communication with the ambient air, and an outlet connected to the gas inlet; and means connected serially with the ejector pump for filtering gas before reaching the gas inlet.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
A disk file as defined in claim 21 wherein the means for filtering comprises: a first filter having an outlet connected to the suction inlet and an inlet open to the ambient air; a second filter serially connected with the ejector pump in the gas stream between the outlet scoop and the gas inlet to the housing.
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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) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |