Clean air system for magnetic storage disk pack

Claim 2

An open shroud clean air system for a plurality of magnetic memory disks, comprising: a source of clean filtered air comprising a blower and an absolute filter system, a plurality of magnetic disks of the type having memory tracks, said disks being spaced apart one from another by an imperforate cylindrical wall, read-write head means extending between said spaced apart disks and supporting flying read-write heads thereon, conduit means connected to said source of clean filtered air and extending inwardly between adjacent pairs of magnetic disks immediately upstream of said read-write heads, said conduit means comprising an outlet stream of clean filtered air supplied to a point radially inward of said memory tracks for maintaining continuous clean air flow at said read-write heads whereby said read-write heads are supported in a boundary layer consisting entirely of said clean filtered air.

Claim 3

A clean air system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit means comprises a plurality of individual streams of clean filtered air circumferentially spaced from each other.

Claim 4

A clean air system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the total volume of clean filtered air supplied by said plurality of individual streams equals or exceeds the pumping rate of the adjacent pairs of magnetic disks, thereby preventing entrance of air from outside said magnetic disks.

Claim 5

A clean air system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said read-write heads means comprise mounts for supporting both said read-write heads and said conduit means.

Claim 6

A clean air system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said read-write head means comprise a plurality of fixed head mounts having hollow passageways therein which conduct said outlet streams of clean filtered air.

Claim 7

A clean air system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plurality of fixed head mounts form partial circumferential closures at the outside perimeter of said magnetic disks.

Claim 8

A clean air system as set forth in claim 6 which further includes baffle panels arranged circumferentially around the outside of said magnetic disk to further provide an open shroud effect.

Claim 9

A clean air system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said baffle panels comprise circuit boards for electrical connection to said read-write heads.

Claim 10

A clean air system as set forth in claiM 8 wherein said system is mounted in a base cabinet, and a quick access top cover on said cabinet forming an accumulator for clean air discharged from between said disks.

Claim 11

An open shroud clean air system for a plurality of magnetic memory disks, comprising: a cabinet, a source of clean filtered air comprising an absolute filter system and blower means in said cabinet, said source delivering filtered air at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, a plurality of magnetic disks of the type having memory tracks thereon in said cabinet, said magnetic disk being separated one from the other by an imperforate cylindrical wall and receiving flying read-write heads therebetween, conduit means connected to said source of clean filtered air and extending inwardly between each adjacent pair of magnetic disks, said conduit means providing clean filtered air at a point radially inward of said memory tracks and immediately upstream of said read-write heads, whereby the rotational motion of said disk pumps said clean air radially outward across the surface of said magnetic disks completely filling the space between said disks and causing said clean air to exhaust through said open shroud.

Claim 12

An open shroud clean air system for a plurality of magnetic memory disks, comprising: a cabinet, a source of clean filtered air comprising an absolute filter system and blower means in said cabinet, said source delivering filtered air at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, a plurality of magnetic disks of the type having memory tracks thereon in said cabinet, said magnetic disk being separated one from the other by an imperforate cylindrical wall and receiving flying read-write heads therebetween, conduit means connected to said source of clean filtered air and extending inwardly between each adjacent pair of magnetic disks, said conduit means providing clean filtered air at a point radially inward of said memory tracks and immediately upstream of said read-write heads, whereby the rotational motion of said disk pumps said clean air radially outward across the surface of said magnetic disks completely filling the space between said disks and causing said clean air to exhaust through said open shroud.

Claim 13

A clean air system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said conduit means comprises a tubular entension having a plurality of openings therein for providing clean filtered air streams to the surface of said magnetic disks.

Claim 14

A clean air system as set forth in claim 10 in which said shroud includes a plurality of panels circumferentially arranged around the outside of said plurality of magnetic disks to provide a back pressure shroud effect.

Claim 15

A clean air system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said panels are discontinuous having an exhaust space therebetween.

Claim 16

A clean air system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said panels are curved on a non-uniform radius to provide deflection of the air being exhausted from said disks.