US3852820A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Stabilization of partitionable memory with flexible rotating discs
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1973-07-02
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A random access memory with closely spaced ultra-thin continuously rotating flexible magnetic discs is stabilized while being partitioned by an airfoil blade. A shroud member having the form of a section of a cylinder controls air flow within and around the discs under steady state and disturbed conditions. A rigid reference plate controls air flow relative to one end of the disc aggregate. Flexible washer discs having varied diameters, retain the other end of the aggregate and operate as a variable rate spring to damp fluttering movements of the discs caused by operation of the partitioning mechanism. The hollow partitioning blade is adapted to supply slightly pressurized air between an external source and the partition interface. The air is emitted at a critical predetermined angle relative to the interfacing discs and directed at an angle to the entrained air flow within the interface. This serves to stabilize the discs which are not displaced by the blade but which have a tendency to flutter due to the turbulence produced by the partitioning action.
Inventors
- 👤 R Barbeau
- 👤 B Mcginnis
- 👤 F Schultz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:26
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/48; G11B5/4806; G11B17/00; G11B17/02; G11B17/021; G11B5/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
In a random access laminar disc file array, wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism Into a randomly selected interface between discs causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the laminar aggregate, improved stabilizing means comprising: flexible motion stabilizing means connected to one axial end of the aggregate and subject to rotation and deformation with said segments upon operation of said partitioning mechanism; rigid means positioned at the other axial end of the aggregate, opposite said one end, for maintaining a constant rotational reference for complementary disc segments whose rotational paths are undisturbed by the partitioning mechanism; means bounding a portion of the circumferential path of revolution of the partitioned aggregate for reducing turbulence at said selected interface due to operation of said partitioning mechanism; and means incorporated in said partitioning mechanism for augmenting the airflow within the partitioned interface to stabilize the motion of the discs in the said complementary segments during operations of the partitioning mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a random access laminar disc file array, wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism Into a randomly selected interface between discs causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the laminar aggregate, improved stabilizing means comprising: flexible motion stabilizing means connected to one axial end of the aggregate and subject to rotation and deformation with said segments upon operation of said partitioning mechanism; rigid means positioned at the other axial end of the aggregate, opposite said one end, for maintaining a constant rotational reference for complementary disc segments whose rotational paths are undisturbed by the partitioning mechanism; means bounding a portion of the circumferential path of revolution of the partitioned aggregate for reducing turbulence at said selected interface due to operation of said partitioning mechanism; and means incorporated in said partitioning mechanism for augmenting the airflow within the partitioned interface to stabilize the motion of the discs in the said complementary segments during operations of the partitioning mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a random access laminar disc file array, wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs, causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the aggregate, improved stabilizing apparatus comprising: means rotating coaxially with said discs and acting as a variable rate spring relative to said randomly selected segments for damping oscillatory components of the motion of the segment due to the action of said partitioning mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a random access laminar disc file array, wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs, causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the aggregate, improved stabilizing apparatus comprising: means rotating coaxially with said discs and acting as a variable rate spring relative to said randomly selected segments for damping oscillatory components of the motion of the segment due to the action of said partitioning mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a random access laminar disc file array, wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs, causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the aggregate, improvement comprising: rigid means interfacing with and spanning the circular surface of revolution of one end of said aggregate for providing a positional reference and stabilizing surface in respect to the rotation of said aggregate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a random access laminar disc file array, wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs, causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the aggregate, improvement comprising: rigid means interfacing with and spanning the circular surface of revolution of one end of said aggregate for providing a positional reference and stabilizing surface in respect to the rotation of said aggregate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a random access laminar disc file array wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular records discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs causing deformation of the path of rotation of a segment of the aggregate, improvement comprising: a shroud member positioned adjacent and conforming in shape to a section of the circumference of the cylindrical rotational path of said aggregate over an arcuate span of between 90* and 105* in the full rotational range of a complete revolution and extending over the entire axial length of the partitioned aggregate; said member being effective to control the turbulence within said interface due to operation of said partitioning mechanism without interfering with the operation of said partitioning mechanism or the transducing access associated therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
140 words
In a random access laminar disc file array wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular records discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs causing deformation of the path of rotation of a segment of the aggregate, improvement comprising: a shroud member positioned adjacent and conforming in shape to a section of the circumference of the cylindrical rotational path of said aggregate over an arcuate span of between 90* and 105* in the full rotational range of a complete revolution and extending over the entire axial length of the partitioned aggregate; said member being effective to control the turbulence within said interface due to operation of said partitioning mechanism without interfering with the operation of said partitioning mechanism or the transducing access associated therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a random access laminar disc file array wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs causing deformation of the path of rotation of a segment of the aggregate, improvement comprising: means associated with said mechanism for augmenting the normal air flow within said interface upon operation of said mechanism in order to compensate for turbulence affecting the stability of discs which are not deflected by said mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a random access laminar disc file array wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs causing deformation of the path of rotation of a segment of the aggregate, improvement comprising: means associated with said mechanism for augmenting the normal air flow within said interface upon operation of said mechanism in order to compensate for turbulence affecting the stability of discs which are not deflected by said mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a random access laminar disc file array wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs, causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the aggregate, improved stabilizing apparatus comprising: means rotating coaxially with said discs and acting as a variable rate spring relative to said randomly selected segments for damping oscillatory components of the motion of the segment due to the action of said partitioning mechanism, wherein said means comprises a series of flexible washer discs mounted at one end of the record disc aggregate and supported coaxially for rotation therewith; said washer discs having progressively decreasing diameters in the order of remoteness from the interfacing record disc at said one end; the largest washer diameter being about the same as the diameter of the smaller record discs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a random access laminar disc file array wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs, causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the aggregate, improved stabilizing apparatus comprising: means rotating coaxially with said discs and acting as a variable rate spring relative to said randomly selected segments for damping oscillatory components of the motion of the segment due to the action of said partitioning mechanism, wherein said means comprises a series of flexible washer discs mounted at one end of the record disc aggregate and supported coaxially for rotation therewith; said washer discs having progressively decreasing diameters in the order of remoteness from the interfacing record disc at said one end; the largest washer diameter being about the same as the diameter of the smaller record discs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said record discs have diameters of approximately 12 inches with the washer discs having the following measurements and construction:
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a random access laminar disc file array, wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs, causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the aggregate, improvement comprising: rigid means interfacing with and spanning the circular surface of revolution of one end of said aggregate for providing a positional reference and stabilizing surface in respect to the rotation of said aggregate, wherein said means comprises a plate having grooves and through-holes at the interface thereof with the nearest record disc of the aggregate; said groves and holes allowing the air carried along by the rotation of the aggregate to circulate with stabilizing effect relative to said aggregate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a random access laminar disc file array, wherein rotating flexible discs in a laminar aggregate configuration of multiple circular record discs are separated for transducing access by movement of a partitioning mechanism into a randomly selected interface between discs, causing deformation of the path of rotation of a randomly selected segment of the aggregate, improvement comprising: rigid means interfacing with and spanning the circular surface of revolution of one end of said aggregate for providing a positional reference and stabilizing surface in respect to the rotation of said aggregate, wherein said means comprises a plate having grooves and through-holes at the interface thereof with the nearest record disc of the aggregate; said groves and holes allowing the air carried along by the rotation of the aggregate to circulate with stabilizing effect relative to said aggregate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said means is a stationary end plate having a central opening through which rotational impetus is coupled to the said aggregate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said grooves interface with and are radially oriented relative to the path of rotation of the record discs and said through holes extend between said grooves and the opposite face of said plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said shroud member is an imperforate structure having the form of a cylindrical section extending lengthwise parallel to the axis of rotation of the record discs and spanning the edges of all record discs in the partitioned aggregate in a position removed from the zone of operation of said partitioning mechanism and associated means effecting said transducing access.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said partitioning mechanism comprises a hollow blade having an air foil contoured surface interfacing with said deformed segments; said contoured surface having openings communicating with the hollow interior of the blade for conducting air between the selected partitioned interfaces of said disc aggregate and a space external to said blade and interface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said air is conducted from said external space to said interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said air is lightly pressurized and specifically directed to augment the flow of air within said interface to effect said compensation for turbulence.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to cLaim 14 wherein said air is directed obliquely into the entrained air flow of the interface at an oblique inclination of about 9* away from the surface of revolution of the undeflected disc.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a random access flexible disc storage file wherein a multiplicity of flexible storage discs arranged coaxially in a self-supporting laminar configuration are subjected to continuous rotation and to intermittent displacements at randomly selected lamination interfaces, said displacements serving to permit transducing access to storage surfaces confronting openings created by said displacements, the improvement comprising: apparatus effective to quickly stabilize intermittent disc motions accompanying said displacements, whereby said discs quickly attain stable rotational orbits after each said displacement.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a random access flexible disc storage file wherein a multiplicity of flexible storage discs arranged coaxially in a self-supporting laminar configuration are subjected to continuous rotation and to intermittent displacements at randomly selected lamination interfaces, said displacements serving to permit transducing access to storage surfaces confronting openings created by said displacements, the improvement comprising: apparatus effective to quickly stabilize intermittent disc motions accompanying said displacements, whereby said discs quickly attain stable rotational orbits after each said displacement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |