Means and method for clamping a disk pack

Claim 2

In a magnetic disk subsystem of the type including a stack of axially aligned magnetic disks, a rotatable spindle for carrying the disks, and an access mechanism having transducers for interacting with the disks, means for clamping the disks in axial alignment comprising: an annular clamping ring having a lower face disposed upon the uppermost one of the disks and having an upper face inclined with respect to said lower face; a clamping hub including an outer boss having an inclined surface thereon, said inclined surface abutting said upper face of said clamping ring; and tensioning means for drawing said clamping hub downwardly against said clamping ring and axially compressing the stack of magnetic disks, the interaction of said inclined face and said inclined surface being such that dishing of the uppermost disk is substantially eliminated.

Claim 3

Clamping means as defined in claim 1 further including base clamping means disposed at the axial end of the stack of magnetic disks opposite the clamping ring and engaging said tensioning means for axially compressing the stack from opposite ends.

Claim 4

Means as defined in claim 2, wherein said base clamping means comprises a second annular clamping ring having an upper face disposed against the lowermost one of the disks and having a lower face inclined with respect to the upper face thereof; and a second clamping hub including an outer boss having an inclined surface thereon, said inclined surface overlying said lower face of said second clamping ring; said tensioning means engaging said first and said second clamping hubs and tending to draw them toward one another.

Claim 5

Means as defined in claim 3, wherein said upper and said lower faces of said first and said second clamping rings are disposed at an angle α with respect to the lower and upper faces thereof, respectively, said angle α being the arc tangent of the coefficient of friction between said clamping rings and the adjacent ones of said clamping hubs.

Claim 6

Means as defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping hub comprises an inner hub member and a second clamping ring, said second clamping ring having an upper surface engaging said inner hub member and a lower surface abutting said upper surface of said clamping ring.

Claim 7

Means as defined in claim 5 further including base clamping means disposed at the end of the stack of magnetic disks opposite said clamping ring and engaging said tensioning means for axially compressing the stack from opposite ends.

Claim 8

Means as defined in claim 6, wherein said base clamping means comprises a lower annular clamping ring having an upper face disposed upon the lowermost one of the disks and having a lower face inclined with respect to the upper face thereof; and a second clamping hub comprising an inner hub member and a second mating ring; said second mating ring having a lower surface engaging said second inner hub and an upper surface abutting said lower surface of said lower clamping ring; said tensioning means engaging the first and second inner hub members and tending to draw said members toward one another.

Claim 9

Means as defined in claim 7, wherein the upper and lower faces of said upper and lower clamping rings are disposed at an angle α with respect to the lower and upper faces thereof, respectively, said angle being the arc tangent of the coefficient of friction between the rings and the adjacent ones of the disks.

Claim 10

In a magnetic disk subsystem of the type including a stack of axially aligned magnetic disks having concentric apertures therein, a spindle for rotatably supporting the stack, and an access mechanism having transducers adapted to be electromagnetically coupled to ones of the disks, means for applying axial pressure to the stack, comprising: a clamping hub having a peripheral surface whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the apertures in the disks, said peripheral surface overlying the uppermost one of the disks; a clamping ring disposed between said clamping hub and the end one of the disks and having a lower surface substantially parallel with the upper surface of said disk and an upper surface extending at an angle α to the upper surface of said disk; and tensioning means for drawing said clamping hub and clamping ring against said disk to axially compress said stack, the interaction of said angled upper surface of said clamping ring and said peripheral surface of said hub being such that dishing of the endmost disk is substantially eliminated.

Claim 11

In a magnetic disk subsystem of the type including a stack of axially aligned magnetic disks having concentric apertures therein, a spindle for rotatably supporting the stack, and an access mechanism having transducers adapted to be electromagnetically coupled to ones of the disks, means for applying axial pressure to the stack, comprising: a clamping hub having a peripheral surface whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the apertures in the disks, said peripheral surface overlying the uppermost one of the disks; a clamping ring disposed between said clamping hub and the end one of the disks and having a lower surface substantially parallel with the upper surface of said disk and an upper surface extending at an angle α to the upper surface of said disk; and tensioning means for drawing said clamping hub and clamping ring against said disk to axially compress said stack, the interaction of said angled upper surface of said clamping ring and said peripheral surface of said hub being such that dishing of the endmost disk is substantially eliminated.

Claim 12

Means as defined in claim 9, wherein said angle α is substantially equal to the arc tangent of the coefficient of friction between said clamping ring and said disk.

Claim 13

Means defined in claim 10, wherein said peripheral surface of said clamping hub is radiused.

Claim 14

Means defined in claim 10, wherein said peripheral surface extends at an angle θ to the uppermost one of the disks.

Claim 15

Means defined in claim 12, wherein the angle α is larger than the angle θ.

Claim 16

Means defined in claim 12, wherein θ and α are substantially equal.

Claim 17

Means defined in claim 10 further including a second clamping hub having a peripheral surface whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the apertures in the disks, said peripheral surface overlying the lowermost one of the disks; a second clamping ring disposed between said hub and the lowermost one of the disks and having an upper surface substantially parallel with the lower surface of said last-named disk and a lower surface extending at an angle α to the lower surface of said last-named disk; said tensioning means extending between said first and said second clamping hubs and urging said hubs toward one another for axially compressing said stack.

Claim 18

Means defined in claim 15, wherein the angle α is substantially equal to the arc tangent of the coefficient of friction between the clamping rings and the adjacent ones of said clamping hubs.

Claim 19

Means defined in claim 16, wherein said peripheral surfaces of said clamping hubs are radiused.

Claim 20

Means defined in claim 16, wherein said peripheral surfaces extend at an angle θ to the adjacent ones of the disks.

Claim 21

Means defined in claim 18, wherein the angle θ is less than the angle α.