US4167029A — Jet distributor for end-wise pneumatic partitioni…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 93 words

An improved pneumatic partitioning arrangement adapted to partition a flexible disk pack, end-wise, this pack being characterized by an array of partition-bores extending axially through the pack cross-section, each bore terminating at a different inter-disk gap for conducting separating air thereto; this arrangement comprising, in combination therewith: bore-select means disposed externally of said pack in relatively stationary, rotational stabilized relation with respect thereto; and pneumatic conduction means arranged in operative relation with this select means, and adapted to couple a partitioning air stream to any selected one of the bores in said pack.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 93 words

An improved pneumatic partitioning arrangement adapted to partition a flexible disk pack, end-wise, this pack being characterized by an array of partition-bores extending axially through the pack cross-section, each bore terminating at a different inter-disk gap for conducting separating air thereto; this arrangement comprising, in combination therewith: bore-select means disposed externally of said pack in relatively stationary, rotational stabilized relation with respect thereto; and pneumatic conduction means arranged in operative relation with this select means, and adapted to couple a partitioning air stream to any selected one of the bores in said pack.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 95 words

The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said select means is arranged and adapted to establish an array of different jet-inject sites along a prescribed selection plane extending axially away from said pack; this select means being operatively combined with jet-distributor means arranged in pneumatic communication between said array of pack bores and this array of inject-sites; this arrangement being thus adapted to selectively direct a partition jet of pressurized air through a selected one of said sites and a corresponding bore whereby to open a prescribed partition gap between any pair of disks.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 110 words

The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein said Distributor means includes an array of pneumatic ducts, each duct adapted to register, at an "outlet-end" thereof, with a respective pack-bore, and to also register, via an inlet-port, at an opposite, "inlet-end" thereof, with a respective one of said select sites; each inlet port being adapted to communicate between its respective duct and a corresponding respective inlet-site adjacent the exterior of said Distributor means; said select means being adapted to selectively couple pressurized air streams to any selected one of these inlet ports, and so send a partitioning air pulse through the associated bore to exit at the associated inter-disk gap.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein like spacer washers are interleaved between the disks and are partition-apertured to generate said bores.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 42 words

The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said conduction means comprises a ducted cylinder; and wherein said select means comprises a non-rotating sleeve including jet port means adapted to selectively communicate with a selected one of the ducts in said cylinder.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 108 words

The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein said duct means comprises a cylinderical post including an array of duct-bores, this post being adapted to be attached to, and co-rotated with, said pack so that each of said duct-bores is registered pneumatically at a first end thereof, with a respective one of said pack-bores, while the opposite end of each said duct-bore terminates at an inlet-port; and wherein said select means comprises a relatively nonrotatable sleeve including jet outlet means adapted to be registered with any selected one of said inlet ports and to selectively direct a partitioning pressurized air jet thereto and along the associated duct-bore conduit.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 63 words

The combination as recited in claim 6, wherein said ducted post includes an array of like, parallel peripheral intake grooves distributed along a portion of its length, each said groove communicating with a respective one of said inlet ports; and wherein said select sleeve means includes outlet port means adapted to be placed in pneumatic communication with any selected one of said grooves.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 40 words

The combination as recited in claim 7, wherein said select sleeve is adapted to be translated linearly and axially of said ducted post so as to selectively place said outlet port means in pneumatic communication with one of said grooves.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 39 words

The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein said select means also includes inject means adapted to inject pressurized air through said outlet port means via intermediate valve means and associated extensible tube means responsive to a "partition signal".

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 114 words

The combination as recited in claim 9, wherein said select sleeve comprises a hollow cylinder including outlet port means arrayed along its inner wall and adapted to be coupled in air-tight registry with any selected one of said grooves on said ducted cylinder, said outlet means being coupled to pressurized air via said extensible tube and said valve means; said cylindrical sleeve further including a plurality of breather slots extending axially down the inner surface of the cylinder and adapted for conducting ambient air to the "non-selected" ducts in the ducted cylinder; said slots being plugged above and below said outlet port means to isolate ambient air from the high pressure air conducted therethrough.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 61 words

The combination as recited in claim 10, as combined with a flexible disk pack of the type recited and including partition-apertured spacers between the disks, the spacers and disks being stacked and apertured such as to generate said array of partition-bores axially of the pack, and arranged circumferentially adjacent its hub, with each bore terminating at a different respective inter-disk gap.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 113 words

The combination as recited in claim 8, wherein said select sleeve comprises a hollow cylinder including outlet port means arrayed along its outer wall and adapted to be coupled in air-tight registry with any selected one of said grooves along the inner face of said ducted cylinder, said outlet means being coupled to pressurized air via valve means; said cylindrical sleeve further including a plurality of breather slots extending axially down the inner surface of the cylinder and adapted for conducting ambient air to the "non-selected" ducts in the ducted cylinder; said slots being plugged above and below said outlet port means to isolate ambient air from the high pressure air conducted therethrough.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 63 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein said disks and their intermediate spacers present a pattern of partition apertures, the disks and spacers being stacked so that predetermined ones of apertures are superposed in registry whereby at least one set of said partition bores are generated from a respective end of the stack, each such bore terminating at a different inter-disk gap.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 121 words

The combination as recited in claim 3, wherein said select means comprises a jacket disposed about said Distributor means and is fixed with respect thereto, linearly as well as rotationally, said jacket including a plurality of jet outlet ports, each outlet port being coupled individually to a source of pressurized air through a respective select valve means, so that selection and pressurizing of a given jet duct of said Distributor means can be accomplished solely by activation of a respective one of these select valves without need for any translation of the sleeve or other part, these ducts being pressurized and disk partition being induced either serially and one at a time, or simultaneously and in parallel, according to one's desire.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 46 words

The combination as recited in claim 14, wherein each of the said select valves are also vented to ambient air and are arranged to so vent a "non-selected" ductregistering bore system to isolation air pressure without interfering pneumatically with the pressurizing of the "selected" duct-bore system.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 104 words

The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said conduction means comprises a cylinder including an array of axially-directed elongate ducts, each duct adapted to register with one of said pack-bores and extending a different respective distance down the cylinder length to terminate at a respective inlet port means; said duct length and the associated inlet port location being selected so as to distribute an array of associated "jet-intake-sites" along the length of said cylinder and thus accommodate a prescribed partition select mode--in effect, amplifying the inter-disk gap separation for partition purposes and thereby facilitating a convenient reliable partition selection with relatively simple means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 104 words

The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein said select means is disposed external to said pack and includes select control means adapted to direct a pressurized air jet to at least one of said sites by way of effecting a "partition-select" operation; and wherein said conduction means comprises an array of air conduits, each conduit registering with a particular one of said bores and coupling it pneumatically to a respective one of said sites; said conduction means being so-rotated with said pack while being arranged to maintain relatively air-tight coupling relation with the jet-entry partition of said select means at said respective site.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 64 words

The combination as recited in claim 17, wherein said conduction means comprises a cylinder with said conduits disposed circumferentially about its interior and extending axially thereof, each conduit terminating at a different respective entry-site along the cylinder length, with an entry port means provided at each entry-site and adapted to be coupled in air-sealed relation with said jet-entry portion at least during select-pressurizing thereof.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 121 words

The combination as recited in claim 18, wherein said select means comprises a cylindrical manifold surrounding said Distributor means plus an array of jet input-conduit means, each coupled, through a respective select valve means included therein, to a source of pressurized air and adapted to selectively present a jet stream of pressurized partition air to a respective corresponding conduit at the entry-site thereof; said select means further including an associated array of eject port means disposed fixedly operatively adjacent said sites in air-sealed pneumatic communication with an associated conduit; said select means thus being kept spatially fixed with respect to said Distributor means, both rotationally and linearly, and effecting partition-select simply by operation of one or more of said valve means.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 70 words

The combination as recited in claim 17, wherein said select means comprises a non-rotating, relatively cylindrical element disposed in sleeve-post relation with said conduction means, said sleeve including jet outlet means adapted to be translated linearly along the locus of said inject-sites, while also being arranged to be coupled in air-tight relation with a respective one of said conduits and connected bore whereby to present a partitioning air stream thereto.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 19 words

The combination as recited in claim 20, wherein said select sleeve comprises an outer sleeve surrounding said Distributor means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

The combination as recited in claim 20, wherein said select sleeve comprises an inner hollow post surrounded by said Distributor means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination as recited in claim 22, wherein said select post includes vent means adapted to introduce ambient air to "non-selected" unpressurized conduits without distrubing said pressurization.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination as recited in claim 21, wherein said select sleeve includes vent means adapted to introduce ambient air to "non-selected" unpressurized conduits without distrubing said pressurization.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination as recited in claim 19, wherein said valve means are also adapted to automatically vent their associated conduit-bore-gap system to ambient air during non-partitioning periods.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 101 words

An "end-wise partitioned" disk drive comprising: a plurality of flexible recording disks and intermediate spacer means, all apertured so as to generate an array of partition bores, each communicating with a different respective inter-disk gap; axially offset pneumatic partition means adapted to partition the pack and expose a selected disk surface by selectively directing a jet of pressurized air through a selected one of said bores; said partition means being disposed outside the confines of the pack and characterized by ducted Distributor means and by associated duct-select means adapted to direct such jets into a selected duct and associated communicating bore.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 101 words

An "end-wise partitioned" disk drive comprising: a plurality of flexible recording disks and intermediate spacer means, all apertured so as to generate an array of partition bores, each communicating with a different respective inter-disk gap; axially offset pneumatic partition means adapted to partition the pack and expose a selected disk surface by selectively directing a jet of pressurized air through a selected one of said bores; said partition means being disposed outside the confines of the pack and characterized by ducted Distributor means and by associated duct-select means adapted to direct such jets into a selected duct and associated communicating bore.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 26 words

The combination as recited in claim 26, wherein said Distributor means is adapted to be co-rotated with the pack, while said select means is kept non-rotating.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 36 words

The combination as recited in claim 27, wherein each duct terminates, externally, in a respective entry port means and wherein said select means effects this duct selection by controlled translation to the associated entry port means.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 59 words

The combination as recited in claim 27, wherein each duct terminates, externally, in a respective entry port means; and wherein said select means includes an array of air-inject means each permanently and fixed coupled in sealed relation with a respective entry port and selectively operable to send partitioning air therethrough, the duct-selection being effected by activating said valve means.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 136 words

An improved method of partitioning a flexible disk pack which includes an array of partition bores extending axially, end-wise of the pack, this method comprising the steps of: arranging Distributor conduit means adjacent the pack to co-rotate therewith, this conduit means including an array of conduits each in registry with a respective one of said partition bores and extending axially away from the pack to a respective entry-site, each site being disposed at a different respective position relative to said pack; providing an associated, non-rotating select means adapted to present a selectively present pressurized air at any selected entry-site; and automatically selecting said site corresponding to a given partition gap in pneumatic communication therewith by operating said select means to provide a pressurized air stream to the corresponding conduit and so beging opening the partition gap.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 136 words

An improved method of partitioning a flexible disk pack which includes an array of partition bores extending axially, end-wise of the pack, this method comprising the steps of: arranging Distributor conduit means adjacent the pack to co-rotate therewith, this conduit means including an array of conduits each in registry with a respective one of said partition bores and extending axially away from the pack to a respective entry-site, each site being disposed at a different respective position relative to said pack; providing an associated, non-rotating select means adapted to present a selectively present pressurized air at any selected entry-site; and automatically selecting said site corresponding to a given partition gap in pneumatic communication therewith by operating said select means to provide a pressurized air stream to the corresponding conduit and so beging opening the partition gap.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 42 words

The combination as recited in claim 30, wherein said air stream is injected and kept "on" at a prescribed elevated pressure above ambient pressure to "open" said gap and hold it open; and said pressure is lowered substantially to "close" the gap.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 55 words

The combination as recited in claim 30, wherein said select means comprises a stationary array of air inject means, each being selectively-operable to couple a source of pressurized air to the corresponding entry port and conduit, being disposed in air-tight relation therewith, thus effecting partitioning at any gap by simply activating the corresponding inject means.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 46 words

The combination as recited in claim 32, wherein each said inject means comprises pneumatic valve means selectively operable to present said pressurized air stream to the associated conduit or, alternatively, to present ambient air pressure and isolation air to the respective gap at "non-select, non-partitioning" times.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 77 words

The combination as recited in claim 30, wherein said select means is arranged to comprise a single outlet means fixed on an associated linearly-translatable cylindrical carrier and adapted to be coupled in air-tight relation with any selected one of said conduit in said Distributor means; and wherein said carrier is translated linearly to register said outlet means with the entry-site corresponding to the subject gap to be partitioned; and then applying said pressurized air to begin partitioning.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 37 words

The combination as recited in claim 34, wherein said select means further includes isolation air slots adapted to be functionality isolated from the pressurized air flow and to selectively couple "non-selected" conduits and gaps to ambient air.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method recited in claim 35, wherein partition and selection is effected by arranging said carrier to surround said Distributor as a linerly-translatable sleeve.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method as recited in claim 35, wherein the carrier is arranged to be nested within the Distributor means.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 81 words

In an improved arrangement for penumatic partitioning of a pack of floppy disks, this pack including conduit means for directing a partitioning air stream axially and up through the pack to introduce a partitioning gap between selected disks; this arrangement comprising: external pneumatic partitioning means disposed outside the confines of said pack and displaced axially therefrom; the partitioning means being adapted to present the partitioning air stream to said conduit means so as to partition the pack between prescribed selected disks.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 81 words

In an improved arrangement for penumatic partitioning of a pack of floppy disks, this pack including conduit means for directing a partitioning air stream axially and up through the pack to introduce a partitioning gap between selected disks; this arrangement comprising: external pneumatic partitioning means disposed outside the confines of said pack and displaced axially therefrom; the partitioning means being adapted to present the partitioning air stream to said conduit means so as to partition the pack between prescribed selected disks.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 113 words

The combination as recited in claim 38, wherein said partitioning means comprises: a distributor body disposed adjacent said conduit means and incorporating channel means therethrough which includes an array of elongate channels directed through said body so as to extend relatively parallel with the axis of said pack, being adapted to project said partitioning air stream, each channel being adapted and aligned to register with a respective conduit portion of said conduit means; and also comprises; injection means disposed operatively adjacent said body and adapted to direct the partitioning air stream into a selected one of said channels in the body according to the desired partitioning and the associated gap and conduits involved.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 37 words

The combination as recited in claim 39, wherein said distributer body is co-rotated with said pack and thus arranged to bring each channel therein into registry, and pneumatic conductive relation, with an associated conduit in the pack.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 23 words

The combination as recited in claim 40, wherein said injection means is adapted to be translated axially of said body to effect partition-selection.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 34 words

The combination as recited in claim 40, wherein said injection means is kept immobile relative to said body and includes input valve means adapted to cooperate with said channels in making the partition selection.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 13 words

The arrangement as recited in claim 38, as combined with said disk pack.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination as recited in claim 43, wherein the floppy disks comprising said pack are provided with an array of partition apertures to form the conduit means.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 31 words

The combination as recited in claim 44, wherein said pack is provided with spacers between each disk and wherein the spacers and disks are both apertured to provide said conduit means.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 75 words

In an improved arrangement for end-wise partitioning of a pack of floppy disks, this pack including conduit means for conduction of partitioning force axially, up through the pack, to introduce a prescribed partition gap between selected adjacent disks; the arrangement comprising: partitioning means arranged and adapted to selectively present partitioning thrust forces into at least a portion of said conduit means so as to introduce said gap between any selected adjacent pairs of said disks.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 75 words

In an improved arrangement for end-wise partitioning of a pack of floppy disks, this pack including conduit means for conduction of partitioning force axially, up through the pack, to introduce a prescribed partition gap between selected adjacent disks; the arrangement comprising: partitioning means arranged and adapted to selectively present partitioning thrust forces into at least a portion of said conduit means so as to introduce said gap between any selected adjacent pairs of said disks.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1982-09-03	1983-03-05	1983-09-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1986-09-03	1987-03-05	1987-09-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1990-09-03	1991-03-05	1991-09-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Jet distributor for end-wise pneumatic partitioning of disk pack

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag