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US4378899A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Tape drive capstan

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems LLC
•
Filing: 1981-09-02
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Granted: 1983-04-05
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Expires: 2001-09-02
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Abstract

Abstract A tape drive capstan has a porous ceramic matrix in the form of a cylindrical shell using spherical ceramic particles bonded together to form a network of interstitial pores which are substantially uniform in size and interconnected. A urethane elastomer is impregnated into the pores to form a tape driving surface on the outside surface of the cylinder. The outer surface of the capstan is finish-ground to an outside diameter suitable for use in a tape drive apparatus. The particles occupy approximately 70% of the internal volume of the shell and the elastomer occupies the remaining 30%. The shell is attached by an epoxy to an outside surface of a drive shaft suitable for driving the capstan.

Inventors

  • 👤 Herbert F. Sanford

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 09:24
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/18; G11B15/26; G11B15/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 35 words
A capstan comprising a matrix of ceramic particles forming a network of interstitial interconnected pores and an elastomer material substantially filling said pores to provide a surface on said matrix having a tape driving capability.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 35 words
A capstan comprising a matrix of ceramic particles forming a network of interstitial interconnected pores and an elastomer material substantially filling said pores to provide a surface on said matrix having a tape driving capability.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
A capstan as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elastomer is a urethane elastomer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
A capstan as set forth in claim 1 wherein said matrix is a hollow cylindrical shell and further including a drive shaft and an adhesive for bonding said shell to said drive shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A capstan as set forth in claim 1 wherein said particles are substantially spherical.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
A capstan as set forth in claim 4 wherein said matrix is a hollow cylindrical shell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A capstan as set forth in claim 1 wherein said particles are approximately 70 percent of the volume of said matrix and said elastomer substantially fills the remaining volume of said matrix.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3499998A Cited
US3524607A Cited
US3612376A Cited
US3847260A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-04-04 1986-10-04 1987-04-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-04-04 1990-10-04 1991-04-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-04-04 1994-10-04 1995-04-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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