US4626941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for suppressing the evaporation of lubricant film coated on magnetic disks of a disk storage
Assignee: Fujitsu Ltd
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Filing: 1984-05-22
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Granted: 1986-12-02
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Expires: 2004-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic disk storage apparatus includes an air-tight enclosure containing a drive mechanism for rotating magnetic disks coated with a lubricant material and a flying head assembly. A lubricant evaporating source is arranged inside the enclosure and exposed to the flow of hot air produced by rotation of the disks whereby the lubricant is evaporated and the enclosure is filled with lubricant vapor to suppress the evaporation and consumption of the lubricant layers coated on the magnetic disks. The lubricant evaporating source may be positioned on the inside wall of the enclosure, on a dummy surface of the disks, or on a portion exposed to the circulating hot air flow inside the enclosure. The surface on which the lubricant evaporating source is coated may be of a porous or rough structure to accelerate the evaporation of the lubricant of the source and provide a strong adhesion of the lubricant material to the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Shigetomo Sawada
- 👤 Takeo Hinobayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:22
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/14; G11B33/148; G11B23/00; G11B23/50; G11B23/505; G11B23/507; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B25/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus comprising: an air-tight enclosure having a base and a container; a magnetic storage disk coated with a lubricant layer; drive means for rotating said disk; a flying head assembly; and a lubricant evaporating source containing a lubricant material positioned selectively inside said enclosure so that the evaporating surface of said lubricant evaporating source is exposed to the hot air flow created by the rotation of said disk such that the evaporation of said lubricant material contained in said lubricant evaporating source is accelerated; said lubricant evaporating source during operation of said magnetic disk storage apparatus providing a lubricant vapor inside of said enclosure which suppresses the consumption of said lubricant layer coated on said magnetic disk by substantially balancing the rate of evaporation of the lubricant material of said lubricant layer on said disk with the rate of absorption of said lubricant vapor onto said lubricant layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus comprising: an air-tight enclosure having a base and a container; a magnetic storage disk coated with a lubricant layer; drive means for rotating said disk; a flying head assembly; and a lubricant evaporating source containing a lubricant material positioned selectively inside said enclosure so that the evaporating surface of said lubricant evaporating source is exposed to the hot air flow created by the rotation of said disk such that the evaporation of said lubricant material contained in said lubricant evaporating source is accelerated; said lubricant evaporating source during operation of said magnetic disk storage apparatus providing a lubricant vapor inside of said enclosure which suppresses the consumption of said lubricant layer coated on said magnetic disk by substantially balancing the rate of evaporation of the lubricant material of said lubricant layer on said disk with the rate of absorption of said lubricant vapor onto said lubricant layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lubricant evaporating source is positioned in said base structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lubricant evaporating source is formed on the surface of the inner wall of said air-tight container.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a heating means to heat said lubricant evaporating source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a heating means to heat said lubricant evaporating source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a heating means to heat said lubricant evaporating source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a temperature controller with a thermosensor arranged to control the temperature of said lubricant evaporating source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rotating member rotated by said drive means, and said lubricant evaporating source is formed on the surface of said rotating member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A magentic disk storage apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said rotating member comprises a magnetic storage disk having a dummy surface, and said lubricant evaporating source is formed on said dummy surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lubricant layer coated on said magnetic disk comprises at least two different kinds of lubricants and said lubricant evaporating source contains a lubricant of the same type as the lubricant coated on said magnetic disk having the highest evaporation rate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant material of said lubricant evaporating source is coated on a porous surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the main material of said porous surface is glass.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A magnetic disk storage appartus according to claim 12, wherein said porous surface is obtained by sintering a resin containing glass powder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A magnetic disk storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant material of said lubricant evaporating source is the same lubricant as that coated on said magnetic storage disk.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for suppressing the consumption of a lubricant layer coated on a magnetic storage disk rotatably mounted in an air-tight enclosure of a magnetic disk storage apparatus comprising: arranging a lubricant evaporating source containing a lubricant material inside said air-tight enclosure; rotating said magnetic disk to cause a rise in the temperature inside said air-tight enclosure; exposing the evaporating surface of said lubricant evaporating source to the hot air flow created by the rotation of said disk; and evaporating the lubricant material of said lubricant evaporating source to form a lubricant vapor inside of said air-tight enclosure so that the rate of evaporation of the lubricant material of said lubricant layer on said magnetic disk is substantially balanced with the rate of absorption of said lubricant vapor to thereby suppress the consumption of said lubricant layer coated on said magnetic disk.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for suppressing the consumption of a lubricant layer coated on a magnetic storage disk rotatably mounted in an air-tight enclosure of a magnetic disk storage apparatus comprising: arranging a lubricant evaporating source containing a lubricant material inside said air-tight enclosure; rotating said magnetic disk to cause a rise in the temperature inside said air-tight enclosure; exposing the evaporating surface of said lubricant evaporating source to the hot air flow created by the rotation of said disk; and evaporating the lubricant material of said lubricant evaporating source to form a lubricant vapor inside of said air-tight enclosure so that the rate of evaporation of the lubricant material of said lubricant layer on said magnetic disk is substantially balanced with the rate of absorption of said lubricant vapor to thereby suppress the consumption of said lubricant layer coated on said magnetic disk.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-01 | 1990-06-02 | 1990-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-01 | 1994-06-02 | 1994-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-01 | 1998-06-02 | 1998-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |