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Patent US4789913A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4789913A
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Method and apparatus for lubricating a magnetic disk continuously in a recording file
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1987-08-03
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Granted: 1988-12-06
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Expires: 2007-08-03
Abstract
Abstract In a magnetic disk file having a plurality of disks and a source of organic lubricant mounted within a housing, an air flow stream recirculates within the housing. The vapor pressure of the lubricant source is controlled to provide vapor phase transport of lubricant molecules between the source and the disks' recording surfaces. The lubricant molecules bidirectionally transfer between the air stream and the source, and between the air stream and the surface of the disks, as is needed to maintain a mono-molecular lubricant film, in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms, on the disks in accordance with the principle of Langmuir kinetics. The disks are rigid disks and their recording surface includes a carbon overcoat. This overcoat has an affinity for the airborne organic lubricant molecules. In a first embodiment, the vapor pressure of the lubricant is controlled by mounting the material at the coolest location within the housing. In a second embodiment, the lubricant is carried as a mono-molecular layer of lubricant on granular carbon particles which have a surface area that is many times greater than the surface area of the disks. In a third embodiment, the vapor pressure is controlled by combining the lubricant with a vapor pressure diluent.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Gregory
- 👤 Christopher G. Keller
- 👤 Bruce E. Kennedy
- 👤 Bruce A. Murray
- 👤 Wayne J. Rothschild
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:22
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/50; G11B23/505; G11B33/00; G11B33/14; G11B33/148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for maintaining a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant on a recording surface, comprising: providing a magnetic recording surface having an affinity for organic lubricant molecules, coating said recording surface with a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant, mounting said recording surface in container that is at least partially closed, inducing an airflow stream within said container, mounting a supply of an organic lubricant within said container and in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface, and controlling the vapor pressure of said lubricant supply so as to establish a condition whereby said air stream (1) picks up lubricant molecules, (2) receives lubricant molecules, or (3) neither picks up nor receives lubricant molecules, from said lubricant supply and/or said recording surface, as is required to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for maintaining a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant on a recording surface, comprising: providing a magnetic recording surface having an affinity for organic lubricant molecules, coating said recording surface with a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant, mounting said recording surface in container that is at least partially closed, inducing an airflow stream within said container, mounting a supply of an organic lubricant within said container and in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface, and controlling the vapor pressure of said lubricant supply so as to establish a condition whereby said air stream (1) picks up lubricant molecules, (2) receives lubricant molecules, or (3) neither picks up nor receives lubricant molecules, from said lubricant supply and/or said recording surface, as is required to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said recording surface is a magnetic recording disk, and wherein said airflow stream is induced by rotation of said disk.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling the vapor pressure of said lubricant source comprises: providing a cool temperature at said lubricant supply, relative said recording surface, to insure that said mono-molecular lubricant layer is maintained on said recording surface by operation of substantially equilibrium Langmuir kinetics, and that lubricant molecules do not transfer from said air stream to said recording surface by the process of condensation or the like.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said recording surface is a magnetic recording disk, and wherein said airflow stream is induced by rotation of said disk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the temperature of said lubricant is at least 0.5° centigrade cooler than the temperature of said recording surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said mono-molecular lubricant layer is in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said recording surface includes a carbon-containing overcoat layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling the vapor pressure of said lubricant source comprises: providing a mass of granular carrier particles of very large surface area relative the area of said recording surface, said particles having an affinity for lubricant molecules, and treating said carrier particles with said lubricant having an effective vapor pressure substantially identical to that of said mono-molecular layer on said recording surface, to thereby insure that said mono-molecular lubricant layer is maintained on said recording surface by operation of Langmuir kinetics.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said recording surface is a magnetic recording disk, and wherein said airflow stream is induced by rotation of said disk.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the effective surface area of said carrier particles is at least 1000 times greater than the surface area of said recording surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said mono-molecular lubricant layer is in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said recording surface includes a carbon-containing overcoat layer, and wherein said granular particles are formed of a carbon-containing material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the vapor pressure of said supply of lubricant is controlled by combining said lubricant with a diluent having a lower vapor pressure than said lubricant, to thereby produce a mixture whose bulk vapor pressure is substantially the same as the vapor pressure of a mono-molecular layer of said lubricant, to thereby insure that said mono-molecular lubricant layer is maintained on said recording surface by operation of Langmuir kinetics.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said recording surface is a magnetic recording disk, and wherein said airflow stream is induced by rotation of said disk.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said recording surface includes a carbon-containing overcoat layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said mono-molecular lubricant layer is in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising magnetic recording media means including recording surface means having an affinity for organic molecules, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, a supply of a vaporizable organic lubricant material in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, and means ensuring that the operating temperature of said lubricant supply is lower than the operating temperature of said recording surface means, such that vaporization of said lubricant occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant, by operation of Langmuir kinetics, from said supply to said recording surface means in order to maintain a mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
119 words
Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising magnetic recording media means including recording surface means having an affinity for organic molecules, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, a supply of a vaporizable organic lubricant material in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, and means ensuring that the operating temperature of said lubricant supply is lower than the operating temperature of said recording surface means, such that vaporization of said lubricant occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant, by operation of Langmuir kinetics, from said supply to said recording surface means in order to maintain a mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said vapor transfer provides a lubricant layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said recording surface means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said magnetic media means comprises a magnetic recording disk having a carbon overcoat.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said vapor transfer provides a lubricant layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said carbon overcoat.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said magnetic media means comprises a disk file including a plurality of magnetic recording disks, and wherein flow of said air stream is induced by rotation of said disks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said disks include a recording surface comprises a magnetic recording layer and an carbon containing overcoat.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said vapor transfer provides a very thin lubricant layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said carbon overcoat.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
182 words
Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising magnetic recording media means including recording surface means having an affinity for organic molecules, said recording surface having thereon a mono-molecular layer of a vaporizable organic lubricant, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, bulk lubricant means in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, said bulk lubricant means comprising a single phase mixture of said vaporizable organic lubricant, and a diluent having a vapor pressure that is lower than the vapor pressure of said lubricant, said bulk lubricant means having a vapor pressure that is lower than the vapor pressure of said organic lubricant, to thereby provide a vapor pressure for said bulk lubricant means that is substantially the same as the vapor pressure of said mono-molecular layer on said recording surface, such that vaporization of said bulk lubricant means occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant from said bulk lubricant means to said recording surface means in order to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
182 words
Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising magnetic recording media means including recording surface means having an affinity for organic molecules, said recording surface having thereon a mono-molecular layer of a vaporizable organic lubricant, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, bulk lubricant means in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, said bulk lubricant means comprising a single phase mixture of said vaporizable organic lubricant, and a diluent having a vapor pressure that is lower than the vapor pressure of said lubricant, said bulk lubricant means having a vapor pressure that is lower than the vapor pressure of said organic lubricant, to thereby provide a vapor pressure for said bulk lubricant means that is substantially the same as the vapor pressure of said mono-molecular layer on said recording surface, such that vaporization of said bulk lubricant means occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant from said bulk lubricant means to said recording surface means in order to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said vapor transfer provides a lubricant layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said recording surface means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said recording surface means comprises a magnetic recording layer having a carbon overcoat.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said vapor transfer provides a lubricant layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said carbon overcoat.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said magnetic recording media means comprises a disk file including a plurality of magnetic recording disks, and wherein flow of said air stream is induced by rotation of said disks.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said disks include a recording surface comprises a magnetic recording layer and an carbon containing overcoat.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said vapor transfer provides a very thin lubricant layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said carbon overcoat.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
148 words
Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising magnetic recording media means including a recording surface having an affinity for organic molecules, a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant on said recording surface, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, organic lubricant supply means in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, said lubricant supply means comprising a mass of granules having a total surface area at least 1000 times greater than the surface area of said recording surface, and a mono-molecular layer of said organic lubricant covering the surface area of said granules, such that vaporization of said lubricant layer on said granules occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant, by operation of Langmuir kinetics, from said granules to said recording surface in order to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
148 words
Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising magnetic recording media means including a recording surface having an affinity for organic molecules, a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant on said recording surface, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, organic lubricant supply means in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, said lubricant supply means comprising a mass of granules having a total surface area at least 1000 times greater than the surface area of said recording surface, and a mono-molecular layer of said organic lubricant covering the surface area of said granules, such that vaporization of said lubricant layer on said granules occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant, by operation of Langmuir kinetics, from said granules to said recording surface in order to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said vapor transfer provides a lubricant layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said recording surface.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said magnetic media means comprises a magnetic recording disk having a carbon overcoat, and wherein said granules are carbon granules.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said vapor transfer provides a lubricant layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said carbon overcoat.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said magnetic media means comprises a disk file including one or more magnetic recording disks, and wherein flow of said air stream is induced by rotation of said disk.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said disks include a recording surface comprises a magnetic recording layer and a carbon containing overcoat, and wherein said granules are carbon containing granules.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said vapor transfer provides a layer in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms thick on said carbon overcoat.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the treating of said carrier particles comprises coating said carrier particles with a thin layer of said lubricant.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the treating of said carrier particles comprises filling porosity within said particles with said lubricant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4626941A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-06 | 1992-06-06 | 1992-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-06 | 1996-06-06 | 1996-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-06 | 2000-06-06 | 2000-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |