US5491598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary actuator vibration damper
Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
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Filing: 1994-05-06
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Granted: 1996-02-13
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Expires: 2014-05-06
Abstract
Abstract A bearing assembly supports an actuator arm for rotation about an axis in a disc drive. The bearing assembly includes a shaft generally defining the axis. A plurality of bearings are disposed about the shaft. A sleeve is coupled to the bearings for rotation about the shaft, and a damper is coupled to the sleeve. The damper damps rotary actuator vibrations.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Stricklin
- 👤 John B. Blanks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:24
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16F; F16F7/00; F16F7/10; F16F7/104; F16C; F16C19/00; F16C19/52; G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/48; G11B5/54; G11B5/55; G11B5/5521; H; H02; H02K; H02K5/00; H02K5/04; H02K5/16; H02K5/173; H02K5/1737; F16C2370/00; F16C2370/12; H02K41/00; H02K41/02; H02K41/035; H02K5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
An actuator system for moving a head gimbal assembly relative to a disc in a disc drive, the actuator system comprising: an actuator providing a driving force; an actuator assembly movable by the actuator and coupled to the head gimbal assembly for moving the head gimbal assembly relative to the disc in response to the driving force provided by the actuator; and wherein the actuator assembly includes: a shaft having an outer surface, the shaft generally defining an axis of rotation; a sleeve having an inner surface, the sleeve disposed about the shaft; bearing means, disposed about the shaft, for rotatably mounting the sleeve to the shaft; an actuator arm coupled to the sleeve for rotation with the sleeve and for supporting the head gimbal assembly, the actuator arm having a first major surface generally defining a plane; and a damper having a damping member and a damping material coupled to the damping member, the damping material coupled to the sleeve and disposed therein, for damping vibrations of the actuator arm in the plane defined by the actuator arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
179 words
An actuator system for moving a head gimbal assembly relative to a disc in a disc drive, the actuator system comprising: an actuator providing a driving force; an actuator assembly movable by the actuator and coupled to the head gimbal assembly for moving the head gimbal assembly relative to the disc in response to the driving force provided by the actuator; and wherein the actuator assembly includes: a shaft having an outer surface, the shaft generally defining an axis of rotation; a sleeve having an inner surface, the sleeve disposed about the shaft; bearing means, disposed about the shaft, for rotatably mounting the sleeve to the shaft; an actuator arm coupled to the sleeve for rotation with the sleeve and for supporting the head gimbal assembly, the actuator arm having a first major surface generally defining a plane; and a damper having a damping member and a damping material coupled to the damping member, the damping material coupled to the sleeve and disposed therein, for damping vibrations of the actuator arm in the plane defined by the actuator arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The actuator system of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the shaft generally define a chamber, and wherein the damper is coupled to the sleeve within the chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The actuator system of claim 2 wherein the inner surface of the sleeve comprises a spacer attached to the damping material and coupling the damper to the inner surface of the sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
159 words
An actuator assembly for supporting a head gimbal assembly in a disc drive, the actuator assembly comprising: a baseplate; a shaft having an external surface and coupled to the baseplate; a sleeve having an inner surface and disposed about the shaft such that the inner surface generally faces the external surface of the shaft; a bearing disposed about the shaft and rotatably mounting the sleeve to the shaft; an actuator arm coupled to the sleeve for rotation with the sleeve and for supporting the head gimbal assembly, the actuator arm having a first major surface generally defining a plane; and damper coupled to the sleeve generally between the sleeve and the shaft, the damper having a damping material coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve and a damping member, having a damping mass, coupled to the damping material and spaced-apart from the shaft for damping vibrations of the actuator arm in the plane defined by the actuator arm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
159 words
An actuator assembly for supporting a head gimbal assembly in a disc drive, the actuator assembly comprising: a baseplate; a shaft having an external surface and coupled to the baseplate; a sleeve having an inner surface and disposed about the shaft such that the inner surface generally faces the external surface of the shaft; a bearing disposed about the shaft and rotatably mounting the sleeve to the shaft; an actuator arm coupled to the sleeve for rotation with the sleeve and for supporting the head gimbal assembly, the actuator arm having a first major surface generally defining a plane; and damper coupled to the sleeve generally between the sleeve and the shaft, the damper having a damping material coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve and a damping member, having a damping mass, coupled to the damping material and spaced-apart from the shaft for damping vibrations of the actuator arm in the plane defined by the actuator arm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the damping material comprises: a viscoelastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The actuator assembly of claim 4 wherein the damping material includes an adhesive for adhering the viscoelastic material to the inner surface of the sleeve and for adhering the viscoelastic material to the damping member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the damping member comprises: a ring disposed about the external surface of the shaft and coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve at a plurality of areas by the damping material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The actuator assembly of claim 1 and further comprising: a spacer for coupling the damping material to the inner surface of the sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the bearing supports a dead weight for rotation about the shaft, and wherein the damping mass is in a range of approximately five percent (5%) to ten percent (10%) of the dead weight supported by the bearing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
The actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein the bearing comprises: a first bearing member disposed about the shaft; and a second bearing member disposed about the shaft, the first and second bearing members being axially spaced from one another along the shaft, and wherein the damper is coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve and located at an axial position along the shaft between the first and second bearing members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
A bearing assembly in a rotary actuator for supporting an actuator arm for rotation about an axis in a disc drive, the bearing assembly comprising: a shaft generally defining the axis; a plurality of bearings disposed about the shaft; a sleeve having an inner surface coupled to the bearings for rotation about the shaft; and a damper coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve for rotation therewith, the damper including a damping material coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve and a damping member, having a damping mass and an outer surface generally facing the inner surface of the sleeve, coupled to the damping material at the outer surface and spaced apart from the shaft for damping vibrations of the rotary actuator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A bearing assembly in a rotary actuator for supporting an actuator arm for rotation about an axis in a disc drive, the bearing assembly comprising: a shaft generally defining the axis; a plurality of bearings disposed about the shaft; a sleeve having an inner surface coupled to the bearings for rotation about the shaft; and a damper coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve for rotation therewith, the damper including a damping material coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve and a damping member, having a damping mass and an outer surface generally facing the inner surface of the sleeve, coupled to the damping material at the outer surface and spaced apart from the shaft for damping vibrations of the rotary actuator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The bearing assembly of claim 10 wherein the damping material comprises: a viscoelastic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The bearing assembly of claim 12 wherein the damping material includes an adhesive for adhering the viscoelastic material to the inner surface of the sleeve and for adhering the viscoelastic material to the damping member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The bearing assembly of claim 10 wherein the damping member comprises: a ring disposed about the external surface of the shaft and coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve at a plurality of areas by the damping material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The bearing assembly of claim 10 and further comprising: a spacer for coupling the damping material to the inner surface of the sleeve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The bearing assembly of claim 10 wherein the plurality of bearings support a dead weight for rotation about the shaft, and wherein the damping mass is in a range of approximately five percent (5%) to ten percent (10%) of the dead weight supported by the plurality of bearings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
The bearing assembly of claim 10 wherein the plurality of bearings comprise: a first bearing member disposed about the shaft; and a second bearing member disposed about the shaft, the first and second bearing members being axially spaced from one another along the shaft, and wherein the damper is coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve and located at an axial position along the shaft between the first and second bearing members.
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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) | 1999-02-12 | 1999-08-14 | 2000-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-12 | 2003-08-14 | 2004-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-12 | 2007-08-14 | 2008-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |