US5600511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Particle containment and fluid retention with barrier seal in magnetic disc drive
Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
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Filing: 1995-02-10
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Granted: 1997-02-04
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Expires: 2015-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A disc drive includes a disc drive motor for rotating a magnetic storage disc. The disc drive includes a sealed disc drive chassis which provides a substantially contaminant-free cavity. A fixed member is coupled to the disc drive chassis and a rotor is rotatably about the fixed member for carrying a magnetic storage disc in the contaminant-free cavity. A bearing assembly between the rotor and fixed member allows rotation of the rotor relative to the fixed member. A gap defined between the rotor and the fixed member separates the bearing assembly from the contaminant-free environment and the magnetic storage disc. A barrier material in the gap has a characteristic which reduces contaminant flow thereby. The barrier material tends to prevent liquid and particulate contaminants from escaping from the drive motor and entering the sealed cavity.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Dunfield
- 👤 Gunter K. Heine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:08
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B33/00; G11B33/14; G11B33/1446; G11B33/1473; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B25/043
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A disc drive motor for use in a disc drive for storing information having a sealed disc drive chassis providing a substantially contaminant-free cavity, the disc drive motor comprising: a fixed member coupled to the disc drive chassis; a rotor rotatable about the fixed member for rotatably carrying a magnetic storage disc in the contaminant-free cavity, wherein one of the fixed member and the rotor comprises a shaft; a bearing assembly between the rotor and the fixed member allowing rotation of the rotor relative to the fixed member; a gap defined between the rotor and the fixed member which separates the bearing assembly from the magnetic storage disc and the contaminant-free cavity; and a barrier material carried on a surface in the gap having a characteristic which reduces contaminant flow from the region of the bearing assembly to the contaminant-free cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A disc drive motor for use in a disc drive for storing information having a sealed disc drive chassis providing a substantially contaminant-free cavity, the disc drive motor comprising: a fixed member coupled to the disc drive chassis; a rotor rotatable about the fixed member for rotatably carrying a magnetic storage disc in the contaminant-free cavity, wherein one of the fixed member and the rotor comprises a shaft; a bearing assembly between the rotor and the fixed member allowing rotation of the rotor relative to the fixed member; a gap defined between the rotor and the fixed member which separates the bearing assembly from the magnetic storage disc and the contaminant-free cavity; and a barrier material carried on a surface in the gap having a characteristic which reduces contaminant flow from the region of the bearing assembly to the contaminant-free cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The disc drive motor of claim 1 wherein the gap comprises a labyrinth seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The disc dive motor of claim 2 wherein the labyrinth seal comprises an annular disc coated with the barrier material fitted between the fixed member and the rotor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The disc drive motor of claim 1 wherein the bearing assembly comprises a ball bearing assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The disc drive motor of claim 1 wherein the fixed member comprises the shaft and the rotor includes a sleeve which rotates about the shaft on the bearing assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The disc drive motor of claim 1 wherein the fixed member comprises a sleeve and the rotor includes the shaft which rotates in the sleeve about the bearing assembly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The disc drive motor of claim 1 wherein the barrier material comprises a fluorocarbon polymer with a surface energy below a surface tension of a lubricant in the bearing assembly.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The disc drive motor of claim 1 including a ferrofluid seal proximate the gap whereby the barrier material inhibits the ferrofluid from flowing thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The disc drive motor of claim 8 wherein the barrier material is located between the ferrofluid seal and the contaminant-free environment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
A magnetic storage system, comprising: a sealed chassis providing a substantially contaminant-free environment; a magnetic storage disc in the sealed chassis; a magnetic transducer proximate the storage disc for reading and writing information on the disc; a fixed member coupled to the chassis; a rotatable member rotatable about the fixed member for carrying the magnetic storage disc in the substantially contaminant-free environment, wherein one of the fixed member and the rotatable member comprises a shaft; a bearing assembly rotatably coupling the rotatable member to the fixed member; a gap defined in surfaces of the rotatable member and the fixed member allowing rotation therebetween, wherein the gap defined in the surfaces comprises a labyrinth seal; and a barrier material carried on one of the surfaces which define the gap which reduces contaminant flow thereacross.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A magnetic storage system, comprising: a sealed chassis providing a substantially contaminant-free environment; a magnetic storage disc in the sealed chassis; a magnetic transducer proximate the storage disc for reading and writing information on the disc; a fixed member coupled to the chassis; a rotatable member rotatable about the fixed member for carrying the magnetic storage disc in the substantially contaminant-free environment, wherein one of the fixed member and the rotatable member comprises a shaft; a bearing assembly rotatably coupling the rotatable member to the fixed member; a gap defined in surfaces of the rotatable member and the fixed member allowing rotation therebetween, wherein the gap defined in the surfaces comprises a labyrinth seal; and a barrier material carried on one of the surfaces which define the gap which reduces contaminant flow thereacross.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The magnetic storage system of claim 10 wherein the barrier material comprises a fluorocarbon polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The magnetic storage system of claim 10 wherein the labyrinth seal is formed by an annular disc between the rotating member and the fixed member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The magnetic storage system of claim 10 including a ferrofluid seal proximate the gap.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The magnetic storage system of claim 13 including barrier material adhered to surfaces proximate the ferrofluid seal between the ferrofluid seal and the bearing assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The magnetic storage system of claim 10 wherein the fixed member comprises the shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The magnetic storage system of claim 10 wherein the bearing assembly includes ball bearings and races which carry the ball bearings.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
94 words
A disc drive motor for use in a disc drive for storing information having a sealed disc drive chassis providing a substantially contaminant-free cavity, the disc drive motor comprising: a fixed member coupled to the disc drive chassis; a rotor rotatable about the fixed member for rotatably carrying a magnetic storage disc in the contaminant-free cavity, wherein one of the fixed member and the rotor comprise a shaft; a ferrofluid seal including a ferrofluid between the fixed member and the rotor; and barrier material proximate the ferrofluid seal positioned for reducing ferrofluid flow therepast.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
94 words
A disc drive motor for use in a disc drive for storing information having a sealed disc drive chassis providing a substantially contaminant-free cavity, the disc drive motor comprising: a fixed member coupled to the disc drive chassis; a rotor rotatable about the fixed member for rotatably carrying a magnetic storage disc in the contaminant-free cavity, wherein one of the fixed member and the rotor comprise a shaft; a ferrofluid seal including a ferrofluid between the fixed member and the rotor; and barrier material proximate the ferrofluid seal positioned for reducing ferrofluid flow therepast.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The disc drive motor of claim 17 wherein the barrier material comprises a fluorocarbon polymer with a surface energy below a surface tension of the ferrofluid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The disc drive motor of claim 17 wherein the barrier material is placed between the ferrofluid seal and the contaminant-free cavity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The disc drive motor of claim 17 wherein the barrier material is positioned between the ferrofluid seal and an inner portion of the disc drive motor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-04 | 2000-08-05 | 2001-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-04 | 2004-08-05 | 2005-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-04 | 2008-08-05 | 2009-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |