Abstract: A clamping device for coupling a rotatable component of a machine with a shaft, including a balance hole configured to confine a counterweight. The clamping device includes a circular plate. The circular plate includes at least one fastener hole configured to accept a fastener, and at least one balance hole. The fastener is configured to fasten the clamping device to couple the component with the shaft. The balance hole includes a cavity configured to accept a counterweight. The counterweight is configured to balance the rotational motion of at least the circular plate when the shaft is rotated. Moreover, the cavity is configured to confine the counterweight to an end of the cavity by effects of rotation of the shaft on the counterweight when the shaft is rotated.

Abstract: An integrated bypass channel and diverter assembly for hard disk drives having small form factors is disclosed. A bypass channel is formed directly in the base plate to allow a partial bypass to exist with or without a diverter feature. The design addresses the issue of proper disk shrouding at the same time as providing the desired features for small form factor drives. The invention includes three datum planes for aligning the machined features of the bypass channel with the drive during assembly. The machined bypass channel and the upstream diverter may be combined to form the integrated assembly. The primary air flow direction from the disk stack is through the integrated partial bypass in the enclosure body and around the diverter into the main bypass channel. The invention provides a drop-in position for the diverter that has minimal encroachment into the VCM area of the drive.

Abstract: A hard disk drive enclosure with conductive paths. A base plate comprising an electrically conductive material with at least one contact surface that allows for an electrically conductive path, wherein the at least one contact surface has a substantially flat surface. A cover comprising an electrically conductive material comprising at least one tab with a substantially flat surface for contacting the at least one contact surface of the base plate, wherein the at least one tab contacts the at least one contact surface of the base plate with a force and forms an electrically conductive path between the cover and the based plate, and wherein the at least one tab deforms upon the contact with the at least one contact surface of the base plate with the force.

Abstract: A clamping device for coupling a rotatable component of a machine with a shaft, including a balance hole configured to confine a counterweight. The clamping device includes a circular plate. The circular plate includes at least one fastener hole configured to accept a fastener, and at least one balance hole. The fastener is configured to fasten the clamping device to couple the component with the shaft. The balance hole includes a cavity configured to accept a counterweight. The counterweight is configured to balance the rotational motion of at least the circular plate when the shaft is rotated. Moreover, the cavity is configured to confine the counterweight to an end of the cavity by effects of rotation of the shaft on the counterweight when the shaft is rotated.

Abstract: A lightweight spoiler wing design for depopulated disk drives reduces unnecessary weight from the spoiler while maintaining the aerodynamic function and structural rigidity required. The invention includes spoiler designs having U-shapes with leading edge or trailing edge treatments, hollow boxes, L-shapes, vertical wall designs, and different bar support designs having upper and lower horizontal walls.

Abstract: A spoiler implementable in a hard disk drive. The spoiler includes a structure. The structure includes a diffuser integrated therewith. The structure further includes an extension emanating there from, the extension configured to complete a wall of a bypass channel in said hard disk drive, said inner wall having a portion removed there from.

Abstract: A seal is formed between bypass walls and a cover for a disk drive to improve control and regulation of airflow in the disk drive. The seal is formed with a gasket comprising a bead of form-in-place gasket between the upper edge of the bypass wall and the cover. The seal also may be formed between the cover and the slit shroud, spoiler, and filter. Minimum compression of the gasket is required to form the seal.

Abstract: A disk drive slit shroud mitigates a discontinuity in the bypass channel with an additional wall feature formed on the slit shroud. When installed, the wall feature fills the gap in the wall of the bypass channel that would otherwise be required to accommodate a slit shroud of sufficient surface area. The discontinuity in the channel wall is needed for manufacturing clearance during the installation of the slit shroud. The slit shroud design includes the wall feature which, when installed, fills up the gap in the channel wall to maintain a relatively flush conduit for the bypass channel.

Abstract: A hard disk drive enclosure with conductive paths. A base plate comprising an electrically conductive material with at least one contact surface that allows for an electrically conductive path, wherein the at least one contact surface has a substantially flat surface. A cover comprising an electrically conductive material comprising at least one tab with a substantially flat surface for contacting the at least one contact surface of the base plate, wherein the at least one tab contacts the at least one contact surface of the base plate with a force and forms an electrically conductive path between the cover and the based plate, and wherein the at least one tab deforms upon the contact with the at least one contact surface of the base plate with the force.

Abstract: An integrated bypass channel and diverter assembly for hard disk drives having small form factors is disclosed. A bypass channel is formed directly in the base plate to allow a partial bypass to exist with or without a diverter feature. The design addresses the issue of proper disk shrouding at the same time as providing the desired features for small form factor drives. The invention includes three datum planes for aligning the machined features of the bypass channel with the drive during assembly. The machined bypass channel and the upstream diverter may be combined to form the integrated assembly. The primary air flow direction from the disk stack is through the integrated partial bypass in the enclosure body and around the diverter into the main bypass channel. The invention provides a drop-in position for the diverter that has minimal encroachment into the VCM area of the drive.

Abstract: A hard disk drive bypass channel architecture incorporates enhanced cooling for voice coil motors. A cooling slot formed in a bypass channel component that is adjacent to the VCM alleviates VCM overheating problems. The slot compromises airflow from the bypass channel to provide sufficient secondary flow to cool the VCM and actuator coil area. The slot may be formed in the integrated wall of the spoiler or diverter. The spoiler has an extension in which the cooling slot is formed.

Abstract: A spoiler implementable in a hard disk drive. The spoiler includes a structure. The structure includes a diffuser integrated therewith. The structure further includes an extension emanating there from, the extension configured to complete a wall of a bypass channel in said hard disk drive, said inner wall having a portion removed there from.

Abstract: A seal is formed between bypass walls and a cover for a disk drive to improve control and regulation of airflow in the disk drive. The seal is formed with a gasket comprising a bead of form-in-place gasket between the upper edge of the bypass wall and the cover. The seal also may be formed between the cover and the slit shroud, spoiler, and filter. Minimum compression of the gasket is required to form the seal.

Abstract: A disk drive slit shroud mitigates a discontinuity in the bypass channel with an additional wall feature formed on the slit shroud. When installed, the wall feature fills the gap in the wall of the bypass channel that would otherwise be required to accommodate a slit shroud of sufficient surface area. The discontinuity in the channel wall is needed for manufacturing clearance during the installation of the slit shroud. The slit shroud design includes the wall feature which, when installed, fills up the gap in the channel wall to maintain a relatively flush conduit for the bypass channel.

Abstract: A lightweight spoiler wing design for depopulated disk drives reduces unnecessary weight from the spoiler while maintaining the aerodynamic function and structural rigidity required. The invention includes spoiler designs having U-shapes with leading edge or trailing edge treatments, hollow boxes, L-shapes, vertical wall designs, and different bar support designs having upper and lower horizontal walls.

Abstract: A method is described for testing for slider/disk contact in a disk drive comprising a rotating disk and a head mounted by an actuator for selective positioning of the head over the disk, the head having a slider, and a spindle motor for rotating the disk. The method comprises the steps of providing power to the spindle motor to cause rotation of the disk at a preselected rotational velocity corresponding to a rotational velocity designed for the disk during normal read/write operation, and thereafter withdrawing the power from the spindle motor such that the disk spins down to zero rotational velocity. While the disk spins down to zero rotational velocity, an acoustic coupling is formed between an acoustic emission sensor having an electric output and the spindle motor to provide first electric signals representative of acoustic emissions from the spindle motor, including acoustic emissions caused by slider/disk contact.