Abstract: In some embodiments, a data storage device has a housing with a cover and a base to define an interior environment. Fasteners extend through the housing to secure respective shafts that support a rotatable data recording medium and an actuator assembly, respectively. Spaced apart first and second seals contactingly engage and surround the housing to sealingly cover the fasteners. Third and fourth seals contactingly engage the first and second seals and the housing to seal the first and second seals.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, a housing includes a first housing component having a through hole covered by a first seal at one end of the through hole. The housing also includes a second seal that covers the first seal. In accordance with certain embodiments, a housing maintains a low density gas. The housing includes a fastening means for attaching a cover to a base, a first sealing means for sealing a through hole in the housing, and a second sealing means for inhibiting diffusion of the low-density gas through the first sealing means.

Abstract: A hermetic seal is provided for sealing a discrete opening in a disk drive base plate. The hermetic seal comprises a sealing gasket that is disposed between planar facing surfaces of a component inserted through the opening and a recess formed on the interior of the base plate. As the gasket is compressed, a deformable plating applied to the gasket deforms and flows to fill microscopic voids that may be found in the abutting planar surfaces. Required access to the disk drive through the opening may be made in a rework process without destroying the seal. To seal the opening of the drive again, the sealing gasket is simply recompressed between the planar abutting surfaces. The invention also comprises a method by which to seal the castings of the disk drive housing, to include the base plate and top cover the disk drive. The method generally includes a two-time resin impregnation process to fill exposed pores on the surface of the castings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing disk drive housing castings and the resulting housings. A housing component of a data storage device is placed in an environment of decreased pressure where a first tank that is an autoclave is pressurized at a selected pressure and the environment is a first tank that encloses the housing component. A second tank that is an autoclave is pressurized at substantially the same pressure as the first tank while the second tank is fluidically coupled to the first tank and encloses a sealant. The sealant is applied to a surface of the component when it is under decreased pressure by transferring the sealant from the first tank to the second tank. A pressure of at least one atmosphere is further applied so that a portion of the sealant contactingly permeates voids in the housing component before the sealant is subsequently cured.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of sealing disk drive housing castings and the resulting housings. More specifically, as sealant is transferred between a sealant storage tank and an autoclave, the sealant is filtered to remove debris or other impurities from the sealant. By filtering a sealant, multiple casting treatment cycles can be performed using the same sealant without the quality of the sealant suffering.

Abstract: A hermetic seal is provided for sealing discrete openings in a disk drive, such as an opening made in a base plate of the drive for a spindle motor shaft and openings made in the base plate for spindle motor lead wires. The hermetic seal for the spindle motor shaft comprises an undercut made in the portion of the spindle shaft that is secured to the base plate, and an epoxy material fills the gap between the surface defining the opening and the undercut made in the spindle motor shaft. Epoxy is also used to seal the openings made for the motor lead wires. The invention also comprises the method by which the base plate casting may be sealed by a two-time resin impregnation process which fills exposed pores on the surfaces of the castings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a hard disk drive with a low-density gas is provided. A valve body is positioned over an opening in the hard disk drive housing. The valve body is in communication with a source of low-density gas, a vacuum source and the interior of the disk drive. The vacuum source evacuates the internal cavity of the disk drive through the opening. The cavity is then filled with the low-density gas. A reciprocating member then positions a sealing member in the opening to seal the opening and capture the low-density gas within the disk drive.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning and securing a spindle shaft and actuator shaft in a low-density gas-filled hard disk drive and independent of the disk drive cover is provided. A capture plate is positioned above the memory disk(s) and is secured to the base plate. The spindle shaft and, optionally, the actuator shaft are secured between the base plate and capture plate. The capture plate may be configured to reduce vibration. This structure eliminates use of the cover to secure the spindle shaft and actuator shaft and, thereby, eliminates a potential pathway for low-density gas to escape. The capture plate may also be configured to reduce air turbulence created by the rotating disk and reduce track misregistration of the read/write element(s).

Abstract: A disk drive having a fluid evacuation/fill valve is disclosed for allowing for the removal of a fluid from an enclosed space within a disk drive housing, for allowing for the introduction of a fluid into this enclosed space, or both. The valve assembly utilizes a sealing member that may be biased into sealing engagement with a portion of an external surface of the disk drive housing to at least substantially isolate the enclosed space from the external environment to the disk drive. These biasing forces may be reduced and/or overcome to allow the valve assembly to “open” and allow for a fluid flow out of and/or into the enclosed space, utilizing a port that extends through a wall of the disk drive housing and a space between a sealing member of the valve assembly and the external surface of the disk drive housing.

Abstract: A disk drive having attenuated vibrations for improved disk drive performance. The disk drive has first and second viscoelastic dampers effective in attenuating vibrations during operation of the disk drive.