Abstract: A pressure control system for a sealed enclosure may include opposing one-way valves to limit the differential pressure between the atmospheres internal and external to the sealed enclosure. The pressure control system may allow the internal atmosphere to vent out of a first one-way valve if the internal pressure exceeds the external pressure by a first predetermined pressure. The pressure control system may allow the external atmosphere to be drawn in through a second one-way valve if the external pressure exceeds the internal pressure by a second predetermined pressure. By allowing the exchange of gasses only when the differential pressure falls outside of a predetermined range, overall contamination may be reduced. By reducing the ingress of contaminants, such as dust, water, smog, and outgassed substances, performance may be improved and service life of components housed within the sealed enclosure may be extended.

Abstract: A storage device including a housing defining a controlled environment. A storage medium is mounted in the housing, with a liquid lubricant contained in the housing and disposed on the surface of the storage medium. A spindle motor is provided in the housing for rotating the storage medium. At least one read/write head is mounted on an actuator assembly, the assembly for positioning the read/write head with respect to the storage medium. Control electronics are coupled to the actuator, read write head, and spindle motor, for interacting with the actuator, head, and motor to read data from and write data to the storage medium. The device housing has a length of about four inches, a height of about five-tenths inch, and a width of about two and three-quarters inches. A wick is provided to recirculate and dispose the liquid bearing on the surface of the storage medium.

Abstract: A read/write head for an information recording apparatus having a liquid bearing lubricant between a rotating storage medium and the read/write head is disclosed. The head is provided an actuator to position the read/write head over the rotating storage medium. The head includes a slider body having at least a first and second regions; and an interface element comprising a transducer interacting with the storage medium and mounted on the first region of the slider body. A relative motion exists between the head and the rotating storage medium and the slider body is supported by the liquid bearing lubricant during such motion, such that the first region of the slider body is supported at a first distance above the storage medium, and the second region of the slider body is supported at a second distance above the storage medium, whereby the first region of the slider body has a substantially higher drag than the second region when the head moves relative to the storage medium.

Abstract: The method for assembling the drive includes: providing an assembly member; stacking a first actuator arm and a second actuator arm in an orientation where the axes of the arms are non-parallel; inserting a comb assembly between the first and second arms; rotating the arms about the assembly member to a position where the radials are in parallel; and securing the arms against rotation relative to each other. In another aspect, wherein each arm includes a read/write head having wires coupled thereto, the method further including the step of attaching a wire carrier to the arm prior to the stacking step.

Abstract: A servo shield used in small Winchester drives is provided to minimize undesired crosstalk between a data read/write head used in a stack of hard disks and servo information that is provided on an adjacent disk. In the present invention, one surface of a middle disk is provided with servo information which is used to make certain that the head drive assembly, or actuator, positions the heads above the center of the data track regardless of thermal effects or other factors that might introduce errors. In order to avoid crosstalk between the data head and the adjacent servo head reading the servo information, a servo shield formed of a suitable material, preferably berylium copper, is positioned between the servo head and its adjacent corresponding read/write head. This servo shield is mounted interiorly of the housing and slides between the servo head and adjacent read/write head when the housing is finally assembled.

Abstract: A venturi or other air deflecting means is provided on the inside of the casing of a disc drive. The venturi or air deflecting means is arranged so that air, which is caused to move by the rotating disc, passes it and creates the lowest pressure inside the disc casing. This low pressure area is communicated to atmospheric pressure.