Abstract: An inlet to a disc drive's filter chamber is tapered to converge along most or all of its length so as to reduce drag and increase inflow volume and velocity. This accelerates the removal of particles from the disc drive's sealed chamber, reducing the likelihood of particle-induced data transfer errors or media damage.

Abstract: A disc clamp for a disc drive used to secure a disc stack in position when the disc is mounted to a hub. The disc clamp is annular with a central opening and has three tabs. The three equidistantly spaced tabs extend radially inward from the circumferential edge of the central opening. The disc clamp is resiliently flexible and has a continuous annular disc contact region adjacent to an outer circumferential edge. The disc clamp also has at least three screw openings each for receiving a screw fastener to fasten the disc clamp to the hub in the clamping position. The disc clamp resiliently flexes in the clamping position to cause the annular disc contact region to bear against the surface of the outermost stacked disc to clamp the disc stack against radial and axial movement.

Abstract: A novel ramp loading scheme minimizes wear and friction between the rubbing surfaces (typically the flexure and the ramp surface) where both the ramp assembly and the actuator arm are coated with a hard, low-friction fluoropolymer compound. Tests conducted with this coating-on-coating scheme demonstrated that, after multiple load/unload cycles, the coefficient of friction along the rubbing surfaces was low and did not change appreciably. To minimize flying debris, if any, from contacting sensitive disc drive parts, a lubricant is coated on the stationary part (i.e., the ramp assembly).

Abstract: The present invention provides a disc clamp for use with a disc stack assembly where the disc stack assembly is designed for rotation about an axis. The disc clamp includes a set of openings defined by a body, such that each opening has line symmetry about a line of reflection that intersects the axis. The disc clamp also includes a set of flanges, each which extends from the body into one of the openings. The disc clamp is made such that the set of openings has rotational symmetry about the axis and the set of flanges is rotationally asymmetrical about the axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for isolating actuator noise for a disc-drive system. An isolation material and a plug are combined in such a way to prevent or lessen acoustic actuator noise from the actuator assembly from entering the base plate of a disc drive system. An isolation material and plug form a dampening element. A dampening element may be formed from the elastomeric material without the plug.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for reducing and isolating actuator noise in disc drives. An isolation mount is provided between the disc-drive case and its external mounting assembly. A disc drive that includes an external mounting member, a disc case, and an actuator assembly mounted within the disc case. In some embodiments, the disc drive also includes at least one damper holding the disc case to the external mounting member that allows rotational movement of the disc case relative to the external mounting member in order to reduce the emission of sound from the disc case.

Abstract: A disc drive actuator arm is an extended arm having forward edge to engage fluid flow due to rotation of the disc, a rear edge, and a top surface and a bottom surface along which fluid flows. The top and bottom surfaces join the forward and rear edges, and the fluid flow has a boundary layer along the top surface and the bottom surface. The arm has an aerodynamic cross-section so that the fluid flow boundary layer does not separate at the forward and rear edges. The fluid flow past the arm from the forward edge to the rear edge is substantially laminar to prevent vortex shedding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for reducing flutter and windage losses in disc drives. In one embodiment, a ribbed shroud is provided at the circumference of the disc assembly. One such disc-drive system includes a disc-drive housing, at least one disc mounted within the housing which rotates, a transducer having a read head positionable to read data from the disc, and a shroud structure near an outer circumference of the disc that reduces flutter and windage losses. In some embodiments, the shroud structure is ribbed. Also presented is a first method for reducing flutter and windage losses in a disc drive, including spacing a first shroud at each one of at least two different spacings from an outer-diameter edge of one or more discs within the disc drive, measuring a performance characteristic of the disc drive at each one of the at least two different spacings, and selecting one of the shroud spacings based on the measuring step.