Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic transducer assembly including a plurality of magnetic cores affixed to a non-magnetic slider, the slider having a multiplicity of fluid bearing surfaces for supporting the magnetic transducer assembly on a fluid bearing proximate to a rotating surface such as a magnetic disc. Each magnetic core has a corresponding slider fluid bearing surface of equal width, the magnetic cores being affixed to the trailing edge of the fluid bearing surfaces. The slider provides additional fluid bearing surfaces intermediate the corresponding fluid bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A suspension device for a magnetic transducer including a spring member and a transducer attachment clip engaged by the spring member. Pivot means are disposed between the spring member and the attachment clip to define an axis of rotation. The device may include a retraction member adapted to engage the attachment clip and indexing means between the retraction member and the attachment clip to index the attachment clip when the retraction member engages the clip. The spring member and the retraction member may be integrally formed.

Abstract: Actuator apparatus is disclosed for positioning a plurality of magnetic heads transversely along a path which is substantially a radius of a rotating magnetic disc. The apparatus includes a parallelogram shaped supporting structure comprising a fixed inner member coupled to a movable outer member by a pair of resiliently deformable spring members. A suspension spring is mounted on the movable outer member and provides both gimbal support and pressure loading to a plurality of magnetic heads mounted thereon. The actuator apparaus further includes a continuous drive band affixed to the movable outer member and driven by a stepper motor for positioning the magnetic heads along the substantially radial path, thereby permitting information to be read from and written onto the various tracks of the magnetic disc.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for circulating and filtering gas within a magnetic disc recording system. The apparatus includes a base plate which supports a rotating disc and a cover which comprises a control plate adapted to be positioned adjacent to and parallel to the rotating disc. A central opening is formed into the control plate, and a first gas chamber is placed in communication with the central opening through a filter chamber including a filter element. The cover and base plate cooperate to define a second gas chamber in communication with the outer edge of the rotating disc and the control plate. Openings are formed into the filter chamber for allowing gas flow from the second gas chamber through the filter element into the first gas chamber. The gas is circulated and filtered to remove particles suspended in the gas that might damage the gas bearing surfaces of magnetic transducers or the surface of the rotating disc.

Abstract: A suspension device is disclosed which is formed from a single thickness of resilient material for urging a plurality of magnetic heads toward a moving magnetic surface. The suspension device comprises a base area adapted to be affixed to a support structure, a plurality of adjacent gimbal sets each having a first sinuous gimbal member and a second sinuous gimbal member, and a plurality of leaf spring members that join the gimbal sets to the base area. The sinuous gimbal members each further comprise a plurality of laterally adjacent gimbal legs.