Patents by Inventor Brian L. Rappel
Brian L. Rappel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9836097Abstract: A storage drive configured for use in a storage drive block and a storage drive block are provided. The storage drive block in one example includes a plurality of storage drives joined together into a substantially rigid storage drive block, a block communication element extending to the plurality of storage drives and adapted to communicatively link a plurality of communication boards of the plurality of storage drives to a mass storage chassis assembly, and one or more joining elements affixing the one or more mounting elements of each storage drive to form the storage drive block.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David D. Brause, Dana C. Fisher, Brian L. Rappel
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Publication number: 20160070295Abstract: A storage drive configured for use in a storage drive block and a storage drive block are provided. The storage drive block in one example includes a plurality of storage drives joined together into a substantially rigid storage drive block, a block communication element extending to the plurality of storage drives and adapted to communicatively link a plurality of communication boards of the plurality of storage drives to a mass storage chassis assembly, and one or more joining elements affixing the one or more mounting elements of each storage drive to form the storage drive block.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: March 10, 2016Inventors: David D. Brause, Dana C. Fisher, Brian L. Rappel
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Patent number: 8717706Abstract: Described herein is a balance plug for a disk drive. The balance plug includes a body defining a substantially spherical outer surface and a plurality of ribs along the spherical outer surface and defining at least three meridians along the outer surface of the sphere. The at least three meridians can reside in at least two transverse planes.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Curtis S. German, Andrew A. Lucas, Brian L. Rappel
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Patent number: 8665555Abstract: A disk drive includes an enclosure that has a breather port therethrough. A first labyrinth path may be disposed inside the disk drive enclosure, in fluid connection with the breather port. A second labyrinth path may be temporarily disposed outside the disk drive enclosure, in fluid connection with the breather port. An alternative gas such as helium may be allowed to bleed out through the second labyrinth path during a period of servo track writing. The second labyrinth path may be removed after servo track writing.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lionel Young, John R. Gustafson, Scott E. Watson, Dana C. Fisher, Brian L. Rappel, Andrew A. Lucas
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Patent number: 8437101Abstract: Described herein is a balance plug for a disk drive. The balance plug includes a body defining a substantially spherical outer surface and a plurality of ribs along the spherical outer surface and defining at least three meridians along the outer surface of the sphere. The at least three meridians can reside in at least two transverse planes.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Curtis S. German, Andrew A. Lucas, Brian L. Rappel
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Patent number: 7821735Abstract: A disk drive housing, base assembly for use as part of the housing and associated method are disclosed. The base assembly is configured for receiving a cover. In one feature, a base housing serves to define a housing interior in cooperation with the cover for receiving a plurality of components therein as part of the disk drive and the base housing includes a peripheral edge configuration. A molding surrounds and sealingly engages the base housing such that the molding defines a peripheral sealing surface for use in sealing the cover to the base assembly. In another feature, accommodating one or more given components within a given base housing outline, which would not otherwise be accommodated, is described by outsetting a peripheral sidewall of the base housing, adjacent to the given component.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Inventors: Chad A. Bogacz, David D. Brause, Brian L. Rappel
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Patent number: 7817380Abstract: A digital storage apparatus includes a housing defining a housing interior and defining a ramp support surface. A disk is supported for rotation in the housing. A head gimbal assembly is supported for use in pivotally accessing the disk in performing one or more data accesses and for moving to an unloaded position from an access position. A ramp arrangement receives the head gimbal assembly in the unloaded position. The ramp arrangement includes at least three feet for sliding engagement with the ramp support surface for use in at least partially establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement. In one aspect, the housing defines a first surface and a second surface, which are in a transverse relationship with respect to one another. The ramp arrangement engages the first surface and the second surface for establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement in the housing interior.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2009Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Inventors: Brian L. Rappel, Chad A. Bogacz, David D. Brause
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Patent number: 7667931Abstract: A head stack assembly of a disk drive has a hub including a side margin defining a channel for carrying VCM conductors at least partially around an angular offset such that the conductors are contained within a peripheral outline of the hub and the conductors can extend completely within an overmolding thickness. A first portion of a flexible interconnection biases against a side margin of the hub such that a rotation of the HSA causes a length of the first portion to change. A floating portion of length of the flexible extension follows a semicircular path between a first contact position on the hub and a second contact position on the support surface such that a floating loop diameter is defined between the contact positions. The hub and the support surface can be configured for changing the floating loop diameter with rotation to vary resilient biasing torque to the HSA.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Inventors: David D. Brause, Brian L. Rappel, Chad A. Bogacz
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Publication number: 20090279210Abstract: A digital storage apparatus includes a housing defining a housing interior and defining a ramp support surface. A disk is supported for rotation in the housing. A head gimbal assembly is supported for use in pivotally accessing the disk in performing one or more data accesses and for moving to an unloaded position from an access position. A ramp arrangement receives the head gimbal assembly in the unloaded position. The ramp arrangement includes at least three feet for sliding engagement with the ramp support surface for use in at least partially establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement. In one aspect, the housing defines a first surface and a second surface, which are in a transverse relationship with respect to one another. The ramp arrangement engages the first surface and the second surface for establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement in the housing interior.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2009Publication date: November 12, 2009Applicant: BENHOV GMBH, LLC.Inventors: Brian L. Rappel, Chad A. Bogacz, David D. Brause
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Patent number: 7593192Abstract: A digital storage apparatus includes a housing defining a housing interior and defining a ramp support surface. A disk is supported for rotation in the housing. A head gimbal assembly is supported for use in pivotally accessing the disk in performing one or more data accesses and for moving to an unloaded position from an access position. A ramp arrangement receives the head gimbal assembly in the unloaded position. The ramp arrangement includes at least three feet for sliding engagement with the ramp support surface for use in at least partially establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement. In one aspect, the housing defines a first surface and a second surface, which are in a transverse relationship with respect to one another. The ramp arrangement engages the first surface and the second surface for establishing an operational position of the ramp arrangement in the housing interior.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2006Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Inventors: Brian L. Rappel, Chad A. Bogacz, David D. Brause
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Patent number: 6906892Abstract: A data storage cartridge is positioned in a disk drive. The cartridge is positioned in the X and Y dimensions by contact between an alignment opening in the cartridge and an XY alignment pin in the disk drive and in the theta (rotational) dimension by contact between an edge of the cartridge and a theta datum in the disk drive. The cartridge is positioned in the Z dimension by contact between the cartridge and at least three Z datums.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2001Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: DPHI Aquisitions, Inc.Inventors: Glade N. Bagnell, Robert D. Freeman, Joseph P. Manes, Stephen A. Misuta, Shane G. Nowell, Brian L. Rappel, Edwin J. Wadsworth
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Patent number: 6829120Abstract: A disk drive includes a housing, a cartridge tray, and a cam plate. The cartridge tray is adapted to hold a cartridge that includes a data storage disk. The housing has a pair of vertical cartridge tray pin slots which hold tray pins that are part of the cartridge tray. The cam plate includes a pair of cam slots formed at an oblique angle to the cartridge tray pin slots. The tray pins extend through the cam slots into the cartridge tray pin slots. Movement of the cam plate back and forth causes the tray pins and cartridge tray to move vertically between a loaded position, where data can be read from or written to the data storage disk, to an unloaded position. The use of two cartridge tray pins allows the cartridge tray to rotate about an axis defined by the tray pins, and this action assists in locating the cartridge precisely in a repeatable position, in contact with a plurality of datums, when it is fully loaded.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2001Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: DPHI Acquisitions, Inc.Inventors: Glade N. Bagnell, Robert D. Freeman, Joseph P. Manes, Stephen A. Misuta, Shane G. Nowell, Brian L. Rappel, Edwin J. Wadsworth
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Publication number: 20020131201Abstract: A disk drive contains a pair of spring elements which act as eject limiters, engaging catches on a cartridge to prevent the cartridge from being completely ejected from the drive. The cartridge contains a data storage disk which could be damaged if, for example, the cartridge were to fall to the floor. After the cartridge has been retained by the eject limiters, the user may manually withdraw the cartridge from the disk drive.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2001Publication date: September 19, 2002Applicant: DataPlay, Inc.Inventors: Glade N. Bagnell, Robert D. Freeman, Joseph P. Manes, Stephen A. Misuta, Shane G. Nowell, Brian L. Rappel, Edwin J. Wadsworth
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Publication number: 20020126414Abstract: A data storage cartridge is positioned in a disk drive. The cartridge is positioned in the X and Y dimensions by contact between an alignment opening in the cartridge and an XY alignment pin in the disk drive and in the theta (rotational) dimension by contact between an edge of the cartridge and a theta datum in the disk drive. The cartridge is positioned in the Z dimension by contact between the cartridge and at least three Z datums.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Glade N. Bagnell, Robert D. Freeman, Joseph P. Manes, Stephen A. Misuta, Shane G. Nowell, Brian L. Rappel, Edwin J. Wadsworth
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Publication number: 20020126614Abstract: A disk drive for a data storage cartridge includes a picker arm for opening a shutter on the cartridge, thereby exposing a data storage disk, as said cartridge is inserted into said disk drive. The picker arm is pivotable about a pin and is spring-biased to an extended position such that the picker arm points generally towards a door of said disk drive. The picker arm has a feature adapted to engage the shutter when the cartridge is inserted into said disk drive. The picker arm rotates about the pin from the extended position to a retracted position, the shutter being in an open position when engaged by the picker arm in its retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: DataPlay, Inc.Inventors: Glade N. Bagnell, Joseph P. Manes, Shane G. Nowell, Brian L. Rappel, Edwin J. Wadsworth
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Publication number: 20020126413Abstract: A disk drive includes a housing, a cartridge tray, and a cam plate. The cartridge tray is adapted to hold a cartridge that includes a data storage disk. The housing has a pair of vertical cartridge tray pin slots which hold tray pins that are part of the cartridge tray. The cam plate includes a pair of cam slots formed at an oblique angle to the cartridge tray pin slots. The tray pins extend through the cam slots into the cartridge tray pin slots. Movement of the cam plate back and forth causes the tray pins and cartridge tray to move vertically between a loaded position, where data can be read from or written to the data storage disk, to an unloaded position. The use of two cartridge tray pins allows the cartridge tray to rotate about an axis defined by the tray pins, and this action assists in locating the cartridge precisely in a repeatable position, in contact with a plurality of datums, when it is fully loaded.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Glade N. Bagnell, Robert D. Freeman, Joseph P. Manes, Stephen A. Misuta, Shane G. Nowell, Brian L. Rappel, Edwin J. Wadsworth
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Patent number: 5872678Abstract: A data storage disk drive is provided with a spindle which supports at least one disk having at least one magnetic disk surface to form a spindle assembly for rotation of the disk surfaces about a common axis and a rotary actuator which supports at least one magnetic tranducers for movement about respective disk surfaces. The enclosure includes a base casting and a cover casting. The base casting include predetermined registration surfaces for mounting the spindle and the rotary actuator and having a mating face. The cover casting has a mating face for engaging the base mating face to define the disk drive enclosure for enclosing the spindle, the at least one disk surface, the at least one magnetic transducer and the actuator. The mating faces extend along the length of the disk drive enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Fred Boigenzahn, Darrell Eugene Bratvold, Dale C. Goeke, Michael S. Good, Dale E. Goodman, Richard E. Lagergren, Gregory A. Lyons, Brian L. Rappel, James M. Rigotti, Lyle R. Tufty
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Patent number: 5539595Abstract: A data storage disk drive is provided with a spindle which supports a plurality of disks having at least one magnetic disk surface to form a spindle assembly for rotation of the disk surfaces about a common axis and a rotary actuator which supports magnetic transducers for movement in unison about respective disk surfaces. The disk drive includes a voltage reference tab provided for quick assembly and removal from an actuator comb. The voltage reference tab maintains the magneto-resistive transducers and the magnetic disks at the same reference voltage potential thus minimizing electrical discharge from the transducer to the disk. The voltage reference tab is a copper tab having symmetrical slots about a fastening hole to facilitate the bending operation and to reduce the rate at which heat is conducted during the soldering process. The tab maintains the voltage reference potential between the head and disk through an extension of the flex cable attached to the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 1995Date of Patent: July 23, 1996Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John L. Beck, Jeffrey F. Boigenzahn, Darrell E. Bratvold, Charles A. Brown, Luke A. Cossette, Dale C. Goeke, Michael S. Good, Dale E. Goodman, Richard E. Lagergren, Gregory A. Lyons, Brian L. Rappel, James M. Rigotti, Daniel C. Stucky, Lyle R. Tufty, Herman R. Wendt
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Patent number: D488817Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: DPHI Acquisitions, Inc.Inventors: Edwin Wadsworth, Stephen A. Misuta, Brian L. Rappel, Joseph Paul Manes, Shane Nowell