Patents by Inventor Jeffrey K. Rhoton

Jeffrey K. Rhoton 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).

  • Patent number: 5845401
    Abstract: A rugged spindle for a disk certifier that test the disks of a hard disk drive. The spindle contains a first bearing and a second bearing that are coupled together by a shaft. The first bearing is coupled to a chuck that captures a disk. The second bearing is coupled to the spindle shaft of an electric motor which rotates the disk. The bearings each contain an outer graphite sheath that is separated from a hardened housing by an air bearing. The connecting shaft is bonded to the first and second bearings by an adhesive that is injected through longitudinal passages of the shaft. The bonding adhesive flows along the interface of the connecting shaft and bearings until the adhesive fills an indicator slot of the shaft. Air bearings are created during the bonding process of the second bearing to insure an accurate relationship between the two bearings and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Phase Metrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Rhoton, Roger D. Peters
  • Patent number: 5692840
    Abstract: A rugged spindle for a disk certifier that test the disks of a hard disk drive. The spindle contains a first bearing and a second bearing that are coupled together by a shaft. The first bearing is coupled to a chuck that captures a disk. The second bearing is coupled to the spindle shaft of an electric motor which rotates the disk. The bearings each contain an outer graphite sheath that is separated from a hardened housing by an air bearing. The connecting shaft is bonded to the first and second bearings by an adhesive that is injected through longitudinal passages of the shaft. The bonding adhesive flows along the interface of the connecting shaft and bearings until the adhesive fills an indicator slot of the shaft. Air bearings are created during the bonding process of the second bearing to insure an accurate relationship between the two bearings and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Phase Metrics
    Inventors: Jeffrey K. Rhoton, Roger D. Peters