Abstract: A disk drive having a spindle motor and a head stack assembly. The spindle motor has a spindle motor hub having an axis of rotation. The spindle motor has a magnet radially attached about the spindle motor hub. The spindle motor has a spindle motor stator having a stator rim and a plurality of stator teeth arrayed about and internally extending from the stator rim towards the axis of rotation. The stator teeth are fit about the magnet in operable communication therewith for rotating the spindle motor hub. At least one of the stator teeth is a bare stator tooth and the head stack assembly pivots over the bare stator tooth. In another embodiment a reduced winding height stator tooth is provided with head stack assembly pivoting over the reduced winding height stator tooth.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are disk drive spindle motors and disk drives using same that include one of more structures that function as travel limit stops that are designed to transfer the load created by a shock impulse to non-essential mechanical features and bypass the bearing structures, thereby keeping the load imposed thereon by the shock impulse below damaging levels. The spindle motor may also include one or more compliant members between the bearing structures and facing surfaces. Such compliant members may be combined with pre-load keepers that preload the bearings by axially compressing the compliant members.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base. The disk drive further includes a spindle motor hub rotatably coupled to the disk drive base. The disk drive further includes a disk disposed about the hub and having a disk surface. The disk drive further includes a disk clamp attached to the hub in mechanical communication with the disk surface for applying a clamping force to the disk. The disk drive further includes a disk clamp damping member disposed adjacent and in mechanical communication with the disk clamp and the disk surface for damping movement of the disk relative to the hub.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated radially over the disk, and a spindle motor for rotating the disk. The spindle motor comprises a stator having at least one stator coil wrapped around a stator tooth. The spindle motor further comprises a hub rotated by the stator when current is applied to the stator coil, and a locking spring arm having a fixed base. The locking spring arm engages the hub when no current is applied to the stator coil, and the locking spring arm disengages from the hub when current applied to the stator coil generates a magnetic flux which pulls the locking spring arm away from the hub.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising an enclosure, a disk, a head actuated radially over the disk, a spindle motor for rotating the disk, and a ratchet arm having a base end connected to the enclosure of the disk drive and a wind vane extending from the base end adjacent the disk. The ratchet arm engages the disk when the disk is not rotating, and the ratchet arm disengages from the disk due to windage pushing on the wind vane, the windage generated by the disk rotating at an angular velocity greater than a threshold.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed employing a spindle motor comprising a hub ratchet arm disengaged through angular velocity. In one embodiment the ratchet arm is connected to the hub and engages a spindle shaft or a stator, and in an alternative embodiment the ratchet arm is connected to the spindle shaft or the stator and engages the hub. In one embodiment the ratchet arm disengages through centrifugal force, and in an alternative embodiment the ratchet arm disengages through an air bearing or windage.

Abstract: A disk drive that includes a disk drive base, a spindle motor hub, a disk, and a rotary actuator including a distal end and is formed to pivot for translating the distal end adjacent the disk to a parked position. The disk drive includes a disk plate that includes a plate body disposed substantially about and parallel with the disk for modifying air flow adjacent the disk during operation of the disk drive. In an embodiment the disk plate includes a head limiter portion extending from the plate body. The head limiter portion is vertically aligned with the distal end with the distal end in the parked position. In other embodiment the disk plate includes an arm limiter portion vertically aligned with the actuator arm structure with the actuator arm structure in the parked position.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive having a rotatable head stack assembly. The spindle motor has a spindle motor hub. The spindle motor further has a magnet radially attached about the spindle motor hub. The spindle motor further has a spindle motor stator. The spindle motor has a stator rim. The spindle motor stator further has a plurality of stator teeth arrayed about and internally extending from the stator rim. The stator teeth are sized to fit about the magnet in operable communication therewith for rotating the spindle motor hub. The stator teeth have laminate layers. The stator teeth have a least one reduced height stator tooth having fewer laminate layers than a remainder of the stator teeth. The reduced height stator tooth is positionable adjacent the head stack assembly for allowing the head stack assembly to pivot over the reduced height stator tooth.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive having a rotatable head stack assembly. The spindle motor has a spindle motor hub having an axis of rotation. The spindle motor has a magnet radially attached about the spindle motor hub. The spindle motor has a spindle motor stator having a stator rim and a plurality of stator teeth arrayed about and internally extending from the stator rim towards the axis of rotation. The stator teeth being are to fit about the magnet in operable communication therewith for rotating the spindle motor hub. Two respective ones of the stator teeth are spaced apart along the stator rim to allow the head stack assembly to pivot between the two respective ones of the stator teeth.

Abstract: A disk drive including a disk drive base. The disk drive further includes at least one rotatable disk which includes a disk surface extending to an outer disk edge. The disk drive further includes a head stack assembly rotatably attached to the disk drive base in operable communication with the disk. The disk drive further includes an airflow suppressor comb coupled to the disk drive base and stationary relative to the disk drive base during operation of the disk drive. The comb includes a comb body disposed adjacent to the outer disk edge, and at least one tine extending from the comb body along the disk surface for mitigating disk rotation induced airflow upon the head stack assembly adjacent to the disk surface.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed with reduced resonance. The disk drive comprises a disk, a fixed spindle shaft disposed axially through the disk, a spindle motor for rotating the disk about the fixed spindle shaft, wherein a resonance is associated with the spindle motor rotating the disk. The disk drive further comprises a head, an actuator arm for actuating the head radially over the disk, a base, and a cover attached to the base to form a head disk assembly chamber. The cover comprises a shaft aperture positioned over the fixed spindle shaft, the shaft aperture for receiving a fastener for attaching the cover to the fixed spindle shaft. The cover further comprises a plurality of slots proximate the shaft aperture, wherein the shaft aperture and slots provide a flexible support for the fixed spindle shaft which reduces the resonance associated with the spindle motor.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk drive base, a spindle motor, a first disk and a disk clamp. The rotary hub of the spindle motor includes a generally cylindrically-shaped hub wall and a hub flange including an inner annular surface adjacent to the hub wall, an outer annular surface and a flange land portion integrally formed with the hub flange. The land portion is positioned between the annular surfaces and defines a disk contact surface projecting above the annular surfaces, the disk contact surface being substantially centered on the hub flange. The first disk is supported by the disk contact surface to form a clearance between the annular surfaces and the first disk. A second disk may be coupled to the spindle motor and an annular disk spacer may be positioned between the disks. The annular disk spacer includes a first spacer surface facing the first disk and a second spacer surface facing the second disk.