Abstract: An effective aerodynamic transducer latch is disclosed in which the latch mechanism is within the confines of a miniaturized disc drive structure, the latch being capable of reliably holding the actuator arm from uncontrolled movement away from a landing zone position in response to significant linear shocks exceeding 300 Gs, rotational shocks exceeding 15,000 radians/s.sup.2, and combines a low cost, low-mass non-electrically powered latch mechanism cooperating with a disc drive actuator arm such that while the mass of the latch mechanism is significantly less than the mass of the actuator arm, the latch mechanism is capable of effectively restraining the arm against movement.

Abstract: A clamp ring for a disk stack assembly of a computer disk drive unit includes a lower surface which includes an arcuate rolling contact surface that uniformly distributes a load applied to the clamp ring to components of the disk stack assembly underlying the clamp ring without damaging such disk stack components on load-induced flexion of the clamp ring. A cantilevered section of the clamp ring is disposed radially inwardly of the arcuate rolling contact surface, and is defined by a portion of the lower surface which is raised relative to an adjacent portion of the arcuate rolling contact surface so as to not contact the underlying disk stack components on load-induced flexion of the clamp ring. In use, the clamp ring is heated and then placed over the disk stack components to be clamped together.

Abstract: A process for assembling a clamp ring to a disk stack assembly of a computer disk drive unit. The clamp ring includes a lower surface which includes an arcuate rolling contact surface that uniformly distributes a load applied to the clamp ring to components of the disk stack assembly underlying the clamp ring without damaging such disk stack components on load-induced flexion of the clamp ring. A cantilevered section of the clamp ring is disposed radially inwardly of the arcuate rolling contact surface, and is defined by a portion of the lower surface which is raised relative to an adjacent portion of the arcuate rolling contact surface so as to not contact the underlying disk stack components on load-induced flexion of the clamp ring. In use, the clamp ring is heated and then placed over the disk stack components to be clamped together.

Abstract: A clamp ring for a disk stack assembly of a computer disk drive unit includes a lower surface which includes an arcuate rolling contact surface that uniformly distributes a load applied to the clamp ring to components of the disk stack assembly underlying the clamp ring without damaging such disk stack components on load-induced flexion of the clamp ring. A cantilevered section of the clamp ring is disposed radially inwardly of the arcuate rolling contact surface, and is defined by a portion of the lower surface which is raised relative to an adjacent portion of the arcuate rolling contact surface so as to not contact the underlying disk stack components on load-induced flexion of the clamp ring. In use, the clamp ring is heated and then placed over the disk stack components to be clamped together.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for a computer disk drive includes a pivot shaft which defines a pivot axis for the actuator assembly, a pivotable actuator which encircles the pivot shaft, a bearing assembly disposed between the pivot shaft and the actuator, and a labyrinth seal adjacent to a lower edge of the bearing assembly. The labyrinth seal is incorporated into the pivot shaft and includes an axially extending ridge which is disposed in facing relation to a lower edge of the bearing assembly. The labyrinth seal also includes a reservoir disposed radially inwardly of the axially extending ridge, and a flange which extends radially outwardly of the axially extending ridge. The flange includes both axially and radially-facing surfaces which are disposed in facing relation to oppositely facing surfaces of the actuator. Very small air gaps are maintained between the labyrinth seal and the actuator assembly, on the order of 0.003 to 0.

Abstract: A computer disk drive unit includes a housing having a lower base and an upper removable cover which define a disk storage compartment therebetween. A shaft fixed to the lower base supports a plurality of memory storage disks for rotation within the disk storage compartment. An elastomeric snubber extends between an upper end of the shaft and the upper housing cover, for preventing direct contact and absorbing vibration between the shaft and the upper housing cover. The snubber is a cylindrical member having a lower solid section disposed within a recess in the upper end of the shaft, and an upper tubular section which is compressed as the upper housing cover is secured to the lower base. The upper housing cover includes a thickened portion whereat the upper tubular section of the snubber contacts the cover.

Abstract: A disc pack assembly utilized in a Winchester hard disc drive includes a rotatable cylindrical spindle and at least one disc mounted on the spindle for rotation therewith. A laminate sleeve surrounds the outer diameter of the spindle and is disposed between the inner diameter of the disc and the outer diameter of the spindle. The sleeve includes a first layer of a relatively pliable material disposed immediately adjacent to the spindle outer surface, and a second layer of a relatively firm material secured to and generally surrounding the first layer. The sleeve forms a substantially uniform and continuous magnetic-flux insulating gap between the inner diameter of the disc and the outer diameter of the spindle to provide clearance between the disc and the spindle and prevent the inner diameter of the disc from abutting the outer diameter of the spindle due to thermally induced differential expansion of the disc and the spindle.

Abstract: A disk drive spindle motor includes an improved mounting arrangement for Hall sensors and an associated flux concentrator ring. The spindle motor comprises a compact dc motor having a driven rotor hub adapted to support one or more computer disks within a substantially sealed disk drive housing. A timing magnet is mounted at one axial end of the rotor hub in close proximity with Hall sensors seated within individual sensor ports and electrically connected directly to appropriate conductors on the exterior of the housing. The Hall sensors are supported by a flux concentrator ring which is mounted against the housing exterior to overlie and close the sensor ports, and further to concentrate the magnetic flux path through the Hall sensors. Such concentration of the flux path substantially isolates the timing magnet from the computer disks.

Abstract: A station for writing servo track and clock information onto a hard disk drive assembly (HDA) automatically positions and accesses a pallet assembly, including the HDA, in accordance with computerized instructions. A Winchester-type HDA is positioned on the pallet assembly, which in turn is positioned upon a carriage assembly. An automatic, computer-controlled sequence begins which draws the carriage assembly into the station, connects the HDA electronically with the station, and then causes a platten assembly to lift the pallet assembly (with the HDA) into engagement with a top plate assembly. The top plate assembly engages the HDA in a manner wherein the positioning of the HDA actuator assembly is accurately controlled relative to the hard disks located therein. After the hard disks are brought to operational speed utilizing a spindle motor built into the HDA, a clock head assembly positions a clock head to write clock data onto the upper surface of a selected hard disk.

Abstract: An improved spindle motor is provided for rotatably driving one or more memory storage disks in a computer disk drive or the like. The spindle motor comprises a stator shaft having opposite ends anchored to a disk drive housing, and a cylindrical rotor hub supported by bearings from the stator shaft for relatively high speed rotation. The stator shaft carries an armature in magnetically coupled relation with a high strength unitary permanent magnet sleeve carried by the rotor hub, with the number of armature poles and permanent magnet poles being mismatched to achieve low cogging motor operation. The memory disks have central openings therein and are mounted about the rotor hub for rotation during motor operation.