Abstract: A rotary microactuator includes a stationary structure formed on a substrate, a movable structure, and at least a pair of wires connected to the movable structure that conduct a signal associated with the movable structure. Each wire of the pair of wires has a first end that is connected in a cantilever manner to the substrate and a second end that is connected to the movable structure. The wires each have a serpentine shape between the first end and the second end, a predetermined spring stiffness, and a predetermined electrical characteristic. The microactuator also includes a magnetic head slider that is attached to the movable structure, and at least another pair of wires conducting a signal associated with a magnetic head of the slider. Each of the another pair of wires has a first end that is connected in a cantilever manner to the substrate and a second end that is connected to the movable structure.

Abstract: Disclosed is an integrated lead suspension flexure attachment structure for a micro-actuator with a slider/transducer assembly attached thereto, having a plurality of electrical terminals for both the micro-actuator and the transducer. The suspension provides low gimbal stiffness and allows the slider to have correct pitch and roll static attitudes. An attachment platform is provided for mechanically attaching the micro-actuator. Two elongate cantilever compliance members extend from the transducer edge and the opposite edge of the attachment platform. Two lead termination platforms are provided, each at the distal end of one of the compliance members. The lead termination platforms extend laterally to either side of the compliance members. Electrical leads are positioned laterally of each of the lead termination platforms on either side, and loop towards the compliance member to the lead termination platform to reduce stiffness of the leads.

Abstract: A suspension system comprises a multiple letter flexure, a load beam and an arm. The load beam extends from the tip of the suspension all the way back to the rear of the arm. Datum holes are located in the load beam such that during assembly all reference points are made from the single load beam piece.

Abstract: A transducer suspension system has a transducer head, laminated member, and a load beam. The laminated member is comprised of a support layer, an electrically insulating layer, and an electrically conducting layer. The electrical lines are formed directly into the laminated member. A first end of the support layer has an aperture into which a tongue section protrudes. The transducer head is attached to the tongue section. A platform section is formed between the aperture and the end of the support layer. The electrical lines run to the transducer head along the platform section. The load beam is attached to the laminated member and provides rigid support. The load beam has an aperture located directly above the platform section and provides access to allow clamping of the electrical lines and the platform section during electrical attachment of the lines to the transducer head. Precise electrical attachment is achieved without unwanted bending of the delicate flexure section of the suspension.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating an electrical connection between first and second electrical pads. A solder bump is formed on the first electrical pad covering only a portion of the pad, the portion located at a side of the first electrical pad, leaving a vacant portion of the first electrical pad at the opposite side of the first electrical pad from the solder bump. The first and second electrical pads are positioned at an intersecting angle, the second pad extending towards the first electrical pad to intersect the first electrical pad at the vacant portion of the first electrical pad and at a distance less than the height of the solder bump. The solder bump is reflowed, the surface tension thereof causing the solder bump to flow into the vacant portion of the first electrical pad to contact the second electrical pad. The movement of the solder bump towards the vacant end of the first pad allows a connection to be made despite some misalignment between the first pad and the second pad.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electrical connection assembly for a data storage device and a method of fabricating the electrical connection between a transducer termination pad formed on a slider and a suspension having a conductive lead structure. A compliant cantilevered conductive pad is formed at the end of the conductive lead structure. A solder bump is formed on the transducer termination pad, and may be formed subsequent to dicing the sliders. The slider is placed in mechanical contact with the suspension for mechanical support such that the solder bump contacts the cantilevered conductive pad, which cantilevered conductive pad complies with the solder bump to absorb positional errors. Then, the solder bump is heated, preferably by a laser, so as to reflow the solder bump to make an approximately right angle solder fillet joint electrical connection with the cantilevered conductive pad.

Abstract: A transducer suspension system has a transducer head, laminated member, and a load beam. The laminated member is comprised of a support layer, an electrically insulating layer, and an electrically conducting layer. The electrical lines are formed directly into the laminated member. A first end of the support layer has an aperture into which a tongue section protrudes. The transducer head is attached to the tongue section. A platform section is formed between the aperture and the end of the support layer. The electrical lines run to the transducer head along the platform section. The load beam is attached to the laminated member and provides rigid support. The load beam has an aperture located directly above the platform section and provides access to allow clamping of the electrical lines and the platform section during electrical attach of the lines to the transducer head. Precise electrical attachment is achieved without unwanted bending of the delicate flexure section of the suspension.

Abstract: A suspension member has integral electrical conductor leads which extend along its length to a rear tail section. The leads extend beyond the tail section for electrical connection with a reception pad member. The distal ends of the leads have recessed areas in the terminal edge to encourage the flow of liquid solder into the joint. The tail section has a pair of tab members which are received in apertures in the reception pad member in order align the leads correctly.

Abstract: The present invention accommodates, in an integrated suspension assembly for a magnetic disk storage system, tolerances in the lead and slider position in a manner to maintain gimbal integrity, minimize static attitude variation and reduce stress build up in the lead. In one aspect of the present invention, the nominal lead position and slider position are chosen such that the distance between them in an overlapping interference manner is no more than (a+b), the sum of the extreme tolerance a of the lead position and extreme tolerance b of the slider position. This is to ensure at least line to line contact between the slider and the leads, in an interference type contact configuration. In another aspect of the present invention, the ends of the leads are coated with a layer of solder material which can be reflowed to form a solder joint bonding the contacting leads to the slider.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved slider-suspension electrical interconnect assembly and a method of manufacturing the same. The novel integrated suspension may be assembled from separate pieces, including a load beam, a flexure and a mounting plate. The load beam provides rigid structural support of the flexure. The flexure includes a flexible member and conductive leads integrally formed thereon. The flexible member has a gimbal area to which a slider is attached. At least one transducer is attached to the slider for reading data from and writing data to a disk surface. Each of the conductive leads terminates at one end on contact pads on the end face of the slider for electrical connection to the transducer. At the slider termination end, the conductive leads comprise an altered and an unaltered section. The altered section of the conductor has a lower yield strength than the conductor surrounding the altered section, and has a more uniform grain structure than the unaltered section.

Abstract: A metering system is described for metering quantities of particles, such as fissile, fertile and shim particles for nuclear fuel elements. Predetermined volume discharges from three particle reservoirs are collected and two of them are weighed in comparison with a predetermined standard. A small amount of particulate material is added to each of the two weighed containers dependent upon the difference between the weight of the volumetrically dispensed particles therein and the predetermined standard. All three intermediate containers are then discharged into a volumetric chamber which is then brought to a standard volume by the addition of further particles. The resultant charge in the volumetric chamber is comprised of a fixed volume in which the weight of particles from two of the three reservoirs is standardized.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel element loading system is described which conveys a plurality of fuel rods to longitudinal passages in fuel elements. Conveyor means successively position the fuel rods above the longitudinal passages in axial alignment therewith and adapter means guide the fuel rods from the conveyor means into the longitudinal passages. The fuel elements are vibrated to cause the fuel rods to fall into the longitudinal passages through the adapter means.

Abstract: A nuclear fuel element assembling method and apparatus is preferably operable under programmed control unit to receive fuel rods from storage, arrange them into axially aligned stacks of closely monitored length, and transfer the stacks of fuel rods to a loading device for insertion into longitudinal passages in the fuel elements. In order to handle large numbers of one or more classifications of fuel rods or other cylindrical parts, the assembling apparatus includes at least two feed troughs each formed by a pair of screw members with a movable table having a plurality of stacking troughs for alignment with the feed troughs and with a conveyor for delivering the stacks to the loading device, the fuel rods being moved along the stacking troughs upon a fluid cushion.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for cleaning nuclear fuel elements to remove carbonized pitch residue and the like, the cleaning operation preferably being conducted within an enclosure to permit containment of the removed residue, each fuel element being introduced into the enclosure through an airlock, the end surfaces and lateral surfaces of the fuel element being cleaned and one or more longitudinal passages within the fuel element being cleaned by means of a probe unit for initially determining the configuration and position of the longitudinal passages and causing cleaning elements to be aligned with the respective longitudinal passages and extended therethrough, the flow resistance of those longitudinal passages designed for gas flow being monitored by a gauging unit, clean fuel elements being removed from the enclosure through another air-lock.