Patent Application
20080094747
So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the present invention, which will become apparent, are attained and can be understood in more detail, more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings which form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only some embodiments of the invention and therefore are not to be considered limiting of its scope as the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Referring to
In the embodiment shown, each arm 125 has extending from it at least one cantilevered load beam and suspension 127. A magnetic read/write transducer or head is mounted on a slider 129 and secured to a flexure that is flexibly mounted to each suspension 127. The read/write heads magnetically read data from and/or magnetically write data to disk 115. The level of integration called the head gimbal assembly (HGA) is the head and the slider 129, which are mounted on suspension 127.
Suspensions 127 bias the air bearing surface of the slider 129 against the disk 115 to cause the slider 129 to fly at a precise distance from the disk. A voice coil 133 free to move within a conventional voice coil motor magnet assembly 134 (top pole not shown) is also mounted to arms 125 opposite the head gimbal assemblies. Movement of the actuator 121 (indicated by arrow 135) by controller 119 moves the head gimbal assemblies along radial arcs across tracks on the disk 115 until the heads settle on their respective target tracks. The head gimbal assemblies operate in a conventional manner and always move in unison with one another, unless drive 111 uses multiple independent actuators (not shown) wherein the arms can move independently of one another.
The disks 115 define an axis 201 of rotation 205 and radial direction 207 relative to the axis 201. The disks 115 have a downstream side 213 wherein air flows away from the disks 115, and an upstream side 215 wherein air flows toward the disks 115. The drive 111 also has a bypass channel 219 located in the housing 113 for directing the air flow generated by rotation of the disks 115 from the downstream side 213 of the disk pack or disks 115 to the upstream side 215 of the disks 115. In this way the airflow substantially bypasses the actuator.
In the embodiment shown, the bypass channel 219 is located between an outer perimeter 217 of the housing 113 and the actuator 121, such that the bypass channel 219 completely circumscribes the actuator 121. The elements that define the bypass channel 219 may be integrally formed (e.g., cast) with the base 113. In some HDD designs where there is not sufficient space to implement a full bypass channel (shown) the bypass channel 219 may be interrupted (not shown). This is known as a partial bypass. Furthermore, in order to help the bypass airflow negotiate substantial angular changes (channel bends), one or more turning vanes may be placed in those areas.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the wall feature 307 of the slit shroud 300 and the inner wall 301 of the bypass channel 219 extend in an axial direction (e.g., vertically) from the housing. The wall feature 307 and the opening 305 may span a linear gap of approximately 1 mm to 20 mm. For example, a typical 3.5-inch server class drive the gap may comprise about 5 mm. As shown in the drawings, the opening 305 may comprise a flat rectangular hole, and the wall feature 307 is a flat rectangular panel that completely covers opening 305.
As shown in the illustrated embodiment of
In addition, the slit shroud 300 comprises one or more planar platforms 311 that may be equal in number to the number of media disks 115. The platforms 311 are axially aligned with and parallel to the media disks 115. As shown in
In some disk drive embodiments, a load/unload ramp is required for suspensions 127. For those applications, the “sliding” installation of slit shroud 300 relative to suspensions 127 (i.e., parallel to the planes defined by suspensions 127) prevents damage to the components of the drive. If no load/unload ramp is required, the slit shroud 300 (i.e., wall feature 307) may be installed directly downward into opening 305 by motion perpendicular to the planes defined by suspensions 127.
Referring now to
The method may further comprise directing airflow with the bypass channel from a downstream side of the media disk to an upstream side of the media disk, and providing the slit shroud with a wall feature that defines said at least a portion of the bypass channel. In another embodiment, the method may comprise substantially bypassing airflow around the actuator with the bypass channel, and providing the bypass channel with a wall that defines a conduit for the airflow and an opening in the wall adjacent the actuator, and wherein the slit shroud maintains planar shrouding of the media disk and inhibits axial turbulent velocity components with respect to the actuator, and the slit shroud has a wall feature that closes the opening in the wall of the bypass channel, such that the wall feature is complementary to the wall. In addition the method may further comprise making the slit shroud flush with the bypass channel.
While the invention has been shown or described in only some of its forms, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible to various changes without departing from the scope of the invention.
