Load/unload ramps with channels
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsYiChao Ma, Xiong Liu, Pow Hing Yong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load/unload ramp includes a body with ramps, load/unload surfaces, and a vertical wall. The ramps include outer grooves positioned between the ramps. The load/unload surfaces extend from the respective ramps. The vertical wall includes channels extending through the vertical wall. In embodiments, the channels are positioned between the load/unload surfaces.
Claims18
A load/unload ramp comprising:
- a body including:
- an outer perimeter defined by exterior-facing surfaces, which include an air-bearing surface and an exit surface opposite the air-bearing surface,
- ramps with outer grooves positioned therebetween,
- load/unload surfaces extending from the respective ramps, and
- a vertical wall with channels extending through the body from the air-bearing surface to the exit surface and positioned between the load/unload surfaces.
A hard disk drive comprising:
- a base deck;
- and
- a load/unload ramp coupled to the base deck and including:
- ramps with load/unload surfaces, and
- a body defining outer grooves shaped to accommodate magnetic recording media and defining an outer envelope of externally-facing surfaces, the body including a vertical wall with channels extending horizontally through the vertical wall from one of the externally-facing surfaces to another one of the externally-facing surfaces.
A method for operating a hard disk drive, which comprises a base deck, a spindle motor, magnetic recording media coupled to the spindle motor, and a load/unload ramp coupled to the base deck, the load/unload ramp including ramps and load-unload surfaces on an air-bearing side of the load/unload ramp, the method comprising:
- rotating the magnetic recording media to direct air towards the air-bearing side of the load/unload ramp;
- and
- passing the air through horizontal channels of the load/unload ramp from respective entrances of the channels on the air-bearing side of the load/unload ramp towards respective exits of the channels on an exit side that is opposite of the air-bearing side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.