Means and method for clamping a disk pack

In a magnetic disk subsystem of the type including a stack of axially aligned magnetic disks having concentric apertures therein, a spindle for rotatably supporting the stack, and an access mechanism having transducers adapted to be electromagnetically coupled to ones of the disks, means for applying axial pressure to the stack, comprising:

• a clamping hub having a peripheral surface whose diameter is greater than the diameter of the apertures in the disks, said peripheral surface overlying the uppermost one of the disks;
• a clamping ring disposed between said clamping hub and the end one of the disks and having a lower surface substantially parallel with the upper surface of said disk and an upper surface extending at an angle .alpha. to the upper surface of said disk;
• and
• tensioning means for drawing said clamping hub and clamping ring against said disk to axially compress said stack, the interaction of said angled upper surface of said clamping ring and said peripheral surface of said hub being such that dishing of the endmost disk is substantially eliminated.

The method of clamping together in axial alignment a plurality of thin, apertured magnetic disks of the type utilized for storing digital information, comprising:

• providing an annular clamping ring having a first, lower face adapted to engage the uppermost disk of a stack of disks, and having an upper surface inclined at an angle .alpha. to the lower surface thereof;
• providing a clamping hub having an outer, peripheral surface for mating against the upper surface of said clamping ring:
• and
• exerting pressure against said clamping hub for compressing the stack of disks whereby the interaction of said mating surfaces is such that dishing of the uppermost disk is substantially eliminated.

The method of clamping together in axial alignment a plurality of axially aligned apertured disks of the type used for storing digital information thereon, comprising the steps of:

• providing an annular clamping ring at either end of the stack, each clamping ring having an inner face abutting on an end one of the disks, and an axially outer face disposed at an angle .alpha. to the inner face thereof;
• providing a pair of clamping hubs, each hub having a peripheral surface engaging with the axially outer surfaces of the clamping ring;
• and
• urging the clamping hubs toward one another for axially compressing the stack of disks whereby the interaction of said peripheral surfaces of said hubs and the adjacent, axially outer surfaces of said clamping rings is such that dishing of the end ones of the disks is substantially eliminated.