Aerodynamically released safety latch for data transducer assembly in rotating rigid disk data storage device

In a data storage device including a frame, a housing secured thereto and the following components enclosed within said housing:

• one or more rigid rotating disks wherein each said disk defines a predetermined landing zone for a data transducer, at least one data transducer capable of riding in close proximity to a major surface of a said disk upon an air bearing created by rotation of said disk for writing and reading data on said surface and for resting on said surface when within said landing zone, a transducer support carriage for supporting and moving said data transducer relative to said surface including transducer bias means for urging said transducer toward said surface against said air bearing, and driver means for moving said carriage,
• an improved safety latch for locking said transducer at said landing zone in the absense of disk rotation and for releasing in response to air flow generated by disk rotation, said latch comprising:
• moveable airscoop means disposed adjacent to said rotating disk, said airscoop means being biased to a first position in opposition to the direction of airflow generated by disk rotation, said airscoop means for moving in response to airflow generated by disk rotation to a second position in the direction of airflow,
• moveable latch means formed integrally with said airscoop means, said latch means for engaging said carriage to lock said transducer at said landing zone when said airscoop means is at said first postion, and for releasing said carriage when said airscoop means moves to said second position in response to airflow, and
• bias means for biasing said airscoop means to said first position, said bias means applying a force to said airscoop means which is overridden by airflow generated by disk rotation.