Integral lubricating fluid delivery system for a flying head in a magnetic disk storage system
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsThomas A. Gregory, Christopher G. Keller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated head-suspension-wick system having lubrication, including a bearing area at one end that holds a magnetic transducer against the disk. The invention provides wicking grooves in the integrated head-suspension-wick arm. The grooves are shaped to cause capillary forces to pull the lubricant from the supply wick on the arm, along the suspension of the bearing area. This ensures that the disk area under the head will not go dry regardless of storage duration or conditions. When the disk is running, the wick continues to conduct lubricant to the disk surface.
Claims20
In a system for delivering lubricating fluid to a head-disk interface of a slider positioned at the end of an actuator arm assembly to interact with a magnetic storage disk in a magnetic disk storage system, the improvement comprising:
- a. a fluid reservoir adjacent the periphery of a magnetic storage disk to scavenge fluid droplets propelled from the rim of said disk;
- b. capillary means extending along a portion of said arm assembly to the side of said slider abutting said disk, said capillary means including capillary grooves in said actuator arm to convey lubricant to a vicinity of the disk for deposition on a surface of said disk;
- c. a wick extending from said fluid reservoir to the inner terminus of said grooves;
- and,
- d. a lubricating fluid residing in said reservoir and adapted to be conveyed by said wick to the terminus of said capillary means and thence by said capillary means to the portion of said slider abutting a disk surface.
A rotating memory device comprising:
- a. a rotary storage medium presenting a rotating data surface;
- b. an integral actuator arm which includes a transducer and includes a portion for transporting liquid lubricant;
- c. means for maintaining a recirculating film of liquid lubricant on said data surface, with a capillary means including capillary grooves in said actuator arm to convey lubricant to a vicinity of the medium for deposition on the surface of said rotary storage medium;
- and,
- d. said transducer being supported above said rotating surface by said liquid film when writing data to or reading data from said rotating data surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.