Rotary actuator vibration damper
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsJohn D. Stricklin, John B. Blanks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing assembly supports an actuator arm for rotation about an axis in a disc drive. The bearing assembly includes a shaft generally defining the axis. A plurality of bearings are disposed about the shaft. A sleeve is coupled to the bearings for rotation about the shaft, and a damper is coupled to the sleeve. The damper damps rotary actuator vibrations.
Claims17
An actuator system for moving a head gimbal assembly relative to a disc in a disc drive, the actuator system comprising:
- an actuator providing a driving force;
- an actuator assembly movable by the actuator and coupled to the head gimbal assembly for moving the head gimbal assembly relative to the disc in response to the driving force provided by the actuator;
- and
- wherein the actuator assembly includes:
- a shaft having an outer surface, the shaft generally defining an axis of rotation;
- a sleeve having an inner surface, the sleeve disposed about the shaft;
- bearing means, disposed about the shaft, for rotatably mounting the sleeve to the shaft;
- an actuator arm coupled to the sleeve for rotation with the sleeve and for supporting the head gimbal assembly, the actuator arm having a first major surface generally defining a plane;
- and
- a damper having a damping member and a damping material coupled to the damping member, the damping material coupled to the sleeve and disposed therein, for damping vibrations of the actuator arm in the plane defined by the actuator arm.
An actuator assembly for supporting a head gimbal assembly in a disc drive, the actuator assembly comprising:
- a baseplate;
- a shaft having an external surface and coupled to the baseplate;
- a sleeve having an inner surface and disposed about the shaft such that the inner surface generally faces the external surface of the shaft;
- a bearing disposed about the shaft and rotatably mounting the sleeve to the shaft;
- an actuator arm coupled to the sleeve for rotation with the sleeve and for supporting the head gimbal assembly, the actuator arm having a first major surface generally defining a plane;
- and
- damper coupled to the sleeve generally between the sleeve and the shaft, the damper having a damping material coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve and a damping member, having a damping mass, coupled to the damping material and spaced-apart from the shaft for damping vibrations of the actuator arm in the plane defined by the actuator arm.
A bearing assembly in a rotary actuator for supporting an actuator arm for rotation about an axis in a disc drive, the bearing assembly comprising:
- a shaft generally defining the axis;
- a plurality of bearings disposed about the shaft;
- a sleeve having an inner surface coupled to the bearings for rotation about the shaft;
- and
- a damper coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve for rotation therewith, the damper including a damping material coupled to the inner surface of the sleeve and a damping member, having a damping mass and an outer surface generally facing the inner surface of the sleeve, coupled to the damping material at the outer surface and spaced apart from the shaft for damping vibrations of the rotary actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.