Resilient compliant clamp for data storage disk drives

Abstract

A clamp for securing one or more data storage disks to a hub is formed as a slightly frusto-conical shaped annulus of resilient material with inwardly and upwardly extending lobes that are displaced radially outward during installation about a hub. Clamping force is derived from the compression of the lobes which are captured by the hub and the twisting of the annulus from the frusto-conical configuration to a substantially radial orientation. The clamp is formed of a material that is softer than the disk to cause the clamp to be compliant and conform to the disk irregularities and thereby avoid compromising disk flatness. The clamp component material composition is also modified to achieve a coefficient of linear expansion that is identical to the disk. The outer periphery of the clamp presents an interrupted flange that permits a tool to engage the clamp, perform the assembly about the hub and be disengaged using automated equipment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.