Actuator shock snubber
AssigneeSeagate Technologies LLC
InventorsTed Randal McDonald, Frederick Frank Kazmierczak, Ryan Andrew Sievers, Jeff Gerard Barina, Robert Terry Haas, Russel Edward Rock, Bruce L. Blakeslee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for reducing deflection of an actuator assembly within a head disc assembly in a disc drive during a mechanical shock event. A snubber is fastened to a stationary portion of the head disc assembly and has a snubber body and two or more snubber arms connected to the snubber body. The adjacent snubber arms form slots therebetween. A portion of the actuator assembly may be inserted into each of the slots whereby the snubber arms will reduce the deflective movement of the actuator assembly during a mechanical shock event.
Claims14
A snubber for reducing deflection of an actuator assembly within a head disc assembly in a disc drive during a mechanical shock event, the actuator assembly having an actuator arm attached to one end of a flexure, a slider attached proximate to an opposite end of the flexure, and a load ramp for parking the actuator assembly outside of an outer diameter of a disc, the snubber comprising:
- a snubber body fastened to a stationary portion of the head disc assembly;
- two snubber arms connected to the snubber body wherein each of the snubber arms is a pin and the snubber arms form a slot therebetween for receiving a portion of the actuator assembly spaced from the opposite end of the flexure and the slider within the slot when the actuator assembly is parked on the load ramp beyond the outside diameter of the disc, wherein the snubber arms contact the portion of the actuator assembly during a shock event and reduce deflection of the actuator assembly.
A disc drive comprising:
- a head disc assembly having a base plate and a top cover enclosing a drive motor supporting a disc thereon and an actuator assembly;
- the actuator assembly having an actuator arm, a flexure having one end connected to the actuator arm and a gimbal insert connected proximate to an opposite end of the flexure, the gimbal insert supporting a read/write head;
- and
- a snubber having a snubber body and two snubber arms connected to the snubber body wherein the snubber body is mounted to the base plate outside of an outer diameter of a disc and wherein each of the snubber arms is a pin and the snubber arms form a slot therebetween for receiving a portion of the actuator assembly spaced from the opposite end of the flexure away from the gimbal insert when the actuator arm is positioned beyond an outer diameter of the disc, wherein the snubber arms contact the portion of the actuator assembly to reduce deflection of the actuator assembly during a mechanical shock event.
An apparatus for reducing damage to a disc drive caused by a mechanical shock event, the apparatus comprising:
- a disc drive assembly having a drive motor which supports a disc thereon, an actuator assembly having an actuator arm, a flexure having one end connected to a gimbal insert supporting a slider and an opposite end connected to the actuator arm, and a load ramp for parking the actuator assembly beyond an outer diameter of the disc;
- and
- means spaced from the one end supporting the gimbal insert and the slider fastened to a stationary portion of the head disc assembly for limiting deflection of the actuator assembly when the actuator assembly is parked on the load ramp during a mechanical shock event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.