Magnetic wear debris collector for air bearing of a spindle motor in a hard disk drive
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorChen-Hsiung Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing magnetic wear debris collection for an air bearing of a spindle motor in a hard disk drive is disclosed. A magnetic ring is provided near one end of the journal bearing forming an air bearing. In addition, the mating surface of the air bearing is paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material. The magnetic ring, acting as a debris collector, collects debris from the air bearing to prevent wear debris form reaching the head/disk interface, which can lead to a head crash. The journal bearing includes a mating surface. The mating surface may be of a paramagnetic or ferromagnetic material. A thrust bearing is provided to axially support the hub. The thrust bearing may be an oil bearing or an air bearing.
Claims13
An air bearing debris collector comprising a magnetic debris collection ring disposed on a surface of a base, juxtaposed to an outermost circumference of a disk drive spindle motor hub, and forming a plane orthogonal to a spindle shaft, the magnetic debris collection ring further being disposed at an opening of an air journal bearing, the magnetic debris collection ring collecting wear debris flowing from the opening.
A spindle motor, comprising:
- a hub having at least one magnetic recording disk attached thereto;
- a stator for selectively rotating the hub and at least one magnetic recording disk attached to the hub;
- a base for supporting the hub and stator;
- a journal bearing, coupled to the hub, for radially supporting the hub, the journal bearing being an air bearing;
- a thrust bearing, coupled to the hub, for providing axial support to the hub;
- and
- a magnetic ring, disposed in the base juxtaposed to an outermost circumference of the hub and in a gap proximate the journal bearing, for collecting wear debris generated by the air bearing.
A disk drive, comprising:
- at least one disk for recording and reading data thereon;
- a motor, coupled to the at least one disk, for rotating the at least one disk;
- at least one head disposed proximate the at least one disk for writing and reading data to and from the at least one disk, and
- an actuator arm assembly, coupled to the at least one head, for moving the at least one head relative to the at least one disk;
- wherein the motor further comprises:
- a hub coupled to the at least one disk;
- a stator for selectively rotating the hub and at least one disk attached to the hub;
- a base for supporting the hub and stator;
- a journal bearing, coupled to the hub, for radially supporting the hub, the journal bearing being an air bearing;
- a thrust bearing, coupled to the hub, for providing axial support to the hub;
- and
- a magnetic ring, disposed in the base juxtaposed to an outermost circumference of the hub and in a gap proximate the journal bearing, for collecting wear debris generated by the air bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.