Disc drive having a suspension limiter for improved shock performance
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsAndreas A. Polycarpou, David G. Wobbe, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A magnetic disc drive system is disclosed. The disc drive system includes at least one substantially flat magnetic disc, at least one read/write head, at least one head stack assembly, at least one head gimbal assembly, and at least one suspension limiter. The suspension limiter is operatively connected to the head stack assembly. The distal end of the suspension limiter is positioned proximate but normally not in contact with the head gimbal assembly for preventing large head slaps in both operational and nonoperational mode.
Claims22
A head suspension assembly for attachment to an actuator arm of a disc drive and for supporting a flying head transducer over a surface of a disc, the head suspension assembly comprising:
- a load beam having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the proximal end of the load beam is operatively coupled to the actuator arm and the distal end of the load beam is operatively coupled to a gimbal assembly wherein the gimbal assembly supports a transducer head;
- and
- a stop member extending above and substantially parallel to the load beam short of a position of the gimbal assembly, wherein the stop member is an integral part of a base plate, the stop member operatively coupled to the actuator arm through a swaging boss of the base plate to directly contact the load beam and limit the motion of the load beam when the head suspension assembly is subjected to severe shock, wherein there is a gap between the stop member and the load beam in the absence of shock to the head suspension assembly.
A magnetic disc drive having a disc and having a head stack assembly, the head stack assembly including a coil, an actuator body, and a plurality of actuator arms, the magnetic disc drive further having a plurality of head suspension assemblies operatively coupled to the plurality of actuator arms, each head suspension assembly comprising:
- a load beam having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the proximal end of the load beam is operatively coupled to the actuator arm;
- a gimbal assembly operatively coupled to the distal end of the load beam wherein the gimbal assembly supports a transducer head;
- and
- a suspension limiter extending along and substantially parallel to the load beam short of the gimbal assembly position, wherein the suspension limiter is an integral part of a base plate, having a proximal end operatively coupled to the actuator arm through the base plate and a distal end located adjacent to the load beam wherein there is a gap between the distal end of the suspension limiter and the load beam in the absence of shock to the disc drive and wherein the suspension limiter directly contacts the load beam to limit the movement of the load beam under shock conditions.
A head suspension assembly for attachment to an actuator arm of a disc drive and for supporting a flying head transducer over a surface of a disc, the head suspension assembly comprising:
- a load beam having a proximal end and a distal end wherein the proximal end of the load beam is operatively coupled to the actuator arm and the distal end of the load beam is operatively coupled to a gimbal assembly wherein the gimbal assembly supports a transducer head;
- a stop member extending above the load beam short of a position of the gimbal assembly, wherein the stop member is an integral part of a base plate, the stop member operatively coupled to the actuator arm through a swaging boss of the base plate for limiting the motion of the load beam when the head suspension assembly is subjected to severe shock, wherein there is a gap between the stop member and the load beam in the absence of shock to the head suspension assembly;
- and
- a cushioning material attached to the stop member and located on a side opposite the load beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.