Disc spindle with internal particulate removal
OwnerDonald L. Ekhoffinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A disc spindle provides removal of particulates generated by internal parts of mechanisms, including the disc clamping mechanism, air bearing rotor, and other moving parts provides a port that is coupled to a vacuum system to remove particulate from the areas in which they are generated. In other aspects of the invention, vacuum evacuation of rotary and other bearings in a mechanical system employed in a clean room environment are prevented from contaminating the environment by removing particulate at the locations in which it is generated by friction, contact, or other means such as being introduced from the pressure channel in an air bearing feed.
Claims16
A disc spindle for securing and rotating a media disc in a clean room environment, comprising:
- a disc clamp for detachably securing the media disc to the spindle;
- and
- a spindle body coupled to the disc clamp, wherein the spindle body has a vacuum port for communication with a vacuum system and a vacuum channel for removing particulate in communication with the vacuum port and terminating on at least one location within the disc spindle, wherein the vacuum channel extends through at least a portion of the disc clamp for removing particulate generated due to moving parts of the disc clamp.
A method of removing particulate from a disc spindle for securing and rotating a media disc in a clean room environment, the method comprising:
- securing the media disc to the spindle at a disc clamp;
- and
- applying a vacuum to a vacuum port of the spindle to remove particulate in through vacuum port from at least one location within the disc spindle, wherein the applying applies vacuum to a vacuum channel that extends through at least a portion of the disc clamp for removing particulate generated due to moving parts of the disc clamp.
A disc spindle for securing and rotating a media disc in a clean room environment, comprising:
- a disc clamp for detachably securing the media disc to the spindle;
- and
- a spindle body coupled to the disc clamp, wherein the spindle body has a vacuum port for communication with a vacuum system and a vacuum channel for removing particulate in communication with the vacuum port and terminating at an at least one location within the disc spindle;
- a stator within the spindle body having a recess for accepting a rotor;
- a rotor positioned within the bearing base of the spindle body and mechanically coupled to the disc clamp, wherein a gap is defined between a face of the recess and a corresponding face of the rotor, wherein when a gas flow is provided in the gap, the rotor is floated from contact with the stator to reduce friction;
- and
- a shroud extending over the gap and around the rotor of the spindle body for communication with the vacuum system, wherein gas and particulate is continuously removed from the gap to prevent contamination of an environment around the disk spindle, and wherein the vacuum channel terminates within the shroud.
A method of removing particulate from a disc spindle for securing and rotating a media disc in a clean room environment, the method comprising:
- securing the media disc to the spindle at a disc clamp;
- applying a vacuum to a vacuum port of the spindle to remove particulate in through vacuum port from at least one location within the disc spindle;
- rotating the media disc with a rotor positioned within a bearing base of the spindle and mechanically coupled to the disc clamp, wherein the rotor and bearing base form an air bearing, wherein when a gas flow is provided in a gap between the rotor and the bearing base, the rotor is floated from contact with the bearing base to reduce friction;
- and
- providing a shroud extending over the gap and around the rotor for communication with the vacuum port, wherein gas and particulate is continuously removed from the gap to prevent contamination of an environment around the disc spindle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.