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US 8,693,139 B2Granted
Ultra-thin HDD embedded disk clamp design
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJifang Tian, Jian Yang, Qiang Yang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A disk drive having a hub comprising a top surface and a non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface, a disk clamp comprising a wall portion and a non-circular opening formed through the clamp, the opening configured to receive the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub; and at least one disk supported by the hub, wherein the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub is inserted into the opening formed in the clamp, and wherein an outer annular portion of the clamp engages the disk to provide clamping force.
Claims19
A disk drive comprising:
- a hub comprising a top surface and a non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface, wherein a first screw hole is formed in the top surface of the hub;
- a disk clamp comprising a wall portion and a non-circular opening formed through the clamp, the opening configured to receive the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub, wherein a second screw hole is formed through the wall portion of the disk clamp, and
- wherein the second screw hole formed through the disk clamp is substantially aligned with the first screw hole formed in the top surface of the hub;
- and
- at least one disk supported by the hub,
- wherein the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub is inserted into the opening formed in the clamp, and
- wherein an outer annular portion of the clamp engages the disk to provide clamping force;
- and
- wherein the disk clamp further comprises:
- an inner lower region that contacts the top surface of the hub;
- an outer lower region that contacts the disk to provide the clamping force;
- and
- a raised region proximate to the second screw hole formed through the wall portion of the disk clamp, the raised region forming an air gap between the disk clamp and the hub.
10 more elements
A disk drive comprising:
- a huh comprising a top surface and a non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface, wherein a first screw hole is formed in the top surface of the hub;
- a disk clamp comprising a wall portion and a non-circular opening formed through the clamp, the opening configured to receive the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub, wherein a second screw hole is formed through the wall portion of the disk clamp, and
- wherein the second screw hole formed through the disk clamp is substantially aligned with the first screw hole formed in the top surface of the hub;
- and
- at least one disk supported by the hub,
- wherein the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub is inserted into the opening formed in the clamp, and
- wherein an outer annular portion of the clamp engages the disk to provide clamping force;
- and
- wherein the disk hub further comprises a step formed on the top surface proximate to the non-circular protrusion;
- and the disk clamp further comprises:
- an inner lower region that contacts the step formed on the top surface of the hub;
- an outer lower region that contacts the disk to provide the clamping force;
- wherein the step formed on the top surface causes an air gap to be formed between the disk clamp and the hub in a region proximate to the second screw hole formed through the wall portion of the disk clamp.
10 more elements
A hub for a disk drive comprising:
- a top surface;
- a non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface, wherein the non-circular protrusion is configured to be inserted into an opening of a clamp for a disk drive;
- a screw hole formed in the top surface of the hub;
- and
- a step formed on the top surface proximate to the non-circular protrusion,
- wherein the step formed on the top surface causes an air gap to be formed between the clamp and the hub in a region proximate to the screw hole formed in the top surface of the hub.
3 more elements
A clamp for a disk drive comprising:
- a wall portion;
- a non-circular opening formed through the clamp, the opening configured to receive a protrusion extending from a hub of a disk drive;
- a screw hole formed through the wall portion of the disk clamp;
- wherein the clamp further comprises:
- an inner lower region configured to contact a top surface of the hub;
- an outer lower region configured to contact a disk to provide a clamping force;
- and
- a raised region proximate to the screw hole formed through the wall portion of the disk clamp, the raised region configured to form an air gap between the disk clamp and the hub.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.