Disk drive actuator arm assembly having one or more slotted actuator arms
View Patent ↗A disk drive, includes a disk and a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk. The head stack assembly includes a body portion defining a through bore that defines a pivot axis; an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion, the actuator arm defining a thickness, the actuator arm defining at least one through slot in the thickness thereof through which air can flow, each through slot defining a slot surface that is generally perpendicular to the pivot axis; a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the actuator arm, and a head gimbal assembly coupled to the actuator arm.
1. A head stack assembly for a disk drive, the head stack assembly comprising:
a body portion defining a through bore that defines a pivot axis;
an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion, the actuator arm defining a thickness, the actuator arm defining at least one through slot in the thickness thereof though which air can flow, each through slot defining a slot surface that is generally perpendicular to the pivot axis, the through slot being configured such that the actuator arm is bifurcated and defines a first and a second actuator arm tine, the first actuator arm tine being mechanically coupled to the second actuator arm tine by an intra-actuator arm spacer attached to the first and second actuator arm tines;
a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the actuator arm; and
a head gimbal assembly coupled to the actuator arm.
2. The head stack assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator arm defines a free end that is furthest away from the actuator body and wherein the at least one through slot is defined within the thickness of the actuator arm between the body portion and the free end.
3. An actuator arm assembly for a disk drive, the actuator arm assembly comprising:
a body portion defining a trough bore that defines a pivot axis;
an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion, the actuator arm defining a thickness, the actuator arm defining at least one through slot in the thickness thereof through which air can flow, each through slot defining a slot surface that is generally perpendicular to the pivot axis, the through slot being configured such that the actuator arm is bifurcated and defines a first and a second actuator arm tine, the first actuator arm the being mechanically coupled to the second actuator arm tine by an intra-actuator arm spacer attached to the first and second actuator arm tines; and
a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the actuator arm.
4. The actuator arm assembly of claim 3 , wherein the actuator arm defines a free end that is furthest away from the actuator body and wherein the at least one through slot is defined within the thickness of the actuator arm between the body portion and the free end.
5. A disk drive, comprising:
a disk;
a head stack assembly for reading and writing to the disk, the head stack assembly comprising:
a body portion defining a through bore that defines a pivot axis;
an actuator arm cantilevered from the body portion, the actuator arm defining a thickness, the actuator arm defining at least one through slot in the thickness thereof through which air can flow, each through slot defining a slot surface that is generally perpendicular to the pivot axis, the through slot being configured such that the actuator arm is bifurcated and defines a first and a second actuator arm tine, the first actuator arm tine being mechanically coupled to the second actuator arm tine by an intra-actuator arm spacer attached to the first and second actuator arm tines;
a coil portion cantilevered from the body portion in an opposite direction from the actuator arm; and
a head gimbal assembly coupled to the actuator arm.
6. The disk drive of claim 5 , wherein the actuator arm defines a free end that is furthest away from the actuator body and wherein the at least one through slot is defined within the thickness of the actuator arm between the body portion and the free end.