Disk drive disk clamping via a hub flange, a clamp, and an O-ring
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the invention provide a small, thin, yet reliable magnetic disk drive. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive comprises: a motor hub including a disk support portion and a flange portion, the disk support portion supporting a magnetic disk thereon, the flange portion being located higher than the disk support portion and protruding radially outward with respect to a rotational center of the magnetic disk; a clamp having a ring shape and including an inclined undersurface inclined downward from the outer circumference of the ring shape toward the inner circumference of the ring shape, the ring shape encircling the flange portion, the clamp being engaged around the outer circumference of the flange portion; and an O-ring engaged with the inclined undersurface of the clamp so as to press the clamp against the flange portion or clamp the clamp, the O-ring being further engaged with the magnetic disk so as to press the magnetic disk against the disk support portion.
1. A magnetic disk drive comprising:
a motor hub including a disk support portion and a flange portion, said disk support portion supporting a magnetic disk thereon, said flange portion being located higher than said disk support portion and protruding radially outward with respect to a rotational center of said magnetic disk;
a clamp having a ring shape and including an inclined undersurface inclined downward from the outer circumference of said ring shape toward the inner circumference of said ring shape, said ring shape encircling said flange portion, said clamp being engaged around the outer circumference of said flange portion; and
an O-ring engaged with said inclined undersurface of said clamp so as to press said clamp against said flange portion or clamp said clamp, said O-ring being further engaged with said magnetic disk so as to press said magnetic disk against said disk support portion,
wherein:
said clamp includes a stopper extending downward; and
the distance between said magnetic disk and said stopper is smaller than the distance between said magnetic disk and an arm which supports a magnetic head in such a way that said magnetic head flies over said magnetic disk.
2. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said clamp further includes a shoulder portion; and
said shoulder portion is mounted under said flange portion in such a way that said shoulder portion is engaged with an undersurface of said flange portion.
3. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said clamp is formed of a resin material.
4. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein to allow the inner diameter of said clamp to be increased when said clamp is mounted on said motor hub, said clamp includes a slit which provides a separation in the circumference of said ring shape of said clamp.
5. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the O-ring is formed of a resin material.
6. A magnetic disk drive comprising:
a motor hub including a disk support portion and a flange portion, said disk support portion supporting a magnetic disk thereon, said flange portion being located higher than said disk support portion and protruding radially outward with respect to a rotational center of said magnetic disk;
a clamp having a ring shape and including an inclined undersurface inclined downward from the outer circumference of said ring shape toward the inner circumference of said ring shape, said ring shape encircling said flange portion, said clamp being engaged around the outer circumference of said flange portion; and
an O-ring engaged with said inclined undersurface of said clamp so as to press said clamp against said flange portion or clamp said clamp, said O-ring being further engaged with said magnetic disk so as to press said magnetic disk against said disk support portion,
wherein to allow the inner diameter of said clamp to be increased when said clamp is mounted on said motor hub, said clamp includes a slit and a connecting portion, said slit providing a separation in the circumference of said ring shape of said clamp, said connecting portion protruding outward from said ring shape in a radial direction and connecting end portions of said ring shape separated by said slit.
7. A magnetic disk drive comprising:
a motor hub including a disk support portion and a flange portion, said disk support portion supporting a magnetic disk thereon, said flange portion being located higher than said disk support portion and protruding radially outward with respect to a rotational center of said magnetic disk;
a clamp having a ring shape and including an inclined undersurface inclined downward from the outer circumference of said ring shape toward the inner circumference of said ring shape, said ring shape encircling said flange portion, said clamp being engaged around the outer circumference of said flange portion; and
an O-ring engaged with said inclined undersurface of said clamp so as to press said clamp against said flange portion or clamp said clamp, said O-ring being further engaged with said magnetic disk so as to press said magnetic disk against said disk support portion,
wherein the O-ring includes a slit and a connecting portion, the slit providing a separation in the circumference of the O-ring, the connecting portion protruding outward from the O-ring in a radial direction and connecting end portions of the O-ring separated by the slit.
8. A magnetic disk drive comprising:
a motor hub including a disk support portion and a flange portion, said disk support portion supporting a magnetic disk thereon, said flange portion being located higher than said disk support portion and protruding radially outward with respect to a rotational center of said magnetic disk;
a clamp having a ring shape and including an inclined undersurface inclined downward from the outer circumference of said ring shape toward the inner circumference of said ring shape, said ring shape encircling said flange portion, said clamp being engaged around the outer circumference of said flange portion; and
means for engaging with said inclined undersurface of said clamp so as to press said clamp against said flange portion or clamp said clamp, and engaging with said magnetic disk so as to press said magnetic disk against said disk support portion,
wherein:
said clamp includes a stopper extending downward; and
the distance between said magnetic disk and said stopper is smaller than the distance between said magnetic disk and an arm which supports a magnetic head in such a way that said magnetic head flies over said magnetic disk.
9. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 8 , wherein:
said clamp further includes a shoulder portion; and
said shoulder portion is mounted under said flange portion in such a way that said shoulder portion is engaged with an undersurface of said flange portion.
10. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said clamp is formed of a resin material.
11. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 8 , wherein to allow the inner diameter of said clamp to be increased when said clamp is mounted on said motor hub, said clamp includes a slit which provides a separation in the circumference of said ring shape of said clamp.
12. A magnetic disk drive comprising:
a motor hub including a disk support portion and a flange portion, said disk support portion supporting a magnetic disk thereon, said flange portion being located higher than said disk support portion and protruding radially outward with respect to a rotational center of said magnetic disk;
a clamp having a ring shape and including an inclined undersurface inclined downward from the outer circumference of said ring shape toward the inner circumference of said ring shape, said ring shape encircling said flange portion, said clamp being engaged around the outer circumference of said flange portion; and
means for engaging with said inclined undersurface of said clamp so as to press said clamp against said flange portion or clamp said clamp, and engaging with said magnetic disk so as to press said magnetic disk against said disk support portion,
wherein to allow the inner diameter of said clamp to be increased when said clamp is mounted on said motor hub, said clamp includes a slit and a connecting portion, said slit providing a separation in the circumference of said ring shape of said clamp, said connecting portion protruding outward from said ring shape in a radial direction and connecting the end portions of said ring shape separated by said slit.
13. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
said clamp further includes a shoulder portion; and
said shoulder portion is mounted under said flange portion in such a way that said shoulder portion is engaged with an undersurface of said flange portion.
14. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said clamp is formed of a resin material.
15. The magnetic disk drive as claimed in claim 12 , wherein to allow the inner diameter of said clamp to be increased when said clamp is mounted on said motor hub, said clamp includes a slit which provides a separation in the circumference of said ring shape of said clamp.