IP Library Granted Patent US 8,174,794
Granted Patent B2
US 8,174,794 · App. 12/324,727 · Granted May 8, 2012

Slider having a lubricant-accumulation barrier including a plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,174,794
App. No.
12/324,727
Granted
May 8, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier also includes a plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk-facing side of the slider.

Claims (48)

1. A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation, comprising:

a positive-air-pressure portion of said slider configured to levitate said slider above a magnetic-recording disk;

a negative-air-pressure portion of said slider configured to bring said slider into proximity with said magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from said magnetic-recording disk; and

a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of said slider, said lubricant-accumulation barrier configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on said slider and comprising;

a first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion; and

a second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion, wherein said second lubricant-accumulation barrier portion is discontinuous from an outside-diameter side of said slider to an inside-diameter side of said slider;

wherein said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion is disposed closer to said trailing edge of said slider than said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion over a portion of said slider proximate to a trailing-edge center pad of said slider, said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion is disposed closer to said trailing edge of said slider over at least some portion of said slider whereat said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion is not disposed and wherein said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion and said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion are disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk-facing side of said slider.

2. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation recited in claim 1 , wherein said lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce reverse airflow over said lubricant-accumulation barrier.

3. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions further comprises:

a lower lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion having a first depth of about 600 nm below said outer-most surface of said disk-facing side of said slider.

4. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation recited in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions further comprises:

an upper lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion having a depth between about 150 nm and about 600 nm below said outer-most surface of said disk-facing side of said slider.

5. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation recited in claim 1 , wherein said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion and said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion are configured to reduce crossover-transfer of lubricant between an outside-diameter, trailing-edge portion of said slider and an inside-diameter, trailing-edge portion of said slider.

6. A hard-disk drive comprising:

a magnetic-recording disk rotatably mounted on a spindle;

an arm;

a head-gimbal assembly attached to said arm, said head-gimbal assembly comprising:

a magnetic-recording head for writing data to and reading data from said magnetic-recording disk; and

a load beam attached at a gimbal portion of said load beam to a slider resistant to lubricant accumulation, said slider including said magnetic-recording head integrally attached at a trailing-edge portion of said slider;

wherein said slider resistant to lubricant accumulation comprises:

a positive-air-pressure portion of said slider configured to levitate said slider above said magnetic-recording disk;

a negative-air-pressure portion of said slider configured to bring said slider into proximity with said magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from said magnetic-recording disk; and

a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of said slider, said lubricant-accumulation barrier configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on said slider and comprising;

a first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion; and

a second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion, wherein said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion is discontinuous from an outside-diameter side of said slider to an inside-diameter side of said slider;

wherein said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion is disposed closer to said trailing edge of said slider than said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion and wherein said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion and said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion are disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk facing side of said slider.

7. The hard-disk drive recited in claim 6 , wherein said lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce reverse airflow over said lubricant-accumulation barrier.

8. The hard-disk drive recited in claim 6 , wherein said plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions further comprises:

a lower lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion having a first depth of about 600 nm below said outer-most surface of said disk-facing side of said slider.

9. The hard-disk drive recited in claim 6 , wherein said plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions further comprises:

an upper lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion having a depth between about 150 nm and about 600 nm below said outer-most surface of said disk-facing side of said slider.

10. The hard-disk drive recited in claim 6 , wherein said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion and said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion are configured to reduce crossover-transfer of lubricant between an outside-diameter, trailing-edge portion of said slider and an inside-diameter, trailing-edge portion of said slider.

11. A head-gimbal assembly, comprising:

a magnetic-recording head configured for writing data to and reading data from a magnetic-recording disk; and

a load beam attached at a gimbal portion of said load beam to a slider resistant to lubricant accumulation, said slider including said magnetic-recording head integrally attached at a trailing-edge portion of said slider;

wherein said slider resistant to lubricant accumulation comprises:

a positive-air-pressure portion of said slider configured to levitate said slider above said magnetic-recording disk;

a negative-air-pressure portion of said slider configured to bring said slider into proximity with said magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from said magnetic-recording disk; and

a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of said slider, said lubricant-accumulation barrier configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on said slider and comprising;

a first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion; and

a second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion, wherein said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion is discontinuous from an outside-diameter side of said slider to an inside-diameter side of said slider;

wherein said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion is disposed closer to said trailing edge of said slider than said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion and wherein said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion and said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion are disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk facing side of said slider.

12. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation recited in claim 11 , wherein said lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce reverse airflow over said lubricant-accumulation barrier.

13. The head-gimbal assembly recited in claim 11 , wherein said plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions further comprises:

a lower lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion having a first depth of about 600 nm below said outer-most surface of said disk-facing side of said slider.

14. The head-gimbal assembly recited in claim 11 , wherein said plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions further comprises:

an upper lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion having a depth between about 150 nm and about 600 nm below said outer-most surface of said disk-facing side of said slider.

15. The head-gimbal assembly recited in claim 11 , wherein said second lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion and said first lubricant-accumulation-barrier portion are configured to reduce crossover-transfer of lubricant between an outside-diameter, trailing-edge portion of said slider and an inside-diameter, trailing-edge portion of said slider.

Assignments (7)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052915 FRAME 0566 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059127/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 052915/0566 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 6, 2016
From: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 040826/0821 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 25, 2012
From: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
To: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 029341/0777 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2009
From: DORIUS, LEE K.
To: HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 022079/0377 →