Ultra-thin HDD embedded disk clamp design
View Patent ↗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.
1. 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.
2. The disk drive according to claim 1 , wherein the non-circular opening of the disk clamp is sized and shaped to frictionally engage the non-circular protrusion of the hub extending upward from the top surface of the hub.
3. The disk drive according to claim 1 , wherein the disk clamp has a thickness less than or equal to a height of the non-circular protrusion.
4. The disk drive according to claim 1 , wherein the disk clamp is at least partially embedded within the hub when the non-circular protrusion of the hub is inserted into the non-circular opening of the disk clamp.
5. The disk drive according to claim 1 , wherein the non-circular protrusion of the hub and the non-circular opening of the clamp each have a semi-rectangular shape.
6. The disk drive according to claim 5 , wherein each of the non-circular protrusion of the hub and the non-circular opening of the clamp comprises at least one side having a concave region formed in the at least one side.
7. The disk drive according to claim 1 , wherein each of the non-circular protrusion of the hub and the non-circular opening of the clamp comprises at least one rounded corner.
8. The disk drive according to claim 1 , wherein each of the non-circular protrusion of the hub and the non-circular opening of the clamp comprises at least one side having a concave region formed in the at least one side.
9. 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. 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.
11. The hub according to claim 10 , wherein the non-circular protrusion of the hub has a semi-rectangular shape.
12. The hub according to claim 10 , wherein the non-circular protrusion of the hub comprises at least one rounded corner.
13. The hub according to claim 12 , wherein the non-circular protrusion of the hub comprises at least one side having a concave region formed in the at least one side.
14. The hub according to claim 10 , wherein the non-circular protrusion of the hub comprises at least one side having a concave region formed in the at least one side.
15. 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.
16. The clamp according to claim 15 , wherein the non-circular opening of the clamp has a semi-rectangular shape.
17. The clamp according to claim 15 , wherein the non-circular opening of the clamp comprises at least one rounded corner.
18. The clamp according to claim 17 , wherein the non-circular opening of the clamp comprises at least one side having a concave region formed in the at least one side.
19. The clamp according to claim 15 , wherein the protrusion of the hub comprises at least one side having a concave region formed in the at least one side.