Granted Patent B1

US 9,390,736 · App. 14/336,820 · Granted Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

Claims (43)

1. A magnetic hard disk drive apparatus having a first suspension arm, a first slider having a magnetic head for recording to a first side of a disk, the first slider supported by the first suspension arm, a second suspension arm, and a second slider having a magnetic head for recording to a second side of the disk opposite of the first side, the second slider supported by the second suspension arm, the apparatus comprising:

a ramp configured to guide and hold lift tabs of the first and second suspension arms in place when parked;

a separator configured to be suspended between the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm in a position away from the ramp and beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that leading edges of the first and second sliders are positioned between the separator and the ramp when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp; and

a connector configured to connect the separator to the ramp,

wherein a thickness of the separator is greater than a thickness of the connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the separator is further configured to support the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm when a shock event imposes a force upon the first suspension arm toward the separator or a force upon the second suspension arm toward the separator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the separator is further configured to have a maximum thickness that provides clearance to the first suspension arm and to the second suspension arm such that the separator is prevented from contacting the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the separator is further configured to have a minimum thickness to prevent the first and second sliders from contacting each other in response to flexion of the first and second suspension arms when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second sliders are attached to the first and second suspension arms by a first gimbal and a second gimbal, wherein the separator is further configured to have a minimum thickness to prevent deformation damage of the first and second gimbals when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second suspension arms comprises piezoelectric (PZT) actuators, wherein the separator is further configured to be positioned beyond the radial position of the PZT actuators on the first and second suspension arms when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the separator is coupled to the ramp.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a base, wherein the separator is coupled to the base and further configured to be separate from the ramp.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a fin that connects the separator to the ramp, wherein the separator is further configured to have a minimum thickness to prevent the first slider and the second slider from contacting the fin in response to flexion of the first and second suspension arms when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the fin comprises a window arranged such that no structure is present between the first slider and the second slider when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the fin comprises a cutout arranged to provide additional clearance between the fin and the first slider and between the fin and the second slider when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the connector includes a support arm that connects the separator to the ramp and arranged such that no structure is present between the first slider and the second slider when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

13. A magnetic hard disk drive, comprising:

a rotatable hard storage disk;

a first slider comprising a magnetic head, the first slider supported by a first suspension arm;

a second slider comprising a magnetic head, the second slider supported by a second suspension arm; and

a ramp assembly comprising:

a ramp configured to guide and hold lift tabs of the first and second suspension arms in place when parked;

a separator configured to be suspended between the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm in a position away from the ramp and beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that leading edges of the first and second sliders are positioned between the separator and the ramp when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp; and

a connector configured to connect the separator to the ramp,

wherein a thickness of the separator is greater than a thickness of the connector.

14. The magnetic hard disk drive of claim 13 , wherein the connector includes a fin that connects the separator to the ramp, wherein the separator is further configured to have a minimum thickness to prevent the first slider and the second slider from contacting the fin in response to flexion of the first and second suspension arms when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

15. The magnetic hard disk drive of claim 14 , wherein the fin comprises a window arranged such that no structure is present between the first slider and the second slider when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

16. The magnetic hard disk drive of claim 14 , wherein the fin comprises a cutout arranged to provide additional clearance between the fin and the first slider and between the fin and the second slider when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

17. The magnetic hard disk drive of claim 13 , wherein the connector includes a support arm that connects the separator to the ramp and arranged such that no structure is present between the first slider and the second slider when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

18. A magnetic hard disk drive apparatus having a first suspension arm, a first slider having a magnetic head for recording to a disk, the first slider supported by the first suspension arm, a second suspension arm, and a second slider having a magnetic head, the second slider supported by the second suspension arm, the apparatus comprising:

a ramp configured to guide and hold lift tabs of the first and second suspension arms in place when parked;

a separator configured to be suspended beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that the first and second sliders are positioned between the separator and the ramp when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp; and

a fin that connects the separator to the ramp, wherein the separator is further configured to have a minimum thickness to prevent the first slider and the second slider from contacting the fin in response to flexion of the first and second suspension arms when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp;

wherein the fin comprises a window arranged such that no structure is present between the first slider and the second slider when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

19. A magnetic hard disk drive apparatus having a first suspension arm, a first slider having a magnetic head for recording to a disk, the first slider supported by the first suspension arm, a second suspension arm, and a second slider having a magnetic head, the second slider supported by the second suspension arm, the apparatus comprising:

a ramp configured to guide and hold lift tabs of the first and second suspension arms in place when parked;

a separator configured to be suspended beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that the first and second sliders are positioned between the separator and the ramp when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp; and

a support arm that connects the separator to the ramp and arranged such that no structure is present between the first slider and the second slider when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp.

20. A ramp assembly for a hard disk drive comprising a first slider that comprises a magnetic head, the first slider supported by a first suspension arm, a second slider comprising a magnetic head, the second slider supported by a second suspension arm, the ramp assembly comprising:

a ramp configured to guide and hold lift tabs of the first and second suspension arms in place when parked;

a separator configured to be suspended between the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm in a position away from the ramp and beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that leading edges of the first and second sliders are positioned between the separator and the ramp when the lift tabs are in contact with the ramp; and

a connector configured to connect the separator to the ramp,

wherein a thickness of the separator is greater than a thickness of the connector.

Assignments (8)