Disk drive including a disk plate with a reduced thickness inner edge disposed towards a spindle motor hub
View Patent ↗There is provided a disk drive including a disk drive base and a spindle motor hub. The disk drive further includes first and second disks disposed about the spindle motor hub. The disk drive further includes a disk plate coupled to the disk drive base. The disk plate includes a plate body extending between the first and second disks for modifying air flow adjacent the first and second disks. The plate body includes a plate body thickness in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation of the spindle motor hub. The disk plate further includes an inner edge extending from the plate body and disposed towards the hub. The inner edge includes an edge thickness in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation less than the plate body thickness for mitigating against contact between the inner edge and the first and second disks.
1. A disk drive comprising:
a disk drive base;
a spindle motor hub rotatably coupled to the disk drive base and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
first and second disks disposed about the spindle motor hub; and
a disk plate coupled to the disk drive base, the disk plate including:
a plate body extending between the first and second disks for modifying air flow adjacent the first and second disks during operation of the disk drive, the plate body including a plate body thickness in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation; and
an inner edge extending from the plate body and disposed towards the hub, the inner edge including an edge thickness in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation less than the plate body thickness for mitigating against contact between the inner edge and the first and second disks;
wherein the disk plate includes an inner section, the inner section extends from the plate body towards the hub, the inner section includes the inner edge, and wherein the inner section is step-shaped in relation to the plate body.
2. A disk drive comprising:
a disk drive base;
a spindle motor hub rotatably coupled to the disk drive base and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;
first and second disks disposed about the spindle motor hub; and
a disk plate coupled to the disk drive base, the disk plate including:
a plate body extending between the first and second disks for modifying air flow adjacent the first and second disks during operation of the disk drive, the plate body including a plate body thickness in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation; and
an inner edge extending from the plate body and disposed towards the hub, the inner edge including an edge thickness in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation less than the plate body thickness for mitigating against contact between the inner edge and the first and second disks;
wherein the plate body thickness is substantially uniform between the first and second disks.