Windage suppression device and associated method for a retractable air flow control
View Patent ↗An air flow control device for reducing turbulence on a rotating multi-disc stack. Air flow control device includes a first air dam having cavities formed by a series of alternating plate sections forming gaps therebetween adjacent plates. Gaps define cavities capable of receiving discs when disc stack is rotating. A method for writing data onto an annular writeable surface of a plurality of discs including the steps of mounting the plurality of discs into a coaxial stack, extending one or more dam plates each between a consecutive pair of the plurality of discs and adjacent at least a selected one of the writeable surfaces; and writing data onto the selected surface while a first one of the dam plates overlaps enough of the selected surface so that the first dam plate limits a windage-induced error in the written data.
1. A windage suppression device for a data handling system that writes data to a rotating disc, the device comprising:
an airflow control operably moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the airflow control comprising spatially separated and substantially parallel plates defining a cavity between the plates, wherein in the engaged position a portion of the disc is receivingly engaged inside the cavity and in the disengaged position the disc is disposed outside the cavity.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the data handling system includes a moveable actuator that positions a write element with respect to the disc,
wherein the airflow control comprises a dam that is engageable with a portion of the disc downstream of the actuator with respect to the disc rotation.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the airflow control comprises a stripper that is engageable with a portion of the disc upstream of the actuator with respect to the disc rotation.
4. The device of claim 3 wherein the dam and stripper are independently pivotally supported.
5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a linkage transferring movement between the dam and the stripper.
6. The device of claim 5 further comprising an engaging assembly connected to one of the dam and stripper for selective movement between the engaged and disengaged position.
7. The device of claim 4 wherein the dam and stripper rotate oppositely for engaging opposing radial portions of the disc.
8. The device of claim 7 wherein the dam and stripper comprise opposing edges, wherein in the disengaged position the clearance between the opposing edges is greater than a diameter of the disc.
9. The device of claim 1 wherein the airflow control comprises a pivoting support assembly for operative articulating engagement with the disc.
10. The device of claim 1 wherein the data handling system includes two or more discs supported in a disc stack, wherein the airflow control comprises a plurality of plates defining a plurality of cavities that are each respectively engageable with one of the discs.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the airflow control comprises an arcuate outer boundary adjacent an edge of the disc.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein in the engaged position the cavity receivingly engages a radial portion of the disc including substantially the writeable surface of the disc.
13. A method of writing data to a rotating disc comprising:
(a) moving an airflow control device to a disengaged position;
(b) supporting the disc to a rotary element adapted to rotate the disc;
(c) moving the airflow control device to an engaged position whereat a portion of the disc is receivingly engaged in a cavity defined by the airflow control device; and
(d) moving a writing element to selected positions of the disc.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
(e) moving the airflow control device back to the disengaged position clearingly disposing the disc outside the cavity;
(f) removing the disc from the rotary element.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the moving the airflow control device comprises moving a dam that is engageable with a portion of the disc downstream of the writing element with respect to the disc rotation.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the moving the airflow control device comprises moving a stripper that is engageable with a portion of the disc upstream of the writing element with respect to the disc rotation.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the moving the airflow control device comprises pivotally moving the airflow control device.
18. A windage suppression device for a data handling system that writes data to a rotating disc, the device comprising:
an airflow control comprising opposing plates defining a cavity therebetween the plates; and
means for moving the airflow control between an engaged position and a disengaged position for selectively disposing the disc inside and outside, respectively, the cavity.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the means for moving is characterized by engaging a dam portion of the airflow control with a portion of the disc downstream of a writing element with respect to the disc rotation and engaging a stripper portion of the airflow control with a portion of the disc upstream of the writing element.
20. The device of claim 19
an articulating arrangement for operably engaging and disengaging the first and second air dam sections with the discs, wherein each disc is partially enclosed and free to rotate within a corresponding cavity when the air dams are engaged wherein the means for moving is characterized by pivotal motion.