O-ring free cooling pallet for hard disk drive slider carriers
View Patent ↗An o-ring free cooling pallet for holding a carrier is disclosed. The pallet comprises a first clamp fixed to a planar surface of the pallet for coupling with a first edge of the carrier. The pallet also comprises a second clamp removably coupled to the planar surface of the pallet for coupling with a second edge of the carrier, wherein the second clamp comprises a spring mechanism for applying a force to the second edge of the carrier that is substantially parallel to the planar surface, the force for coupling the carrier to the pallet.
1. An o-ring free cooling pallet for holding a carrier, said carrier for holding a plurality of hard disk drive sliders, said pallet comprising:
a first clamp fixed to a planar surface of said pallet for coupling with a first edge of said carrier; and
a second clamp removably coupled to said planar surface of said pallet for coupling with a second edge of said carrier, said second clamp comprising a spring mechanism having an adjustable spring force for applying a force to said second edge of said carrier that is substantially parallel to said planar surface, said force for coupling said carrier to said pallet to prevent a cooling gas from coming into direct contact with the hard disk drive sliders on the carrier such that an o-ring seal is not required between said pallet and said carrier.
2. The pallet as described in claim 1 wherein said spring mechanism comprises a set screw for adjusting said spring force.
3. The pallet as described in claim 1 wherein said second edge of said carrier is shaped such that said force that is substantially parallel to said planar surface is converted to a force that is substantially perpendicular to said planar surface.
4. The pallet as described in claim 1 wherein said spring mechanism is integrated within said second clamp.
5. The pallet as described in claim 1 wherein said pallet further comprises a thermally conductive material disposed between said pallet and said carrier.
6. The pallet as described in claim 1 wherein said second clamp comprises a plurality of spring mechanisms.
7. A method for coupling a carrier to an o-ring free cooling pallet, said carrier for holding a plurality of disk drive sliders, said method comprising:
aligning a first edge of said carrier with a receiving portion of a first clamp fixed to a planar surface of said pallet; and
aligning a second edge of said carrier with a second clamp removably coupled to said planar surface of said pallet, said second clamp comprising a spring mechanism having an adjustable spring force for applying a force to said second edge of said carrier that is substantially parallel to said planar surface, said force coupling said carrier to said pallet thereby preventing a cooling gas from coming into direct contact with the plurality of disk drive sliders on the carrier such that an o-ring seal is not required between said pallet and said carrier.
8. The method as described in claim 7 further comprising:
adjusting a spring force associated with said spring mechanism.
9. The method as described in claim 8 wherein said adjusting said spring force comprises:
turning a set screw to adjust said spring force.
10. The method as described in claim 7 further comprising:
converting said force that is substantially parallel to said planar surface to a force on said carrier that is substantially perpendicular to said planar surface.
11. The method as described in claim 7 wherein said spring mechanism is integrated within said second clamp.
12. The method as described in claim 7 further comprising:
disposing a thermally conductive material between said pallet and said carrier.
13. The method as described in claim 7 further comprising:
cooling said pallet.
14. The method as described in claim 7 further comprising:
positioning said pallet inside an ion mill chamber.
15. A method for coupling a carrier to an o-ring free cooling pallet, said carrier for holding a plurality of disk drive sliders, said method comprising:
aligning a first edge of said carrier with a receiving portion of a first clamp fixed to a planar surface of said pallet;
aligning a second edge of said carrier with a second clamp removably coupled to said planar surface of said pallet, said second clamp comprising an integrated spring mechanism with an adjustable spring force;
modifying said spring force to provide a horizontal force to said second edge of said carrier that is substantially parallel to said planar surface, said horizontal force coupling said carrier to said pallet thereby preventing a cooling gas from coming into direct contact with the plurality of disk drive sliders on the carrier such that an o-ring seal is not required between said pallet and said carrier.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
disposing a thermally conductive material between said pallet and said carrier.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein said adjusting said spring force comprises:
turning a set screw coupled with said second clamp to adjust said spring force.
18. The method as described in claim 15 further comprising:
cooling said pallet.
19. The method as described in claim 18 wherein said cooling comprises flowing a gas on a portion of said pallet.
20. The method as described in claim 15 further comprising:
positioning said pallet inside an ion mill chamber.