Disk Clamp Moat Design for Debris Trapping in Drives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disk drives face issues with debris migration onto the disk surface during assembly, leading to potential transducer contact and drive failures due to the generation of minute particles during the securing process.
Innovation Solution
A disk clamp design featuring a moat around the fastening hole that traps debris particles, with various moat designs such as circular, spike trench, or spiral configurations, and a biased midsection at a negative angle to direct particles inward, effectively preventing them from dispersing onto the disk surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple screws are used to secure the disk clamp to the spindle motor hub, then the reliability of disk fixation is improved, but the generation of debris particles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful debris particles generated during screw tightening are extracted and isolated from the disk surface by directing them into a dedicated containment area (moat) surrounding the fastening hole, separating the harmful byproduct from the functional area
Solution Approach 2:
The debris generation issue is converted into a beneficial containment solution by designing the moat structure that captures and retains particles, transforming the harmful debris into a contained element that no longer threatens the disk surface or transducer
2Stability of the object's composition
If the clamp is tightened with considerable force to prevent disk slippage, then the stability of disk positioning is improved, but the generation of minute particles during assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The moat structure serves as an intermediary containment zone between the fastening hole and the disk surface, intercepting particles generated during high-force tightening and preventing their migration to the disk surface
Solution Approach 2:
Particles generated during high-force clamp tightening are extracted from the general assembly area and directed into the moat containment zone, isolating them from the disk surface where they could cause transducer contact
Data Source
AI summary
A disk clamp for clamping a plurality of disks within a disk drive has a single fastening hole located at its symmetrical center sized to pass the shaft of a screw having a head diameter larger than the fastening hole. The screw fastens the disk clamp to a motor hub supporting the plurality of disks. The disk clamp has a moat around the fastening hole, at a maximum diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the head on the fastening screw. The moat may be circular, have spike trenches angled toward the fastening hole, or be spiral. The diameter of the spiral moat decreases in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction toward the fastening hole. The midsection of the disk which the screw head covers is biased at a negative angle toward the fastening hole forcing particles generated during assembly toward the fastening hole of the disk clamp.