HDD Top Cover Spring Structure for VCMA Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hard disk drives experience vibrations and deformation due to reactive magnetic forces from voice coil motors, leading to data errors and leaks between covers and base decks.

Innovation Solution

A cover for the hard disk drive is designed with a spring portion positioned adjacent to the voice coil motor assembly to dampen vibrations, featuring a main body with protruding springs that deform to absorb these forces, minimizing deformation of the cover and maintaining enclosure integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid cover is used to maintain structural integrity, then the enclosure strength is improved, but the cover deforms under reactive magnetic forces from the voice coil motor, causing leaks and data errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenclosure strengthVSAvoidvibration and deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by incorporating springs into the cover structure to create a flexible element that can deform under reactive magnetic forces from the voice coil motor, thereby preventing stress concentration and maintaining enclosure integrity while reducing vibration and deformation effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies this principle by changing the physical state of the cover from completely rigid to having flexible spring elements, allowing the structure to adapt its stiffness characteristics dynamically under different operational conditions to mitigate vibration while maintaining overall strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the cover is made completely rigid to prevent deformation, then the structural stability is improved, but vibrations from the voice coil motor cause local deformation and potential leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidenclosure seal integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies this principle by pre-installing spring elements in the cover that are positioned to absorb and cushion the reactive magnetic forces before they can cause harmful vibrations or deformation, effectively preparing the structure in advance to handle operational stresses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The spring-based cover effectively reduces vibrations and deformation, preventing data errors and leaks while maintaining the structural integrity of the hard disk drive enclosure.

Implementation Method 1

a spring positioned adjacent to the VCMA to dampen vibration of the VCMA

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

featuring a main body with protruding springs that deform to absorb these forces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11308994B2Top cover spring designs

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 SEAGATE TECH LLC

AI summary

A hard disk drive includes a base, a cover coupled to the base to create an enclosure, and a voice coil motor assembly that is positioned within the enclosure. The cover includes a spring positioned adjacent to the voice coil motor assembly to dampen vibration of the voice coil motor assembly.