Non-circular HDD Disk Clamp for Shock Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in disk drive design is to maintain a reliable clamping force for thinner HDDs under extreme conditions, such as operational and non-operational shocks, while minimizing stress concentration and preventing disk deflection and contact with other components.
Innovation Solution
A disk clamp with a non-circular opening and a hub featuring a non-circular protrusion are designed to provide a secure clamping force, utilizing a semi-rectangular shape with curved corners and concave regions to reduce stress concentration, and screws to apply additional clamping pressure, forming an embedded structure that enhances the integration of the disk pack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional circular clamp design is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but stress concentration occurs at the corners and the clamping force is insufficient for thinner HDDs under shock conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp design transitions from a traditional circular shape to a non-circular shape with flat sides and curved corners. This asymmetric geometry distributes stress more evenly across the clamp structure, eliminating stress concentration at corners while maintaining structural integrity under shock conditions. The non-circular profile also provides better contact surfaces for clamping the disk assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp incorporates curved corners instead of sharp angles, and the inner surface features a curved profile that conforms to the disk hub geometry. This curvature design eliminates stress concentration points while maintaining structural strength, and the curved inner surface improves contact area and clamping effectiveness.
2Length of moving object
If the clamp thickness is reduced for thinner HDD design, then the form factor is smaller, but the clamping force and structural strength are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp is constructed from a magnetically soft material that combines mechanical compliance with magnetic properties. This material selection allows the thin clamp to maintain sufficient structural strength while providing the necessary magnetic shielding and clamping force. The material's inherent properties compensate for the reduced thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved inner profile of the clamp maximizes the contact area with the disk hub, distributing clamping forces more effectively across the contact surface. This curvature optimization allows the thin clamp to achieve adequate clamping force without increasing thickness, maintaining structural strength despite the reduced form factor.
3Force
If additional screws are added to increase clamping pressure, then the clamping force is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp design integrates the clamping function with the magnetic shield, combining two previously separate components into one. This merged structure eliminates the need for additional fastening components, as the single clamp piece provides both magnetic shielding and clamping pressure through its integrated design and non-circular geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a magnetic shield, a structural clamp, and a stress-distributing element. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adequate clamping pressure through its optimized non-circular geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A disk drive having a hub comprising a top surface and a non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface, a disk clamp comprising a wall portion and a non-circular opening formed through the clamp, the opening configured to receive the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub; and at least one disk supported by the hub, wherein the non-circular protrusion extending upward from the top surface of the hub is inserted into the opening formed in the clamp, and wherein an outer annular portion of the clamp engages the disk to provide clamping force.