Hard Disk Drive Slider Mid-Gap Features for Lubricant Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The accumulation of lubricant and contaminants on the air bearing surface of sliders in hard-disc drives can lead to reliability issues and failures due to the transfer of lubricant and contaminants from the disc to the air bearing, causing corrosion and performance disruptions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sliders with features in the mid-gap between the trailing and leading edge sets, which include gap features that are evenly distributed and have upper surfaces above the base but below the air bearing surfaces, helping to minimize lubricant and contaminant accumulation by facilitating their flushing and distribution across the slider.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricant transfer from disc to air bearing is allowed during normal operation, then the air bearing can function properly, but lubricant and contaminants accumulate on the air bearing surface causing reliability issues and failures
Solution Approach 1:
The air bearing surface is segmented into multiple regions by introducing leading edge features, trailing edge features, and mid-gap features that create distinct zones for lubricant management. These features divide the continuous air bearing surface into functional segments that control lubricant flow and accumulation patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful lubricant accumulation is extracted from the air bearing surface by creating dedicated collection zones through the mid-gap features. These features act as lubricant traps that remove excess lubricant and contaminants from the critical air bearing surfaces, separating the lubricant management function from the primary air bearing function.
2Reliability
If features are added to the slider body to manage lubricant, then lubricant accumulation is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant management features are merged with the existing slider body structure. The leading edge features, trailing edge features, and mid-gap features are integrated into the slider base rather than being separate components, combining the air bearing function with lubricant management functions in a single unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider body is designed with multi-functionality, where the same structure serves both as the air bearing surface and as a lubricant management system. The features in the slider body simultaneously support the air bearing function and perform lubricant collection, distribution, and removal functions.
3Reliability
If mid-gap features are introduced to flush lubricant, then lubricant distribution improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slider features are designed with local quality variations, where specific regions have different heights, widths, and positions optimized for their particular lubricant management functions. The mid-gap features have specific dimensional characteristics that differ from the leading and trailing edge features, allowing each region to perform its specialized function effectively.
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
This design effectively reduces lubricant accumulation, maintaining stability and performance by ensuring that lubricant and contaminants are evenly distributed and flushed away, reducing the risk of corrosion and performance disruptions, as demonstrated by simulations showing lower lubricant height and volume over time compared to previous designs.
Implementation Method 1
the air bearing (that holds the magnetic elements) flies over the disc
Implementation Method 2
Some of the these interactions result in transfer of lubricant from the disc to the air bearing, where it can migrate to different areas of the head due to the joint effects of pressure and shear stresses
Implementation Method 3
Some of the these interactions result in transfer of lubricant from the disc to the air bearing, where it can migrate to different areas of the head due to the joint effects of pressure and shear stresses
Data Source
AI summary
Sliders that include a slider body having an outer side edge, an inner side edge, a trailing edge and a leading edge, and a base; a trailing edge set of features positioned towards the trailing edge of the slider body, the trailing edge set of features having air bearing surfaces, the air bearing surfaces being above the base of the slider body; a leading edge set of features positioned towards the leading edge of the slider body; a gap positioned between the trailing edge set of features and the leading edge set of features, the gap having a gap surface, the gap surface substantially coplanar with the base of the slider body; and a first gap feature and a second gap feature distributed evenly within the gap from the inner side edge to the outer side edge, the first and second gap features each having upper surfaces, the upper surfaces of the first and second gap features being above the base of the slider body but below the air bearing surface of the trailing edge features.