Spindle Motor Disk Clamp Centered on Cover Cap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spindle motor designs for hard disk drives require complex and costly centering and alignment of the disk clamp, which increases the mass, power consumption, and manufacturing complexity due to the need for precise machining and additional components.
Innovation Solution
The disk clamp is centered on a peripheral surface of a cap, reducing the mass of the rotatable motor component and allowing for a smaller central opening, thereby optimizing the width and thickness of the clamp for reduced weight and material usage while maintaining rigidity and stability, and eliminating the need for additional centering sleeves or precise machining of the rotor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the disk clamp is centered on a peripheral surface of the rotating motor component, then the manufacturing precision and stability of the disk clamp are improved, but the device complexity and machining cost increase due to additional centering features and high-precision machining requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cap serves dual functions: it seals the bearing gap opening and provides the centering surface for the disk clamp. By combining the sealing function and centering function into a single component, the patent eliminates the need for separate centering features on the rotating motor component, reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap acts as an intermediary component between the bearing gap sealing system and the disk clamp mounting system. It provides a stable, pre-positioned reference surface for centering the disk clamp without requiring direct high-precision machining of the rotating motor component, thus reducing machining costs while maintaining centering accuracy.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the disk clamp is made larger and thicker to increase stability, then the stability and rigidity of the disk clamp are improved, but the weight and mass of the rotating motor component increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cap provides a pre-established, precisely positioned centering surface before the disk clamp is installed. This preliminary centering action allows the disk clamp to be mounted with correct alignment without requiring excessive thickness or size for stability, as the positioning is handled by the cap's geometry rather than the clamp's own mass.
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 simplifies the centering and alignment of the disk clamp, reduces the mass and power consumption of the spindle motor, and allows for a lighter rotor with the same level of stability and rigidity, while minimizing material usage and manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Fluid dynamic bearing systems, i.e. lubricant filled bearings, are usually used to rotatably support the rotary motor component
Implementation Method 2
Sealing is done, for example, via capillary seals, i.e. capillary sealing gaps
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the spindle motor for driving a hard disk drive, comprising: a stationary motor component (10, 12, 16, 18), a rotary motor component (14) rotatably mounted relative to the stationary motor component using a fluid dynamic bearing system, a bearing gap (20) disposed between the stationary motor component and the rotary motor component and filled with a bearing fluid, having at least one open end, at least one sealing gap (34) for sealing the open end, at least one cover cap (30) for covering the sealing gap, which is secured to the rotatable motor component, a disk clamp (44) for attachment of at least one magnetic storage disk (48) on the rotatable motor member and an electromagnetic drive system (40, 42) to drive the rotatable motor member. The disk clamp (44, 156) is centered on a peripheral surface of the cover cap (30, 118).