Tolerance Ring Mounting for Thin Actuator Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reduced thickness of actuator arms in hard disk drives leads to insufficient engagement by tolerance rings, making conventional mounting methods ineffective, and alternative methods like clips or adhesives lack radial stiffness or complicate manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A method using a split ring with radial projections that applies forces inclined to both radial and axial directions to mount thin components on a pivot or pin, with the ring engaging the component and a flange to provide secure attachment, allowing for deformation of projections for effective gripping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the thickness of the actuator arm is reduced to decrease drive capacity, then the axial length of the bore is reduced, but the engagement of the tolerance ring becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a flange feature that extends the engagement in a new dimension (radial direction) rather than relying solely on axial engagement. The flange provides a bearing surface that the tolerance ring can press against, creating radial contact that supplements the reduced axial engagement caused by thinner arms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the engagement parameters by introducing radial force components in addition to axial forces. The tolerance ring is designed to apply force at an angle, creating both axial compression and radial clamping forces that improve gripping on thin components.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional tolerance ring mounting is used on thin components, then manufacturing is simple, but the mounting becomes ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The force application is segmented into multiple components: axial compression force and radial clamping force. The tolerance ring with its flange configuration creates distinct force vectors that work together to secure the thin component, rather than relying on a single engagement mode.
3Reliability
If alternative mounting methods like clips or adhesives are used, then engagement on thin components is achieved, but radial stiffness is reduced or manufacturing is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The tolerance ring with flange configuration serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides axial positioning, radial clamping, and rotational constraint. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate clips or adhesive applications, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving reliable mounting on thin components.
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 solution ensures secure and resilient mounting of thin components on pivots or pins, maintaining structural integrity and ease of manufacturing by generating both axial and radial forces, suitable for reduced thickness actuator arms in hard disk drives.
Implementation Method 1
mounting the ring being such that an edge of the ring remote from the component abuts the first flange and the at least one projection exerts a force on the component, which force is inclined to both the radial and axial directions of the pivot or pin
Implementation Method 2
allowing for deformation of projections for effective gripping
Data Source
AI summary
A thin component such as the actuator arm (10) of a hard disk drive, is mounted on a pivot or pin (31), such as the pivot assembly of the hard disk drive, using a ring (32), e.g. a tolerance ring, having one or more projections (35), wherein the engagement of the component (30) and the ring (32) is such as to apply a force to the component (30) in a direction which is inclined to both the radial and axial directions of the pivot or pin (31). The pivot or pin (31) has a flange onto which the component (30) is pressed by the axial component of the force generated by the ring on the component. The edge of the ring (32) remote from the component (30) is engaged with a stop element, e.g. another flange (34) of the pivot or pin (31).