Viscoelastic Isolation Mounts for Brushless DC Motor Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brushless DC motors in tape drives experience torque oscillations that destabilize the spacing between the magnetic tape head and the medium, leading to position error signals (PES) and reduced performance as tape drive capacities increase.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating viscoelastic isolation mounts between the stator and the support plate to dampen vibrational disturbances, preventing direct contact and converting kinetic energy into heat, thereby reducing the transfer of vibrations to the support plate and other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the stator is rigidly coupled to the main support plate in conventional brushless DC motors, then structural stability is improved, but vibration and torque oscillations are transmitted to the magnetic head, causing position instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces isolation mounts as an intermediary element between the stator and the main support plate. These isolation mounts serve as a mediator that decouples the rigid connection, allowing the stator to be supported while preventing the transmission of vibration and torque oscillations to the magnetic head and support plate structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful vibration transmission path by separating the stator from the main support plate. By removing the direct rigid coupling, the harmful vibrations and torque oscillations are isolated at the motor level, preventing their propagation to other critical components like the magnetic head.
2Productivity
If brushless DC motors are used to enable high speed tape motion in a compact form factor, then productivity is improved, but torque oscillations and reaction forces are generated, affecting magnetic head positioning accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation mounts act as an intermediary that allows the brushless DC motor to operate at high speeds while preventing the transmission of torque oscillations to the magnetic head positioning system. This mediator enables the motor to deliver high productivity without compromising positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful torque oscillations and reaction forces into localized vibrations confined to the motor assembly. By using isolation mounts, the harmful effects are contained and dissipated as localized thermal energy through viscoelastic damping, preventing their propagation to the positioning system.
3Manufacturing precision
If the spacing between the magnetic head and tape is minimized for high density storage, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to vibrations and torque oscillations from the motor
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation mounts serve as a protective intermediary that shields the precisely positioned magnetic head from motor-induced vibrations. This allows the system to maintain minimal spacing for high density storage while protecting the sensitive positioning from harmful mechanical disturbances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-installing isolation mounts that provide vibration damping protection before the motor operates. These isolation elements are positioned in advance to cushion against upcoming torque oscillations and vibrations, protecting the precisely spaced magnetic head-tape interface.
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 configuration improves the stability and accuracy of the magnetic head's position, enhancing read and write operations by confining torque oscillations to the motor region and minimizing their impact on surrounding components.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating viscoelastic isolation mounts between the stator and the support plate to dampen vibrational disturbances, preventing direct contact and converting kinetic energy into heat
Implementation Method 2
The coupling of the magnetic paths to the magnetic field generated by the coils wrapped around the stator legs create a torque which thereby includes the rotational motion
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: a support plate, a stator, a rotor sub-assembly, and at least one isolation mount coupled between the support plate and the stator. The isolation mount is for reducing transfer of vibration from the stator to the support plate. Moreover, the stator is coplanar with the support plate. The rotor sub-assembly includes a magnet, and a hub rotatably fixed relative to the magnet. The rotor sub-assembly is also configured to rotate relative to the support plate and the stator. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.