Patent · US Expired

Disk drive spindle motor

US5373407A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
7References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 12, 1992
Grant dateDec 13, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 12, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B33/1446
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A small form factor disk drive having an extremely thin, high-energy product annular magnet within the spindle motor. The magnet includes twelve alternating poles disposed about the periphery and canted from the top edge to the bottom at a slight skew angle. The high-energy product magnet generates a high starting torque which obviates the use of low viscosity lithium bearing greases. A stator disposed concentrically within the magnet has three continuous coils, each coil wound around three spokes of the stator at 120 degree intervals, for a total of nine stator slots. The rotating spindle, bearings and stationary base are constructed of materials having similar coefficients of thermal expansion to reduce stresses on the bearings during periods of temperature elevation. An annular aluminum disk support sole bonds to a ledge on the spindle hub to facilitate machining and provide material compatibility. The disk drive includes various features for reducing the amount of contamination on the disk surface. A double groove bonding configuration eliminates adhesive runout and ensures a consistent bond strength.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.