Magnetic disk drive having small clearance between magnetic disk and surface opposing thereto
US6236532A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 22, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 26, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B33/1486
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magnetic disk drive is provided having at least one magnetic disk, a magnetic head for writing and reading data, and a vessel in which the magnetic disk and magnetic head are sealed. The vessel is filled with air, an inert gas, or a mixture of air and inert gas. A clearance distance is provided between the magnetic disk and a surface opposite thereto, which distance is not larger than 1.0 mm when the vessel is filled with air, 1.1 mm with helium, 1.7 mm with neon, 1.2 mm with argon, 1.4 mm with krypton, and 1.2 mm with xenon. In one preferred embodiment, there may be provided a plurality of grooves on the stationary surface opposite to the magnetic disk, or a fan in a rotary shaft of the magnetic disk, in order to direct air inwardly between the magnetic disk and the surface opposite thereto. By setting the clearance distance as small as possible, it is possible to reduce the thickness reduction of lubricant caused by shearing force of air flow along the magnetic disk surface. Also, by appropriately selecting the gases to be used, and by using the groove or fan structures, the clearance distance may be further reduced.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.