Patent ID: 6339521
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A dual air vane latch apparatus for use in a disc drive having a data storage disc rotatably mounted on a spin motor fastened to a baseplate and an actuator assembly mounted adjacent the data storage disc for rotating an actuator arm over a portion of the disc, the dual air vane latch apparatus comprising:a pivot portion adapted to be rotatably mounted in the disc drive adjacent the disc, the pivot portion rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position; a latch arm extending from the pivot portion toward the actuator assembly, the latch arm adapted to contact the actuator assembly to prevent movement of the actuator arm when the pivot portion is rotated to the latched position, and the latch arm further adapted to avoid contact with the actuator assembly to allow free movement of the actuator arm when the pivot portion is rotated to the unlatched position; an upper air vane extending from the pivot portion for rotation in a first plane and adapted to catch air flow generated by the rotating disc to exert a rotational force on the pivot portion toward the unlatched position, the upper air vane adapted to extend over a top surface of the disc when the pivot portion is rotated to both the latched and the unlatched positions; and a lower air vane extending from the pivot portion for rotation in a second plane parallel to the first plane and adapted to catch air flow generated by the rotating disc to exert a rotational force on the pivot portion toward the unlatched position, the lower air vane extending from the pivot portion at a skew angle with respect to the upper air vane so that the lower air vane is adapted to be positioned outside an outer diameter of the disc when the pivot portion is rotated to the latched position.