Record disk file

Abstract: A clamping device (20) for a rigid record disk file includes an annular member (22) that acts through a spacer ring (21) to clamp a stack of rigid disks (10) in spaced parallel relationship to a hub (13) having a portion (12) supporting the lower end of the stack. The annular member has a plurality of uniformly spaced radial slots (23) to define a plurality of substantially identical tapered leaf springs (24). Each leaf spring terminates at its wider end in a common solid hoop-shaped rim (25) that overhangs and contacts the spacer ring (21) along a circular line in the same horizontal plane as, and near, the centroid of the cross-sectional area of the rim when the clamp is uncompressed. Upon application of a compressive force in an axial direction concurrently to the small innermost ends of all said leaf springs, the rim pivots at and along the aforementioned circular line to substantially eliminate radial load transmitted via the spacer ring to the top disk when clamping the stack to the hub. A minimal spring constant results from substantially uniform stress distribution across and along each tapered leaf spring.

Description: This invention relates to a record disk file having a clamping device for clamping a stack of rigid disks with interleaved spacers to a hub. All rigid record disk drives comprise a disk clamp to provide a compressive load on the disk stack to hold the disks in place. These clamps have a wide variety of configurations. Generally, they are a disk or bell-shaped part that acts as a spring and is compressed by screws or bolts. As rigid record disks become smaller in diameter and track density increases, it is essential that the disks be maintained in parallel relationship to provide proper transducing between the read/write heads and disk recording surface. If the clamp imposes a radial load on the disk stack, it can cause distortion and droop of the disks. This, in turn, can cause misalignment of the heads and produce errors due to skew, missing bits, bit shift and/or signal distortion. To avoid such distortion, the disk file should be assembled using a clamp that applies a purely compressive load. The clamp should also have a low spring constant to minimize variations in the load on the stack due to tolerance buildup and due to changes in stack dimensions with temperature. U.S.A. 3,587,073; U.S.A. 4,065,799; and U.S.A. 4,672,488 disclose various configurations of disk clamps. The IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin in the March 1987 issue at p.4346, and in the November 1977 issue at p. 2376, and in the March 1984 issue at p. 5444 disclose further configurations. The aim of the invention is to provide a rigid disk file clamp having a configuration that provides a low spring constant and that substantially eliminates radial distortion and load on the disk pack. The invention provides a record disk file including a stack of spaced rigid record disks supported on a hub, and a clamping device that acts through a spacer ring to clamp the stack of rigid disks to the hub, the disk file being characterised by the clamping device comprising an annular member having a plurality of uniformly spaced radial slots to define a plurality of substantially identical tapered leaf springs, each leaf spring terminating at its wider end in a common solid hoop-shaped rim that overhangs and contacts the spacer ring along a circular line that is in the same horizontal plane as and near to the centroid of the cross-sectional area of the rim when the clamping device is uncompressed. How the invention can be carried out will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a rigid disk file embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view to enlarged scale of a disk clamp for a file embodying the invention; and Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary vertical sectional views of the clamp of Fig. 2 showing it in its uncompressed and compressed states, respectively. A rigid disk file (Fig. 1) embodying the invention comprises a stack of rigid disks 10 separated by interleaved spacers 11. The stack is supported at its lower end by a flange 12 forming part of a hub 13 that surrounds and is press fitted onto and driven by a spindle 14. A clamp 20 acts through a top spacer ring 21 and the top disk of the stack to clamp the latter to hub 13. As illustrated in Fig. 2, clamp 20 comprises a unitary annular member 22 having a plurality of uniformly spaced radial slots 23 to form a plurality of identical tapered leaf springs 24. Each leaf spring is cantilevered inwards from a common hoop-shaped rim 25. The leaf of each spring 24 is configured to provide a substantially uniform stress distribution across and along the leaf. This configuration, including the taper, provides maximum vertical deflection for a preselected load and allowable stress level and thereby a minimal spring constant. Adjacent its inner narrow end, each leaf spring 24 preferably has a boss 26. As shown in Fig. 3, when the clamp is assembled, rim 25 overhangs spacer ring 21. Ring 21 supports clamp 20 at a series of contiguous points forming a circular line 27 around the inner end of a flat horizontal surface 28 of the rim that abuts the flat horizontal top of spacer ring 21. Surface 28, and hence line 27, lie in the same horizontal plane 28a as the centroid 29 of the cross-sectional area of ring 25; and because of the overhang, line 27 is also very near the centroid. In operation, and as best shown in Fig. 4, when a clamp load of approximately 5,000 lbs. (22.240 NTs) is applied to the leaf spring 24 at bosses 26 via a washer 30, a moment is transmitted to rim 25. This moment causes rim 25 to pivot or twist inwardly at and along line 27. As rim 25 pivots, the points of smallest radial motion are those near horizontal plane 28a. By having rim 25 overhang spacer ring 21 and centroid 29 near the line 27 of contact points, the radial deflection of clamp 20 at this line is substantially eliminated; and hence the radial load transmitted to the top disk 15 via the spacer ring is substantially eliminated. This, in turn, substantially eliminates droop of the top disk 15 and stack as it is clamped under compression between hub flange 12 and spacer ring 21. The under surfaces 31 of leaf springs 24 adjacent their inner end contact a shoulder 32 on spindle 14; and while the compression load is applied via washer 30, a clamping nut 33 is screw-threaded into contact with the washer to maintain the clamp 20 under compression and removably secure the clamped disk stack to the hub 13 and spindle 14. It should be noted that, as illustrated, surface 31 adjacent the inner end of each leaf spring 24, is provided on a depending portion 31a of each leaf. The differences in angularity of surfaces 24a,b were to provide a substantially constant stress distribution across and along the leaf of each leaf spring 24. If preferred, spindle surface 32 could be higher than the upper surface of the hub, and the depending portion 31a eliminated. Irrespective of the specific configuration selected, however, it is essential that the stress be uniform across and throughout the length of each leaf of the leaf springs 24. It will now be seen that the disk stack clamp herein described has a low spring constant and, by substantially eliminating radial load, desirably eliminates droop of the disks of the stack.

Claims: A record disk file including a stack of spaced rigid record disks (10) supported on a hub (13), and a clamping device (20) that acts through a spacer ring (21) to clamp the stack of disks to the hub, the disk file being characterised by the clamping device comprising: an annular member (22) having a plurality of uniformly spaced radial slots (23) to define a plurality of substantially identical tapered leaf springs (24), each leaf spring terminating at its wider end in a common solid hoop-shaped rim (25) that overhangs and contacts the spacer ring (21) along a circular line that is in the same horizontal plane as and near to the centroid of the cross-sectional area of the rim when the clamping device is uncompressed. A disk file as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rim (25) of the clamping device (20) is operative, upon application of a compressive force in an axial direction concurrently to the small innermost ends of all of the leaf springs (24), to pivot at and along said circular line to substantially eliminate radial load transmitted via the spacer ring (21) to the top disk when clamping the stack to the hub (13). A disk file as claimed in claim 2, including loading means (30) bearing on said innermost ends to maintain the compressive force and secure the stack to the hub and spindle. A disk file as claimed in claim 3, wherein each leaf spring (24) adjacent its innermost end has a boss (26) to which the compressive force is applied by said loading means (30). A disk file as claimed in claim 4, including a drive spindle surrounded by the hub, and wherein said loading means comprises a washer (30) through which the force is applied, and a nut screw-threaded onto the spindle to maintain the compressive force and secure the stack to the hub and spindle. A disk file as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each tapered leaf spring of the clamping device is configured to provide substantially uniform stress distribution across and along the tapered leaf spring, thereby to provide a minimal spring constant.

Inventors: SCHEFFELL JOHN NELSON, SCHEFFELL, JOHN NELSON
Applicants: IBM, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G11B17
IPC codes: G11B17