Patent ID: 7064923

Claim:
At least one mechanical counterbalance for use in balancing a disk pack includes a spindle motor rigidly coupled and aligned by at least two open screw holes with a disk clamp, comprising: a cylindrical shaft rigidly coupled to a latching assembly, both centered about a primary axis, and a balance weight; wherein said latching assembly includes a compressible latch rigidly coupled to a latch gap zone, both centered about said primary axis; wherein said balance weight is rigidly coupled to said latch gap zone; wherein said cylindrical shaft is rigidly coupled to said compressible latch; wherein for each of said open screw holes, when said mechanical counterbalance is inserted into said open screw hole to lock said mechanical counterbalance, said cylindrical shaft fits into said open screw hole, said compressible latch compresses when pressed away from said cylindrical shaft in said open screw hole, and said compressible latch expands when pressed further away from said cylindrical shaft in said open screw hole to lock said mechanical counterbalance against a member of a locking plate collection based upon said latch gap zone; wherein said locking plate collection comprises said disk clamp and said spindle motor; wherein said mechanical counterbalance has a total mass provided at essentially said primary axis when used in said disk pack; and wherein said balance weight includes an interior face aligned toward members of said locking plate collection when said mechanical counterbalance is inserted into said open screw hole.