Filter assembly for a data storage device

• US 20030151847A1
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan H. Tsang, Daniel L. Tuma, James E. Kaneko, Rollo R. Cain
• Original Assignee: Alan H. Tsang, Daniel L. Tuma, James E. Kaneko, Rollo R. Cain
• Inventors: Cain, Rollo R., Kaneko, James E., Tsang, Alan H., Tuma, Daniel L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,999,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/97.02
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/038 Centering or locking of a plurality of discs in a single cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 25/043 using rotating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/14 Reducing influence of physical parameters, e.g. temperature change, moisture, dust

Abstract

A filter assembly for a data storage device. The filter assembly includes a flow passage having an inlet and outlet to provide a recirculating filter. The filter assembly is positioned to provide a pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of the flow passage. A breather filter includes an opening for ambient air exchange through a second flow passage which is opened to the pressure differential of the flow passage of the recirculating filter to enhance ambient air exchange. An air dam assembly interposed in an air flow path provides a high pressure region and low pressure region. An assembly structure includes an air dam and a filter flow passage to enhance the pressure differential across the flow passage. Flow turbulence through the flow passage is reduced via flow plates supported between raised edge portions of the flow passage.

Claims

1. A filter assembly for a data storage device comprising:

a first assembly body defining a first flow passage having an inlet and an outlet and a first flow passage length extending between the inlet and the outlet;

a filter disposed in the first flow passage;

a second flow passage in the first assembly body having an ambient exchange opening and an opening leading to an intermediate portion of the first flow passage between the inlet and the outlet; and

a filter portion interposed between the ambient exchange opening and the opening leading to the intermediate portion of the first flow passage.

2. The filter assembly of claim 1 further comprising an air dam coupleable to the first assembly body, in which the first flow passage length extends about the air dam.

3. The filter assembly of claim 2 further comprising a second assembly body including a plurality of spaced fingers extending therefrom to form the air dam, the plurality of spaced fingers extending from the filter assembly between the inlet and the outlet of the first flow passage.

4. The filter assembly of claim 3 wherein the second assembly body further comprises:

a first body portion;

a second body portion from which the plurality of fingers extends; and

a plurality of spaced slats between the first and second body portions and offset relative to the plurality of fingers.

5. The filter assembly of claim 1 in which the first flow passage is curved along the first flow passage length.

6. The filter assembly of claim 1 in which the intermediate portion of the first flow passage has a smaller cross-section relative to the inlet.

7. The filter assembly of claim 1 in which the outlet includes raised edge portions.

8. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the first flow passage includes a plurality of flow plates therein.

9. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein the first assembly body further includes a desiccant chamber.

10. A data storage device comprising:

at least one disc rotationally coupled to a chassis and rotatable to provide an air flow;

at least one head positionable proximate to the at least one disc to read or write data to the at least one disc;

an assembly body defining a first flow passage having an inlet and an outlet and a first flow passage length extending between the inlet and the outlet, the inlet being adjacent the at least one disc;

a filter disposed in the first flow passage;

a second flow passage in the assembly body having an ambient exchange opening and an opening leading to an intermediate portion of the first flow passage between the inlet and the outlet; and

a filter portion interposed between the ambient exchange opening and the opening leading to the intermediate portion of the first flow passage.

11. The data storage device of claim 10 in which the first flow passage is disposed between the at least one disc and the second flow passage.

12. The data storage device of claim 10 further comprising:

an air dam including at least one finger disposed in a flow path of the at least one disc and creating a high pressure region upstream of the finger and a lower pressure region downstream of the finger, and in which the inlet is proximate to the high pressure region upstream of the finger and the outlet is proximate to the lower pressure region downstream of the finger.

13. The data storage device of claim 12 further comprising an air dam coupleable to the assembly body, in which the first flow passage length is curved about the air dam.

14. The data storage device of claim 10 in which the intermediate portion of the first flow passage has a smaller cross-section relative to the inlet.

15. The data storage device of claim 10 in which the outlet includes raised edge portions.

16. The data storage device of claim 10 wherein the first flow passage includes a plurality of flow plates therein.

17. The data storage device of claim 10 wherein the assembly body further includes a desiccant chamber.

18. A method for filtering air in a data storage device comprising steps of:

providing a flow passage having an inlet proximate to a high pressure region of a disc and an outlet spaced therefrom;

providing an ambient air exchange opened to the flow passage;

providing a filter in the flow passage; and

rotating the disc to create the high pressure region to induce air flow through the flow passage and the ambient air exchange.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising a step of providing an air dam interposed in a flow path to provide a high pressure region upstream of the air dam and a low pressure region downstream of the air dam.

20. A disc drive comprising:

at least one disc rotationally coupled to a chassis and rotatable to provide an air flow;

at least one head proximate to the disc to read or write data to the at least one disc; and

means for filtering the air flow.

21. The disc drive of claim 20 in which the means for filtering further comprises means for streamlining the air flow.