System and method for attaching a disk clamp to the hub of a spindle motor in a hard disk drive

• US 20060002013A1
• Filed: 06/22/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands BV (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage
• Inventors: Fu, Ta-Chang, Shida, Kunihiro, Chan, Andre Sirilutporn, Wong, Stanley Yen, Hanlon, Andrew Keith, Shen, Jr-Yi, Hanssen, Steven Alf, Jefferson, Tisha
• Granted Patent: US 7,126,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/99.120
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/022 Positioning or locking of single discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/038 Centering or locking of a plurality of discs in a single cartridge

Abstract

A disk clamp for securing data storage disks to the hub of a spindle motor in a hard disk drive has a circumferential rib protruding from a lower surface of the disk clamp. A complementary recess is formed in the hub of the spindle motor for closely receiving the rib on the disk clamp. The inner diameter of the rib and the outer diameter of the recess are closely toleranced to provide a very precise centering feature for mounting and aligning the disk clamp with respect to the hub and spindle motor. This design reduces the complexity of the tooling and fixtures required to complete the assembly and the overall part cost is reduced.

Claims

1. A system for concentrically aligning and attaching a disk clamp to a hub of a motor in a hard disk drive, comprising:

a hub of a motor having a plurality of fastener openings formed on a bolt circle diameter, and an annular recess formed in and circumscribing the hub, the annular recess defining an outer wall;

a disk clamp having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough at the bolt circle diameter, and an annular rim protruding from the disk clamp, the annular rim defining an inner wall; and

the disk clamp being centered on the hub by engaging the inner wall of the disk clamp with the outer wall of the hub such that the annular rim of the disk clamp is closely received by and seats in the annular recess in the hub.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the bolt circle diameter is radially outboard of the central bore, and the hub has an outer circumference at a perimeter of the hub that is radially outboard of the bolt circle diameter, and the annular recess is located radially between the bolt circle diameter and the outer circumference.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the disk clamp has an outer clamp circumference at a perimeter of the disk clamp, and the annular rim is located radially between the bolt circle diameter of the disk clamp and the outer clamp circumference.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the disk clamp is assembled to the hub by extending fasteners through the apertures in the disk clamp and into engagement with the fastener openings in the hub.

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. A method of concentrically aligning and attaching a disk clamp to a hub of a motor in a hard disk drive, the method comprising:

(a) providing a hub of a motor with an annular recess formed in and circumscribing the hub, the annular recess defining an outer wall, a disk clamp having an annular rim protruding from the disk clamp, the annular rim defining an inner wall;

(b) mounting a disk to the hub;

(b) placing the disk clamp on the hub to retain the disk on the hub;

(c) aligning the annular rim on the disk clamp with the annular recess in the hub, such that the disk clamp is centered on the hub by engaging the inner wall of the disk clamp with the outer wall of the hub; and

(d) closely receiving and seating the annular rim of the disk clamp in the annular recess in the hub to form a disk pack assembly.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (a) comprises providing the hub with a bolt circle diameter that is radially outboard of a central bore in the hub, an outer circumference at a perimeter of the hub that is radially outboard of the bolt circle diameter, and locating the annular recess radially between the bolt circle diameter and the outer circumference.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein step (a) comprises providing the disk clamp with an outer clamp circumference at a perimeter of the disk clamp, and locating the annular rim radially between a bolt circle diameter of the disk clamp and the outer clamp circumference.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of assembling the disk clamp to the hub by extending fasteners through the disk clamp and into engagement with fastener openings in the hub.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)