Method and apparatus for suppressing the evaporation of lubricant film coated on magnetic disks of a disk storage
First Claim
1. A magnetic disk storage apparatus comprising:
- an air-tight enclosure having a base and a container;
a magnetic storage disk coated with a lubricant layer;
drive means for rotating said disk;
a flying head assembly; and
a lubricant evaporating source containing a lubricant material positioned selectively inside said enclosure so that the evaporating surface of said lubricant evaporating source is exposed to the hot air flow created by the rotation of said disk such that the evaporation of said lubricant material contained in said lubricant evaporating source is accelerated;
said lubricant evaporating source during operation of said magnetic disk storage apparatus providing a lubricant vapor inside of said enclosure which suppresses the consumption of said lubricant layer coated on said magnetic disk by substantially balancing the rate of evaporation of the lubricant material of said lubricant layer on said disk with the rate of absorption of said lubricant vapor onto said lubricant layer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic disk storage apparatus includes an air-tight enclosure containing a drive mechanism for rotating magnetic disks coated with a lubricant material and a flying head assembly. A lubricant evaporating source is arranged inside the enclosure and exposed to the flow of hot air produced by rotation of the disks whereby the lubricant is evaporated and the enclosure is filled with lubricant vapor to suppress the evaporation and consumption of the lubricant layers coated on the magnetic disks. The lubricant evaporating source may be positioned on the inside wall of the enclosure, on a dummy surface of the disks, or on a portion exposed to the circulating hot air flow inside the enclosure. The surface on which the lubricant evaporating source is coated may be of a porous or rough structure to accelerate the evaporation of the lubricant of the source and provide a strong adhesion of the lubricant material to the surface.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A magnetic disk storage apparatus comprising:
-
an air-tight enclosure having a base and a container; a magnetic storage disk coated with a lubricant layer; drive means for rotating said disk; a flying head assembly; and a lubricant evaporating source containing a lubricant material positioned selectively inside said enclosure so that the evaporating surface of said lubricant evaporating source is exposed to the hot air flow created by the rotation of said disk such that the evaporation of said lubricant material contained in said lubricant evaporating source is accelerated; said lubricant evaporating source during operation of said magnetic disk storage apparatus providing a lubricant vapor inside of said enclosure which suppresses the consumption of said lubricant layer coated on said magnetic disk by substantially balancing the rate of evaporation of the lubricant material of said lubricant layer on said disk with the rate of absorption of said lubricant vapor onto said lubricant layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for suppressing the consumption of a lubricant layer coated on a magnetic storage disk rotatably mounted in an air-tight enclosure of a magnetic disk storage apparatus comprising:
-
arranging a lubricant evaporating source containing a lubricant material inside said air-tight enclosure; rotating said magnetic disk to cause a rise in the temperature inside said air-tight enclosure; exposing the evaporating surface of said lubricant evaporating source to the hot air flow created by the rotation of said disk; and evaporating the lubricant material of said lubricant evaporating source to form a lubricant vapor inside of said air-tight enclosure so that the rate of evaporation of the lubricant material of said lubricant layer on said magnetic disk is substantially balanced with the rate of absorption of said lubricant vapor to thereby suppress the consumption of said lubricant layer coated on said magnetic disk.
-
Specification