Method and apparatus for lubricating a magnetic disk continuously in a recording file
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant on a recording surface, comprising:
- providing a magnetic recording surface having an affinity for organic lubricant molecules,coating said recording surface with a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant,mounting said recording surface in container that is at least partially closed,inducing an airflow stream within said container,mounting a supply of an organic lubricant within said container and in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface, andcontrolling the vapor pressure of said lubricant supply so as to establish a condition whereby said air stream (1) picks up lubricant molecules, (2) receives lubricant molecules, or (3) neither picks up nor receives lubricant molecules, from said lubricant supply and/or said recording surface, as is required to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a magnetic disk file having a plurality of disks and a source of organic lubricant mounted within a housing, an air flow stream recirculates within the housing. The vapor pressure of the lubricant source is controlled to provide vapor phase transport of lubricant molecules between the source and the disks'"'"' recording surfaces. The lubricant molecules bidirectionally transfer between the air stream and the source, and between the air stream and the surface of the disks, as is needed to maintain a mono-molecular lubricant film, in the range of about 3 to 15 angstroms, on the disks in accordance with the principle of Langmuir kinetics. The disks are rigid disks and their recording surface includes a carbon overcoat. This overcoat has an affinity for the airborne organic lubricant molecules.
In a first embodiment, the vapor pressure of the lubricant is controlled by mounting the material at the coolest location within the housing.
In a second embodiment, the lubricant is carried as a mono-molecular layer of lubricant on granular carbon particles which have a surface area that is many times greater than the surface area of the disks.
In a third embodiment, the vapor pressure is controlled by combining the lubricant with a vapor pressure diluent.
-
Citations
39 Claims
-
1. A method for maintaining a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant on a recording surface, comprising:
-
providing a magnetic recording surface having an affinity for organic lubricant molecules, coating said recording surface with a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant, mounting said recording surface in container that is at least partially closed, inducing an airflow stream within said container, mounting a supply of an organic lubricant within said container and in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface, and controlling the vapor pressure of said lubricant supply so as to establish a condition whereby said air stream (1) picks up lubricant molecules, (2) receives lubricant molecules, or (3) neither picks up nor receives lubricant molecules, from said lubricant supply and/or said recording surface, as is required to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 38, 39)
-
-
17. Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising
magnetic recording media means including recording surface means having an affinity for organic molecules, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, a supply of a vaporizable organic lubricant material in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, and means ensuring that the operating temperature of said lubricant supply is lower than the operating temperature of said recording surface means, such that vaporization of said lubricant occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant, by operation of Langmuir kinetics, from said supply to said recording surface means in order to maintain a mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface means.
-
24. Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising
magnetic recording media means including recording surface means having an affinity for organic molecules, said recording surface having thereon a mono-molecular layer of a vaporizable organic lubricant, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, bulk lubricant means in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, said bulk lubricant means comprising a single phase mixture of said vaporizable organic lubricant, and a diluent having a vapor pressure that is lower than the vapor pressure of said lubricant, said bulk lubricant means having a vapor pressure that is lower than the vapor pressure of said organic lubricant, to thereby provide a vapor pressure for said bulk lubricant means that is substantially the same as the vapor pressure of said mono-molecular layer on said recording surface, such that vaporization of said bulk lubricant means occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant from said bulk lubricant means to said recording surface means in order to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface means.
-
31. Magnetic recording apparatus, comprising
magnetic recording media means including a recording surface having an affinity for organic molecules, a mono-molecular layer of an organic lubricant on said recording surface, means for inducing flow of an air stream to said recording surface means, organic lubricant supply means in said air stream at a location that is spaced from said recording surface means, said lubricant supply means comprising a mass of granules having a total surface area at least 1000 times greater than the surface area of said recording surface, and a mono-molecular layer of said organic lubricant covering the surface area of said granules, such that vaporization of said lubricant layer on said granules occurs in a manner to effect vapor transfer of said lubricant, by operation of Langmuir kinetics, from said granules to said recording surface in order to maintain said mono-molecular lubricant layer on said recording surface.
Specification