Integrated filter for use in a disk drive

• US 6,266,208 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Maxtor Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Maxtor Corporation (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Voights, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tupper, Robert S.
• Application Number:
  US09/330,484
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 360/97-2-, 554/82
• US Class Current: 360/97.02
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1446 Reducing contamination, e.g. by dust, debris
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/146 constructional details of filters
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1486 Control/regulation of the pressure, e.g. the pressure inside the housing of a drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49021 Magnetic recording reproducing transducer [e.g., tape head, core, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49025 Making disc drive

Abstract

An integrated filter for a disk drive includes a recirculation filter element, a chemical filter element, and a breather filter element within a single filter cartridge. The filter elements are mounted within a support structure that is adapted for easy insertion into a disk drive. The support structure includes a base portion that fits within a recessed pocket in a baseplate of the disk drive. The disk drive includes structures for channeling air flow into the integrated filter structure during disk drive operation.

Claims

1. An integrated filter assembly for insertion into a disk drive, comprising:

a support structure adapted to be inserted into a baseplate of the disk drive;

a recirculation filter integral with said support structure for use in trapping solid particles circulating within a disk drive housing of the disk drive;

a breather filter integral with said support structure for trapping solid particles entering the disk drive housing from an exterior environment; and

a chemical filter integral with said support structure for absorbing undesired gases within the disk drive housing.

2. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a diffusion channel for providing condensation of vapors within air entering the disk drive housing before said vapors reach an inner portion of the disk drive.

3. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said support structure includes a first external portion having a shape conforming to a recessed portion the baseplate, said first external portion being inserted into the recessed portion during disk drive manufacture.

4. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said recirculation filter includes a first surface through which circulating air enters said recirculation filter during disk drive operation, wherein said support structure holds said recirculation filter in a position so that said first surface is inclined with respect to the baseplate.

5. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said support structure includes a frame having first and second cavities, wherein said first cavity includes said recirculation filter and said second cavity includes said breather and chemical filters.

6. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said first cavity is above said second cavity.

7. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said frame includes at least two sidewalls rising in a predominantly vertical direction with respect to a horizontal plane, wherein said at least two sidewalls each have an upper edge that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.

8. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said recirculation filter is attached to the upper edges of said at least two sidewalls and covers said first cavity.

9. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said chemical filter is located within said second cavity of said frame, said second cavity including a first port and a second port, said first port for exchanging air with an exterior environment and said second port for exchanging air with an inner portion of the disk drive.

10. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said first port of said second cavity communicates with a breather port in the housing of the disk drive when the integrated filter assembly is inserted into the disk drive, the breather port comprising an opening to the exterior environment.

11. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said breather filter is situated adjacent to said second port of said second cavity so that air propagating through said second port also propagates through said breather filter.

12. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said breather filter is situated adjacent to said first port of said cavity so that air propagating through said first port also propagates through said breather filter.

13. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said support structure includes a frame having a first cavity, wherein said first cavity includes said recirculation filter, said breather filter, and said chemical filter.

14. A disk drive, comprising:

a baseplate forming a base for said disk drive and constituting a lower boundary of an internal disk drive chamber, said baseplate having a surface portion that is substantially planar and a pocket portion that is recessed with respect to said surface portion, said pocket portion having a breather port in fluid communication with an exterior environment;

at least one disk for storing data, said at least one disk having a lowermost disk surface that is above and directly opposing said surface portion of said baseplate;

a spin motor, coupled to said baseplate, for spinning said at least one disk about an axis;

a transducer for sensing data from said disk as said disk spins about said axis;

an actuator assembly coupled to said transducer for controllably positioning said transducer with respect to said disk to sense data from a predetermined portion of said disk;

an integrated filter assembly inserted into said pocket portion of said baseplate, said integrated filter assembly having a recirculation filter, a breather filter, and a chemical filter, said breather filter and said chemical filter being in fluid communication with said breather port of said pocket portion of said baseplate, said recirculation filter for trapping solid particles circulating within said disk drive, said breather filter for trapping solid particles entering said disk drive from said exterior environment through said breather port, and said chemical filter for absorbing undesired vapors entering said disk drive from said exterior environment through said breather port; and

a cover plate covering said disk drive and constituting an upper boundary of said internal disk drive chamber.

15. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said baseplate includes a first recessed portion leading from said surface portion of said baseplate to said pocket portion for channeling air currents generated in the region between said lowermost disk surface and said surface portion of said baseplate into said recirculation filter of said integrated filter assembly.

16. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said cover plate includes a lower surface opposing an uppermost disk surface of said at least one disk, said lower surface of said cover plate having a first planar portion and a second planar portion, wherein said second planar portion is lower than said first planar portion and closer to said uppermost disk surface, wherein said second planar portion is situated above said integrated filter assembly for use in channeling air currents generated in the gap between said uppermost disk surface and said lower surface of said cover plate into said recirculation filter of said integrated filter assembly.

17. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said baseplate includes a second recessed portion located between said surface portion and said pocket portion for creating a low pressure region in a vicinity adjacent to said integrated filter assembly to facilitate the passage of air into the disk drive through the chemical and breather filters.

18. The disk drive, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said integrated filter assembly further includes a diffusion channel in fluid communication with said breather port for providing condensation of vapors entering said disk drive from said exterior environment.

19. An integrated filter assembly for insertion into a disk drive, comprising:

a support structure that includes a frame, wherein said frame includes first and second cavities and at least two sidewalls rising in a predominantly vertical direction with respect to a horizontal plane, wherein said at least two sidewalls each have an upper edge that is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane;

a recirculation filter coupled to said support structure for use in trapping solid particles circulating within a disk drive housing;

a breather filter coupled to said support structure for trapping solid particles entering the disk drive housing from an exterior environment; and

a chemical filter coupled to said support structure for absorbing undesired gases within the disk drive housing;

wherein said first cavity includes said recirculation filter and said second cavity includes said breather and chemical filters.

20. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

a diffusion channel for providing condensation of vapors within air entering the disk drive housing before said vapors reach an inner portion of the disk drive.

21. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said support structure includes a first external portion having a shape conforming to a recessed portion a baseplate of the disk drive, said first external portion being inserted into the recessed portion during disk drive manufacture.

22. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said recirculation filter includes a first surface through which circulating air enters said recirculation filter during disk drive operation, wherein said support structure holds said recirculation filter in a position so that said first surface is inclined with respect to the baseplate.

23. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said first cavity is above said second cavity.

24. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said recirculation filter is attached to the upper edges of said at least two sidewalls and covers said first cavity.

25. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said chemical filter is located within said second cavity of said frame, said second cavity including a first port and a second port, said first port for exchanging air with an exterior environment and said second port for exchanging air with an inner portion of the disk drive.

26. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

said first port of said second cavity communicates with a breather port in the housing of the disk drive when the integrated filter assembly is inserted into the disk drive, the breather port comprising an opening to the exterior environment.

27. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

said breather filter is situated adjacent to said second port of said second cavity so that air propagating through said second port also propagates through said breather filter.

28. The integrated filter assembly, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:

said breather filter is situated adjacent to said first port of said cavity so that air propagating through said first port also propagates through said breather filter.