Hinged load beam with torsional spring

• US 6,778,362 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Davis, Michael W., Bjorstrom, Jacob D.
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANS, JEFFERSON A
• Application Number:
  US10/231,772
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 360/244.2, 360/244.5, 360/244.9, 360/244.8
• US Class Current: 360/244.8
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4833 Structure of the arm assembly, e.g. load beams, flexures, parts of the arm adapted for controlling vertical force on the head G11B5/484 takes precedence

Abstract

A head suspension assembly for a rigid disk drive. The head suspension has a load beam with a mounting region at a proximal end, a rigid region at a distal end and a tether connecting the mounting region and the rigid region. A hinge structure is located between the rigid region and the mounting region. The hinge structure comprises an interface with first pivot surfaces on the mounting region positively engaged with second pivot surfaces on the rigid region by the tether. A torsional spring is located between the rigid region and the mounting region.

Claims

1. A head suspension assembly for a rigid disk drive comprising:

a load beam having a mounting region at a proximal end, a rigid region at a distal end;

a torsional spring located between the rigid region and the mounting region;

a base plate attached to the mounting region of the load beam and adapted to attach the mounting region to an actuator arm;

a tether connecting the mounting region and the rigid region of the load beam; and

a hinge structure located between the rigid region and the base plate, the hinge structure comprising an interface with first pivot surfaces on the mounting region positively engaged with second pivot surfaces on the rigid region by the tether.

2. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the load beam and the tether comprise a single, continuous piece of material.

3. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the mounting region and the rigid region are separate pieces of material.

4. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the first pivot surfaces are located on the base plate.

5. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the first pivot surfaces are located on a plastic component attached to the base plate.

6. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the hinge structure comprises a pair of upper tabs and a pair of lower tabs on the base plate.

7. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the first pivot surface comprises a general “

V”

shape.

8. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the first pivot surface comprises at least one lower tab with an extension that operates as a free state limiter.

9. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the first pivot surface comprises at least one upper tab with an extension that operates as a shock deflection limiter.

10. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the hinge structure comprises a pair of lateral extensions on the rigid region forming the second pivot surfaces.

11. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the hinge structure comprises a pair of upper tabs and lower tabs on the rigid region forming the second pivot surfaces.

12. The head suspension of claim 11 wherein the second pivot surface comprises a general “

V”

shape.

13. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the hinge structure comprises a pair of notches formed in proximal ends of rails extending along edges of the rigid region.

14. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the first pivot surface comprises a horizontal edge on the base plate and the second pivot surface comprises a vertical edge with a notch on the rigid region.

15. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the tether and the rigid region comprise separate pieces of material.

16. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the tether and the mounting region comprise separate pieces of material.

17. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the tether comprises a portion of the material comprising the rigid region.

18. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the tether comprises a portion of the material comprising the mounting region.

19. The head suspension of claim 1 comprising one or more bends in the tether that generates a biasing force between the first and second pivot surfaces.

20. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the tether comprises a member mechanically coupling the mounting region to the rigid region.

21. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the tether comprises a member mechanically coupled to the rigid region.

22. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the torsional spring comprises a nested configuration.

23. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the torsional spring comprises a linear configuration.

24. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the torsional spring comprises a serpentine configuration.

25. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the hinge structure comprises an axis of rotation adjacent to the torsional spring.

26. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the hinge structure comprises an axis of rotation extending through an operating region of the torsional spring.

27. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the hinge structure comprises an axis of rotation located between the torsional spring and the rigid region.

28. The head suspension of claim 1 wherein the hinge structure comprises an axis of rotation located between the torsional spring and the base plate.

29. A head suspension assembly for a rigid disk drive comprising:

a load beam having a mounting region at a proximal end, a rigid region at a distal end and a tether connecting the mounting region and the rigid region;

a hinge structure located between the rigid region and the mounting region, the hinge structure comprising an interface with first pivot surfaces on the mounting region positively engaged with second pivot surfaces on the rigid region by the tether; and

a torsional spring located between the rigid region and the mounting region.