John Clayton Read

US Patent:

43464165, Aug 24, 1982

Filed:

Feb 29, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/126129

Inventors:

Charles M. Riggle - Acton MA
John D. Read - Monument CO
William B. Noe - Concord MA
Richard Winfrey - Boxborough MA
Christopher A. Pollard - Monument CO
Frank W. Bernett - Colorado Springs CO

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

G11B 2102
G11B 555

US Classification:

360106

Abstract:

A rotary actuator assembly for positioning read/write heads in disk drive mass storage systems. The actuator assembly includes an actuator motor and one or more actuator arms secured thereto. The motor provides rotary motion of the arms, to move the heads. The stator magnet of the motor is an electromagnet wound on an arcuate core; a pair of elongate permanent magnets are attached to the rotor member, for coaction with the stator magnet. The rotor member has a U-shaped cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to its axis of rotation; the permanent magnets are fixed to the outside, bottom corners of the U and the actuator arms are mounted across the open end of the U. The rotor is of a very small radius, to minimize inertia. The permanent magnets have a flat face facing the stator, with a channel running longitudinally down the middle, to minimize flux density variations in the permanent magnet-coil gap. The rotor balances the arm relative to the rotor's axis.

US Patent:

43630561, Dec 7, 1982

Filed:

Feb 29, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/126024

Inventors:

Charles M. Riggle - Acton MA
Christopher A. Pollard - Monument CO
John D. Read - Monument CO

Assignee:

Digital Equipment Corporation - Maynard MA

International Classification:

G11B 5012

US Classification:

360 98

Abstract:

A housing (1-10) for a disk (1-12) used in a "Winchester"-type disk mass information storage unit in a data processing system. The housing is symmetrical about the plane of the disk, and supports the disk spindle (2-33) on both sides of the disk. The housing includes two substantially identical members (1-16, 17) fitted together in a clamshell-type arrangement. The housing includes a housing extension (1-26) for receiving and supporting the read/write heads (1-14) and actuator (1-15) therefor from both ends thereof. The members forming the housing are preferably thin walled castings, and may include fins (1-104) to dissipate heat or to enhance the housing's mechanical rigidity.