Disc clamp shim for a rigid disc drive

U.S. Patent Number: 5333080

Abstract: A shim mechanism interposed between the hub of a spindle motor, used to mount and rotate discs in a disc drive data storage device, and the disc clamp used to secure the discs to the hub, the shim serving to evenly distribute the clamping force applied to the disc clamp by a plurality of screws equally spaced about the periphery of the disc clamp. The shim includes alignment means for centering the shim relative to the disc clamp and spindle motor hub, and a plurality of radially extending arms, equal in number to the number of screws fastening the disc clamp to the spindle motor hub. The radially extending arms are centered between adjacent screws, and have a width selected to divide the angular displacement between adjacent screws into thirds. The thickness of the shim is selected to evenly distribute the clamping force of the screws about the circumference of the disc clamp.

Inventors: Ridinger; Ernst W. (Soquel, CA), Fasano; Ronald F. (Saratoga, CA)

Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc. (Scotts Valley, CA)

Application Number: 08/044,440

Issued: 1994-07-26

Expired: 2006-07-26

Classes: 360/99.12 ; 360/98.08

Field of search: 360/99.12,98.08,98.01,99.05 369/270,271

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