WO1993001599A1

WO1993001599A1 - Bearing for hard disk drives or the like

Info

Publication number: WO1993001599A1
Application number: PCT/EP1992/001545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl-Heinz Tappert
Original assignee: Tappert Karl Heinz
Priority date: 1991-07-13
Filing date: 1992-07-09
Publication date: 1993-01-21
Also published as: DE9108650U1

Abstract

A bearing for a hard disk drive or the like, or for other shock-sensitive or natural vibration generating machines, has at least three, preferably four bearing elements or zones (12) that link the base plate or another supporting arrangement (14) of the hard disk drive or the like (10) to the housing or a bearing frame (16) that carries the hard disk drive or the like (10) that may be exposed or sensitive to vibrations, in such a manner that the two structural members (base plate and housing) may be movable to a limited extent in the axial and radial directions. The base plate (14) or the housing (16) are provided in the bearing zone (12) each with a preferably circular opening. In the middle of or within the opening is mounted a membrane that carries in turn a disk linked to the other structural member (housing or base plate). The suspension and dampening properties of the membrane are variable,so that the dampening and suspension properties between the housing and base plate can be varied, for example by changing the thickness and/or the material of the membrane.

Description

Storage for a hard disk drive or the like

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to a storage for a hard disk drive or the like. Or other shock-sensitive devices or devices with natural vibrations (e.g. devices with mokras, pneumatic cylinders), consisting of at least three, preferably four, storage areas or bearing elements which form the base plate or another supporting device of the hard disk drive or the like. Connects axially and radially to a limited extent with the housing or a support frame which carries the hard disk drive or the like and which may be subjected to vibrations or is itself sensitive to vibrations.

STATE OF THE ART

For computers which are used in an industrial environment and which also have hard disk drives, the problem frequently arises that mechanical oscillation frequencies as well as air vibrations are transmitted from the industrial environment to the housing carrying the hard disk drive. Such vibrations can originate from machines which are set up nearby or from vehicle traffic which takes place in the vicinity. Further disturbing vibrations arise from the vibrations that electric motors, transformers, pneumatic cylinders and the like generate. However, disturbances can also be caused by naturally occurring earth vibrations, such as earthquakes.

As a result of these interference vibrations, which extend over a wide frequency range, it can happen that the hard disk drive no longer works without interference. This is at

REPLACEMENT LEAF automatic control devices are particularly serious because process processes often depend on them, which are then considerably impaired.

It is therefore necessary to store the hard disk drive with as little vibration as possible. This low-vibration mounting is not very easy inasmuch as such hard disk drives are relatively light and therefore have little weight, which would normally lead to vibration damping. Also problematic are the very low-frequency vibrations that occur particularly in vehicle traffic, which were also very difficult to keep away from the hard disk drive with previous arrangements.

Attempts to work with commercially available rubber buffers (hard rubber with fastening plates arranged on both sides) did not lead to a reasonable result, because with the small weights present here and the very low frequencies, there was no adequate vibration damping.

Another attempt to work with feet supported in steel wool was more successful, but this arrangement is structurally very complex and therefore very expensive.

A further possible solution is to protect the hard disk drive against vibrations by means of a tension band suspension. However, since this suspension requires eight attachment points, each with a vibration-damping spring or elastic band, such as a rubber band, storage is very complicated, space-consuming and expensive.

Conversely, it can of course also be sought to keep vibrations occurring in a drive or the like away from the housing holding the drive. The object of the invention is to provide a storage for a hard disk drive or the like. Of the type mentioned, which is associated with significantly less effort and nevertheless allows the necessary, adapted to the respective weight of the hard disk drive or the like. Also and absorbing lower frequencies.

The object is achieved in that the base plate or the housing forms a preferably circular opening in the storage area, by means of which, preferably at the edge, a membrane made of flexible material, such as rubber, is anchored, and that the housing or the base plate carries a disc, the outer circumference of which is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the opening (so that in this case the disc can be arranged at a distance from the base plate), and that the disc is connected to the membrane.

This measure creates a space-saving, easy to manufacture and optimally adaptable to the prevailing conditions, largely suppressing vibrations of the type mentioned for the hard disk drive or a similar, vibration-sensitive device with a comparable inertial mass.

According to a first embodiment, the membrane has the shape of a flat, flexible plate, such that the flexible plate covers the opening and is pressed by a fastening ring or a fastening plate against the edge regions of the opening, the opening of which essentially opens the opening of the other opening corresponds and is aligned with this, and that the disc arranged coaxially to the opening places the flexible plate between itself and an approximately identical shape and size and orientation. opposing disc jammed. This embodiment is very flat and can be adapted in particular by changing the thickness of the flexible plate and the diameter of the opening and disk, in particular their diameter difference, to different weights for the drive to be stored and to the frequency to be damped.

The opening is preferably formed by the housing, while the disk is formed by a pin or threaded bolt held or emerging from the base plate.

The disks can also be interchangeable so as to allow a change in the distance between the inner opening edge and the outer edge of the pane to change the load-bearing capacity and the frequency of the damping vibration.

Likewise, the membrane can be designed to be exchangeable, so that the membrane thickness and / or the membrane material or its spring properties and damping properties (energy dissipation) (the Shore hardness) can be changed, which in turn can be adapted to the weight of the wearable and before certain vibration frequencies to protect drive or the like.

Instead of being formed by the housing itself, the opening can also be formed by a bearing plate which can then be fastened to the housing.

Such a bearing plate can also consist of two rigid plates (metal plates) on a flexible plate (eg rubber plate) arranged between them, which three plates or layers can be sandwiched together (eg glued or screwed). The two rigid plates then form the openings within which the membrane formed by the rubber plate runs. In order to adapt to different applications, the breakthroughs can be formed by breaking out of weakening lines, for example, through several concentrically arranged circular weakening lines, each with a suitable diameter, for optional determination of the size of this breakthrough by appropriate breaking out on the selected weakening line.

In order to limit the deflection movement, for example during transport, it may be expedient to provide a corresponding movement limiting device, for example in the form that the disk or disks are held by a screw, the head of which has an extension extending beyond the opening edge, or which instead of the head carries a corresponding additional disc whose diameter is larger than that of the opening. This washer or screw head are arranged in such a way that they do not influence the normal vibration damping movement, but on the other hand limit a strong deflection, which could occur, for example, during transport and could damage the elastic member, by abutment on the edges of the opening . Such a disk-like delimitation can be arranged on both sides of the breakthrough, if the movement to be held does not result in any limitation on the one side by the device to be held. The limiting device can also be arranged independently of the attenuator.

Particularly simple, because it can be carried out with commercially available materials, is an embodiment in which the membrane has the shape of a, in particular conical, bellows membrane, one of which, e.g. B. larger diameter end is connected to the housing or support frame, for. B. is held in the breakthrough with a bellows constriction, and with the other end of the bellows or edge of the bellows is attached to the base plate or support device, for. B. in that in a bellows bulge of the other, for. B. smaller diameter end having a disc is accommodated.

The bellows ends (edge or bead) can also be fastened by means of ring-like or disk-like clamping devices, or simply glued to the respective fastening surface.

Such bellows membranes are already commercially available for other purposes and thus result in a particularly inexpensive embodiment of the invention.

An element for the construction of bearings of the above-mentioned embodiments is also conceivable, which would be usable at any point, the support device or supporting frame being formed in each case by a round, oval or square or rectangular plate which in turn is attached can be attached to an object to be carried (such as a running gear) or a carrying object (such as a scaffold).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawings.

It shows:

1 shows a schematic representation of a hard disk drive, mounted on vibrating members on a housing exposed to vibrations; 2 shows schematically a previously used vibration buffer;

3 shows a buffer device using steel wool;

4 shows a perspective illustration of a tensioning strap suspension at eight points;

Fig. 5 according to a first embodiment of the

Storage configured according to the invention by means of a bellows membrane;

6, 7 and 8 each show in a sectional view a flexible membrane arranged between two plates, which can be used for storage;

9 and 10

Embodiments similar to Fig. 5; and

Fig. 11 options for the arrangement of bearing elements and deflection limits.

BEST WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1 shows schematically a hard disk drive or the like, reference number 10, which is held by means of a plurality of bearing elements 12, which are connected on the one hand to a base plate 14 formed by the hard disk drive and on the other hand to a housing 16, the Housing 16 is exposed to vibrations of different frequencies due to the external environment, indicated by the arrows 18. Around these vibrations represented by the arrows 18, which are transmitted to the housing 16, as far as possible from the base plate 14 and thus from the hard disk drive or the like. 10, such bearing elements or bearing areas 12 are arranged which transmit vibrations of the housing 16 to the drive 10 as little as possible. For this purpose, a component was previously used as a bearing element, as it is for. B. can be seen in Fig. 2, which consists of a preferably provided with a circular cross-section rubber piece 20, and the two ends of the end plates 22 are glued, which can be made of metal or plastic and the z. B. threaded holes 24 with which this conventional bearing element on the housing 16 on the one hand and the base plate 14 on the other hand can be screwed tight.

3 shows a further possibility, namely a box-like receptacle 26, which has a fastening pin 28 at one end, for example for fastening to the housing 16, while an opening 30 is provided at its other end through which a holding pin 32 (attached, for example, to the base plate 14 according to FIG. 1) and which has a foot 34 at its end, which is movably held by steel wool 36 or the like material arranged inside the container 26. This steel wool has suspension properties and energy-absorbing damping properties which, depending on the strength of the steel wool wires and the packing density, can be adapted to the respective application. However, the complexity and the high price of this arrangement are disadvantageous.

In FIG. 4, the box 10 representing the hard disk drive is suspended at its eight corners by means of strap fastening devices 38 at fastening points 40, which can be formed by the housing 16. An adaptation by suitable selection of the springs 38 and their material is also conceivable here, but the arrangement is very good space-consuming and also very complicated and expensive.

5, 9 and 10 now represent embodiments which are better able to achieve the object of the invention. 6 to 8, the housing 16 (alternatively the base plate 14) is provided in the region of the bearing with a preferably circular opening 42, on the edge 44 of which a membrane 46 made of flexible material, such as Rubber, is anchored, while the base plate 14 (alternatively the housing 16) carries a disc 48, the outer circumference 50 of FIG. 5 is smaller than the diameter 52 of the opening, the disc 48 is in turn connected to the membrane 46 in the Embodiment shown in FIG. 5 in that the disc 48 is clamped to a base plate 14 by means of a cap screw 54, the plate 48 clamping the membrane edge 56 between itself and the base plate 14.

In FIG. 9, the disk 148 is larger than the opening 42 and clamps the membrane edge between itself and the fastening plane 16, specifically for. B. by means of a bolt 154. A bolt 448 can also form the disc itself, see Fig. 9, right half.

10, a bellows bead 164 is clamped between the fastening surface 16 (with opening 42) and a ring 348 or a disk 248. The disc 248 has the advantage of HF shielding the opening 42. Disc 248 or ring 348 are held, for. B. by means of screws 254.

The membrane shown in FIG. 5 has the shape of a conical bellows membrane, the end 58 of which has a larger diameter and a bellows constriction 60 in the opening 42 is held, which is particularly simple, while in a bellows bulge 62 of the other, smaller diameter end 64 of the bellows membrane, the clamping disc 48 is received. The disk thus lies against the bellows from the inside, while the opening edge 44 of the opening 42 lies against the bellows from the outside. The constrictions and bulges provided per se for the flexibility of the bellows membrane are therefore also used here for fastening the membrane.

It is clear that the lower end of the bellows can also be set, e.g. B. by a clamping disc or ring placed on the edge formed by the lower end 58 of the bellows membrane, as already explained with reference to FIG. 10.

In general, however, the very simple arrangement according to FIG. 5 is sufficient, with a bellows membrane of the type shown approximately in natural size, consisting of approximately 1 mm thick rubber material, having proven particularly useful in order to carry commercially available hard disk drives, here 5 such elements can be provided near the four corners of the disk drive, see FIG. 11, reference numerals 12.

The bellows membrane also provides excellent protection against excessive deflection when the plates 14 and 16 move towards one another due to their mutually supporting beads, while conversely the movement of the plates apart due to the ever increasing spring force of the bellows membrane also due to the ever increasing spring force constant is automatically limited without additional components having to be provided for it.

On the other hand, in the intermediate area steering) the spring constant due to the symmetrical shape of the bellows membrane in all directions in space, with simultaneous damping by the rubber material that excellent damping of all the usual vibrations to which the housing 16 may be exposed is achieved by the base plate 14 or the hard disk drive 10 .

Another advantage is that due to the special shape of the bellows membrane great lateral flexibility is also achieved, resulting in mobility in all spatial directions, and an automatically resulting spacing of the plates 16 and 14 from each other, so that additional pillars or similar. usually no longer have to be provided.

According to FIG. 7, an axial sectional view through another embodiment of the invention, the membrane consists of a flat, flexible plate 146, again preferably made of rubber, this plate covering an opening 142 or, if appropriate, 142 ', which is covered by a housing 116 (or from a plate 116 supported by a housing), or from a fastening ring or a fastening plate 116 ', the two components 116, 116' (be it plates, plates and rings, or the like) which Clamp plate-shaped membrane 146 between them. As can be seen from FIG. 7, both the plate 116 and the plate 116 '(or the ring 116') each have an opening 142 or 142 ', the two openings being essentially the same size and aligned with one another.

Similar to FIG. 5, a disk 148 is also provided in the embodiment according to FIG. 7, which, together with a counter disk 148 'of approximately the same shape and size, clamps the flexible plate 146 between them, due to the fact that the outer diameter 150 the Disc 148, 148 'is smaller than the inner diameter 152 of the opening 142, 142', a freely movable, annular region 66 results, which enables axial movement as well as a certain radial movement of the discs 148, 148 'with respect to the plates 116, 116' . The disks 148, 148 'can be replaced after loosening the jamming fastening screw 154 and can be replaced, for example, by disks of smaller diameter, as a result of which the size of the annular region 66 changes, in this case enlarged, so that the arrangement as a whole becomes more flexible. On the one hand, this reduces the load-bearing capacity, on the other hand, the transmission capacity of vibrations between the components 116 and 148 is reduced even more.

If the component 116 is a disc or a housing part, such as the housing wall or housing base, and the component 116 'is a ring or the like which can be fastened to this disc or housing part, the flexible plate 146 can also be exchanged after loosening these two components and replaced by another Plate are replaced, for example consisting of a thinner, and thus more flexible material, or of a different rubber, which has a different spring constant ("Shore hardness") and possibly different damping properties (energy consumption). In this way, too, it is possible to adapt to the respectively desired conditions.

It has already been mentioned that the component 116 can represent a housing wall itself, or alternatively is a bearing plate 116 which can be fastened to the housing and which, according to FIG. 6, can consist of two rigid plates 17, 19, preferably made of metal or hard plastic, between which plates the flexible plate 146 is arranged, so that there is a sandwich-like structure. These parts can be glued or screwed together.

Corresponding can be used to form the openings 142, 142 ' Openings can be cut out of the plates 17 or 19 with a suitable tool, or, to facilitate this work, corresponding circular or otherwise shaped weakening lines 68 or 70 can be provided in the two plates 17, 19, which break out a z . B. circular opening with the diameter of the weakening line 68 or with the diameter of the weakening line 70. As a result, the membrane 146 arranged between the two plates is exposed, which can then be provided with a corresponding hole for the passage of a screw bolt 154 in order to arrive at the embodiment according to FIG. 7.

In order to also be able to limit the movement in this embodiment, in particular when it is a question of very thin or very flexible membrane materials for the membrane 146, the screw fastening 154 holding the disk or disks 148, 148 'can be used according to FIG Be cap screw 254, the head 72 of which extends beyond the breakthrough edge 74, or which carries a corresponding washer 76, the head 72 or washer 76 through spacer sleeves 78 (or corresponding axially extending washers 248) in one such a distance to the membrane 146 or the plates 116, 116 'come to lie that a distance 84 (e.g. 5 mm) remains between the inner head surface 80 and the outer surface 82 of the plate 116 or 116', which is sufficient, to absorb all movements that occur during normal operation, but on the other hand too strong movements in another operating position, for example during transport limit n.

A similar washer 76 may also be provided on the other side to engage the outer surface 86 of the plate 116. Or the base plate 114 of the fixed The rock plate drive to be held or the like, 110, forms this stop, see the surface 180, provided that this surface 180 is assigned at a suitable distance from the surface 86, for example by a sleeve 88 of a suitable length.

The sleeves 78, 88, the disks 248, 248 'lying between these sleeves and the rubber plate 146 clamped between them, as well as the limiting disk 76 and the base plate 114 are each penetrated by a screw bolt 254 which is fastened by appropriate fastening means (nut, Screw head) holds these parts together.

However, the movement limits can also be arranged independently of the damping direction 12 according to FIG. 11, for example at points 13.

The right side of FIG. 9 can be designed such that the disks 148 or heads 448, 548 are glued into the bellows bulge end regions 156, 256. This produces pre-producible bearing elements with fastening bolts 454 and 554 (alternatively with threaded bores arranged in the disks 448, 548), by means of which the element can be connected to fastening surfaces 14 and 16 in a similar manner to the hard rubber fastening elements used previously, the inventive elements Elements have much better damping properties.

INDUSTRIAL EVALUATION OF THE INVENTION

The storage according to the invention is e.g. B. commercially evaluable in the computer industry.

Claims

Expectations

Storage for a hard disk drive or the like (10) or other shock-sensitive devices or devices generating natural vibrations, consisting of at least three, preferably four bearing elements (storage areas) (12), which form the base plate or another supporting device (14) of the hard disk drive or the like. (10) with the housing or a support frame (16), which carries the hard disk drive or the like. (10) and which may be subject to vibrations or is sensitive to vibrations, connects to a limited extent axially and radially displaceably (84) , characterized in that the base plate (14) or the housing (16) in the bearing area (12) each form a preferably circular opening (42) by means of which, preferably at the edge (44), a membrane ( 46, 146) made of flexible material, such as rubber, and that the housing (16) or the base plate (14) carries a disc (48), the outer circumference (50) of which is preferably smaller than d he inner diameter (52) of the opening (42), and that the disc (48) is connected to the membrane (46, 146).

Bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane has the shape of a flat, flexible plate (146) and that the flexible plate (146) covers the opening (142, 142 ') and is fastened by a fastening ring or plate ( 116 ') is pressed against the edge regions of the opening (142), the opening of this opening (142) essentially corresponding to the opening of the other opening (142') and being aligned therewith, and that the coaxial to the opening (142 , 142 ') arranged disc (148) flexible plate (146) is clamped between itself and an approximately identical shape and size and orientation of the counter disc (148 ').

3. Storage according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening (142) is formed by the housing (16), while the disc (148) from a by the base plate (14) held or outgoing pin or threaded bolt (154) is formed .

4. Storage according to claim 3, characterized in that the discs (148, 148 ') are interchangeable, to change the distance between the inner edge of the opening (142) and the outer edge of the disc (148) to change the load capacity and the damping effect of the bearing element.

5. Storage according to claim 3 or 4, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the membrane (146) is interchangeable to change the membrane thickness and / or the membrane material or its spring properties and damping properties (energy consumption).

6. Storage according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the opening (142) is formed by a bearing plate (216) which can be placed on the housing (16).

7. Storage according to claim 6, characterized in that the bearing plate (216) consists of two rigid plates (17, 19) (such as metal plates) and an intermediate flexible plate (146) (z. B. rubber plate) which sandwiches with each other are connected (e.g. glued or screwed). 8. Storage according to claim 7, characterized in that the two rigid plates (17, 19) form the openings (142, 142 ') within which the membrane formed by the rubber plate (146) extends.

9. Storage according to claim 8, characterized in that the openings (142, 142 ') have been created by breaking out material along weakening lines (68; 70).

10. Storage according to claim 9, characterized in that a plurality of concentrically arranged, circular weakening lines (68, 70) of different diameters are provided for optionally determining the size of the breakthrough by correspondingly breaking out at the weakening lines.

11. Bearing according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the disc or discs (148, 148 ') are held by a screw or screw bolt (154, 254), the head (72) of which over the breakthrough edge ( 74) extends beyond (80) or carries a corresponding disc (76).

12. Storage according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane (46) is a bellows membrane, with its one bellows end at the top edge with the housing or support frame (16) and with the other bellows end or edge at the base plate or support device ( 14) is connected.

13. Storage according to claim 12, characterized in that the bellows edge is connected by gluing with its fastening surface. 14. Storage according to claim 12, characterized in that the bellows edge between the mounting surface and a ring or a washer or a bolt head is clamped.

15. Storage according to claim 12, characterized in that a bellows bead is clamped in the vicinity of the bellows edge between the fastening surface and a ring or a disk.

16. Storage according to claim 12, characterized in that the membrane (46) has the shape of a conical bellows membrane, one of which, for. B. larger diameter end (58) with a bellows constriction (60) is held in the opening (42), while in a bellows bulge (62) on the other, z. B. a smaller diameter end (58), the disc (48) is received.

17. Element for the construction of a bearing according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the support device (14) or support frame (16) is in each case formed by a round, oval or square or rectangular plate, which in turn on one object to be carried (such as a drive) or object (such as a scaffold) can be fastened.