Appeal No. 2000-1922
Application No. 08/806,494
The claimed invention relates to an apparatus for reducing
bearing contaminant migration from a cartridge bearing assembly
of a hard disc drive actuator assembly. A retention disc is
affixed to a portion of the cartridge bearing sleeve adjacent
the bearing assembly to form a retention chamber adjacent the
bearing assembly. A circular flange is provided at the inner
diameter of the retention disk and substantially in parallel
with the stationary shaft of the bearing assembly. The
retention disc flange and the stationary shaft cooperate to form
a labyrinth seal creating an intricate passageway to minimize
the migration of contaminants from the retention chamber to the
interior environment of the disc drive.
Representative claim 1 is reproduced as follows:
1. A cartridge bearing assembly, comprising:
a stationary shaft having an outer diameter;
a bearing assembly having an inner race and an outer race,
the inner race rigidly affixed to the outer diameter of the
shaft;
a rotatable cartridge bearing sleeve rigidly affixed to the
outer race of the bearing assembly; and
a retention disc comprising:
an outer diameter rigidly affixed to the cartridge bearing
sleeve;
2
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