Sealed disc drive assembly with internal air filter

摘要

An air filter assembly 45, 46, 47 is disposed inside a hermetically sealed housing 1 which encloses fixed hard discs 2 with its intake directly facing a spiralling centrifugal air flow generated by the rotating discs. An air guide or duct 71, 72, 73 communicates the clean air leaving the filter outlet with the low pressure area at the center of the discs. An increased pressure differential across the filter and improved filtration efficiency results. Internal partitions 62, 64 may also be provided to channel the air flow towards the filter inlet.