Importance

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Abstract

A data recording disk file of the liquid-bearing type has an improved head-disk interface provided by a transducer carrier with new properties. The carrier supports a conventional head for reading and writing data to the disk. The carrier has an air-bearing surface near its front end, a ski pad near its rear end, and a plurality of ski feet or struts which support the air-bearing surface off the liquid film of the disk when the disk file is not operating. The air-bearing surface is in the form of a pair of air-bearing rails located forward and outboard of the rear ski pad so that no air-bearing effect occurs in the rearward region of the carrier to assure the skiing action of the rear ski pad. The struts are separated from the air-bearing rails to not interfere with their air-bearing performance and support the rails away from the liquid film on the disk. In one embodiment there are at least three struts arranged on the carrier so that both the air-bearing rails and the ski pad are supported off the liquid film when the disk file is not operating. As operational speed is approached the air-bearing effect causes the front end of the carrier to rotate about the two rear struts, thus raising the forward strut(s) and the air-bearing rails off the disk and lowering the rear ski pad into contact with the liquid film.

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First Claim