Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080261708 | FDB MOTOR WITH TAPERED SHAFT FOR IMPROVED PUMPING EFFICIENCY - For motors having a journal with one or more groove regions and a shaft for relative rotation in the journal, aspects include providing a dual tapered shaft. The shaft may be tapered by the application of a wear resistant coating at least opposite the groove regions. The coating introduces a shaft taper from near a top end and from near a bottom end towards the shaft middle. The shaft taper may provide for improved pumping efficiency. The coating may be applied in various processes such as chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition to establish a thickness gradient of coating material from near the top end and near the bottom end towards the shaft middle. In one example, the coating includes a DLC coating. Additionally, shaft portions may be shielded to prevent coatings thereon. | 10-23-2008 |
20080273263 | LUBRICATED LIMITER FOR FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING MOTOR - In one example, a FDB motor having a top-cover attached, EM biased bearing system is provided. The motor includes a shaft and rotor disposed for relative rotation, and an axial limiter for restricting axial movement of the rotor with respect to the shaft, wherein the axial limiter is wet or lubricated during contact. The limiter is spatially fixed with respect to one of the shaft or the rotor and disposed with an axial end surface opposing a surface portion spatially fixed with respect to the other of the shaft or the rotor to form a gap therebetween. The gap may be filled with a fluid such as bearing lubricant, thereby providing a lubricated or wet contact surface to restrict axial movement of the shaft and rotor. Additionally, one or both surfaces may include a groove or slot to provide circulation of fluid through the gap. | 11-06-2008 |
20090079283 | Fluid dynamic bearing motor with a lubricated contact surface - A fluid dynamic bearing motor is provided having relatively rotatable facing surfaces that are reliably lubricated. A radial gap is defined between the relatively rotatable facing surfaces, wherein a first axial end of a fluid dynamic bearing has a larger radial gap as compared to a central region of the fluid dynamic bearing. In an aspect, a fluid recirculation passageway is established between the first axial end and the central region of the fluid dynamic bearing. In an aspect, a fluid reservoir is formed axially above the first axial end of the fluid dynamic bearing. Robustness of the FDB motor is increased, and sensitivity to external loads or mechanical shock events is reduced. Dry surface-to-surface contact of bearing surfaces and reduced performance or failure of the motor or disc drive components is averted. The use of diamond-like coating on relatively rotatable fluid bearing surfaces may also be reduced or eliminated. | 03-26-2009 |
20100053807 | LUBRICATED LIMITER FOR FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING MOTOR - A component for restricting relative movement of a rotor and a shaft is disclosed. A motor may include a shaft and a rotor, where the rotor is disposed for relative rotation with respect to said shaft. A component is operable to restrict relative movement of the rotor and the shaft, where the component includes a first surface operable to receive a fluid. | 03-04-2010 |
20120319516 | Shield restricting axial movement - In one example, an FDB motor having a shield member is provided. In one example, the method includes disposing a first member and a second member for relative rotation about an axis of rotation. An annular shield member is attached to the first member, the shield member disposed adjacent a fluid reservoir for containing a bearing fluid. The reservoir is filled through an aperture (e.g., a fill hole) in the shield member. Thereafter, the aperture is at least partially sealed. The aperture may be hermetically sealed via one or more laser pulses. In other examples, a two piece shield is provided for shielding a reservoir without a fill hole. | 12-20-2012 |
20130241323 | STATOR ASSEMBLY SUPPORT - Provided herein is an apparatus, having a cylindrical structure extending from a base; a stator assembly having a stator ring and a plurality of stator teeth extending from an outer diameter of the stator ring; and a stator assembly support having a supporting means for supporting at least one of the stator ring or the plurality of stator teeth, wherein the stator assembly support is configured to dampen mechanical vibrations in the base. | 09-19-2013 |
20140293479 | LOCKING DISK CLAMP - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a plurality of teeth extending from an outer perimeter of an annular disk clamp to an inner perimeter of the annular disk clamp and an annular groove in an outer perimeter of a hub, wherein the plurality of teeth do not engage the annular groove of the hub when the disk clamp is unlocked into an unlocked form, and wherein the plurality of teeth engage the annular groove of the hub when the annular disk clamp is locked into a locked form, clamping at least one disk onto the hub at a mounting point for the at least one disk. | 10-02-2014 |
20140293480 | NOTCHED DISK CLAMP - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a plurality of disk clamp notches spaced about an outer lip of an annular disk clamp; an annular groove in an outer perimeter of a hub; and a mounting point on the hub for at least one disk, wherein the annular disk clamp occupies the annular groove of the hub, clamping the at least one disk onto the hub at the mounting point for the at least one disk. | 10-02-2014 |
20140293483 | DISK CLAMP AND LOCK - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a clamping means for clamping at least one disk onto a hub at a mounting point on the hub for the at least one disk, wherein the clamping means is configured to sit wholly above the at least one disk; a seat in an outer perimeter of the hub configured to receive the clamping means; and a locking means for locking the clamping means onto the hub. | 10-02-2014 |
20140293484 | DISK CLAMP WITH FLANGES - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a plurality of flanges extending to form an inner perimeter of an inner opening of an annular disk clamp; and an annular groove in an outer perimeter of a hub configured to receive the plurality of flanges of the annular disk clamp, wherein the disk clamp is seated above at least one disk when clamping the at least one disk onto the hub at a mounting point for the at least one disk. | 10-02-2014 |
20140369630 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING RESERVOIR - Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a fluid dynamic bearing defined in a gap between an inner component and an outer component. In some instances, the inner component and the outer component are configured for relative rotation. In some instances, the apparatus further includes a fluid reservoir configured to supply a fluid to the fluid dynamic bearing and the fluid reservoir is defined by shearless surfaces. | 12-18-2014 |
20140376840 | GROOVED LIMITER - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a stationary component and a rotatable component; a fluid between the stationary component and the rotatable component; a limiter shoulder of the stationary component; a flanged limiter bushing of the rotatable component; and a separating means for separating the limiter shoulder and the limiter bushing, wherein the separating means comprises the fluid. | 12-25-2014 |
20150034494 | ELECTRO-CHEMICALLY MACHINING WITH A MOTOR PART INCLUDING AN ELECTRODE - A method includes rotating a first motor part around a first structure substantially similar to a second motor part. The method also includes applying a first current to the first structure to electro-chemically machine the first motor part. | 02-05-2015 |
20150316100 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING MOTORS WITH DIFFERENT WIDTH PUMP SEALS AND JOURNAL BEARINGS - In certain embodiments, a motor includes a shaft positioned adjacent a sleeve for relative rotation. The sleeve includes a first radial recirculation channel. The shaft and sleeve form first and second gaps. The first gap is configured to form a pump seal, is positioned above the first radial recirculation channel, and has a width measured between the shaft and sleeve. The second gap is configured to form a journal bearing, is positioned below the first radial recirculation channel, and has a width measured between the shaft and sleeve. The width of the first gap is greater than the width of the second gap. | 11-05-2015 |
20150330453 | Fluid Seal for a Rotating Assembly - A fluid seal for sealing a gap region for rolling elements rotationally connecting a shaft and an outer structure of a rotating assembly. In embodiments described, the fluid seal includes an inner capillary seal and an outer capillary seal radially and axially spaced from the inner capillary seal. The inner and outer capillary seals are formed along a passageway having an axial portion and a radial portion formed along capillary surfaces of a fluid seal structure and opposed transverse and upright surfaces. In embodiments disclosed, the fluid seal structure includes a seal ring and cap or a seal plate structure. In another embodiment, a flange portion of the shaft forms the fluid seal structure. | 11-19-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090052817 | Methods of Hydraulic Compensation for Magnetically Biased Fluid Dynamic Bearing Motor - A fluid dynamic bearing motor including a stationary sleeve, a rotating shaft axially disposed through the sleeve, a journal gap between the shaft and the sleeve, the gap defined by first and second interfacial surfaces of the shaft and sleeve, at least one set of fluid dynamic grooves formed on the first interfacial surface of the journal gap, and at least one step defined on the second interfacial surface of the journal gap. | 02-26-2009 |
20090142009 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING SYSTEM - Fluid dynamic bearing systems produced by specified methods are provided. In one example, a method for designing a fluid dynamic bearing system includes determining a first stability ratio for a first journal bearing configuration. The method further includes determining a second stability ratio for a second journal bearing configuration. In a further example system, the first configuration has two sub-journal bearings and the second configuration has three sub-journal bearings. The method may comprise comparing the two stability ratios to determine whether adding a sub-journal increases the stability ratio of the bearing system. | 06-04-2009 |
20100141071 | MOTOR ASSEMBLY WITH MULTIFUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS - Multifunctional components enable the construction of economical motor assemblies. A first embodiment of the present invention provides a hub, cup, spindle, and base assembly for a motor assembly having at least one journal bearing, at least one thrust bearing, and at least one fluid seal. A second embodiment of the present invention provides a hub, spindle, and base with integrated cup assembly for a disc drive bearing having at least one journal bearing, at least one thrust bearing, and at least one fluid seal. In a third embodiment, a hub is rotatably assembled with a spindle coupled to a thrust bearing, prior to assembly with a base. In further embodiments, motor assemblies comprise the above embodiments combined with stator and rotor assemblies. | 06-10-2010 |
20120288222 | ADJUSTABLE GAP FOR A FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING - A fluid bearing motor. The fluid bearing motor includes a stationary sleeve, a backiron, a hub coupled to the backiron, and a gap forming component. The hub is operable to rotate with respect to the stationary sleeve. The gap forming component is attached to the stationary sleeve and forms a gap between the stationary sleeve and the backiron. The size of the gap dynamically changes in response to changes in temperature. | 11-15-2012 |
20130064484 | HUB AND SPINDLE ASSEMBLY - A rotating hub and fixed spindle assembly with first and second fluid dynamic journal bearings and first and second fluid dynamic thrust bearings for a disc drive memory system has a pump seal and a radial ring seal at a first axial terminus for lubricant containment, and a capillary seal and a labyrinth seal at a second axial terminus for lubricant containment and storage. Lubricant fluid pressure differences between first and second seals are minimized through one or more lubricant fluid communicating channels in the hub assembly, in order to minimize lubricant fluid loss through a seal. Lubricant fluid can also be purged of any air bubbles by lubricant fluid circulation through the channel. | 03-14-2013 |
20130243356 | FLUID DYNAMIC BEARING APPARATUS, SPINDLE MOTOR, AND DISK DRIVE APPARATUS - A fluid dynamic bearing apparatus includes a first minute gap, a second minute gap, a third minute gap, a fourth minute gap, and a fifth minute gap. A flow of a lubricating oil from the fifth minute gap to the fourth minute gap is caused by a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves arranged within the fluid dynamic bearing apparatus. This flow causes air bubbles mixed in the lubricating oil within the fifth minute gap to flow toward the third minute gap and be discharged to an outside through the third minute gap. The fluid dynamic bearing apparatus further includes a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves and an all around groove. | 09-19-2013 |
20140205220 | HUB AND SPINDLE ASSEMBLY - A rotating hub and fixed spindle assembly with first and second fluid dynamic journal bearings and first and second fluid dynamic thrust bearings for a disc drive memory system has a pump seal and a radial ring seal at a first axial terminus for lubricant containment, and a capillary seal and a labyrinth seal at a second axial terminus for lubricant containment and storage. Lubricant fluid pressure differences between first and second seals are minimized through one or more lubricant fluid communicating channels in the hub assembly, in order to minimize lubricant fluid loss through a seal. Lubricant fluid can also be purged of any air bubbles by lubricant fluid circulation through the channel. | 07-24-2014 |
20140286600 | APPARATUS INCLUDING CAPILLARY AND LABYRINTH SEALS - Provided herein is an apparatus including a stationary portion having a thrust cup; a rotating portion having a sleeve configured to be rotatable with respect to the stationary portion; a first axially extending space defined by the thrust cup and the sleeve, wherein the first axially extending space includes a second portion positioned above a first portion of the first axially extending space; a capillary seal in the first portion of the first axially extending space; and a labyrinth seal, in the second portion of the first axially extending space. | 09-25-2014 |