Patent · US Expired

Low-profile disk drive motor with deflecting-pad bearings

US5215385A · kind A · utility

39Cited by
5References
21Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 15, 1992
Grant dateJun 1, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 15, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF16C2370/12
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A disk drive motor having a low profile construction and a gas-lubricated deflecting pad support usable in the disk drive motor and elsewhere. The motor includes a cup-shaped rotor having an integral cylindrical portion extending from the base of the cup; the cylindrical extension may be a shaft or a large hollow extension which encloses the stator windings. The stator can be conventional or can have a closed end and/or a cup-like portion to simplify construction and eliminate the need for a seal. A support mounted on the stator or the rotor supports the rotor for rotation relative to the stator. The support can be a deflecting pad support such as a deflecting pad hydrodynamic bearing or the plane or gas-lubricated deflecting pad support disclosed herein. The gas-lubricated deflecting pad support member includes bearing pads and a support structure which supports the bearings for strictly radial movement. A contoured surface is formed on the pad surfaces or a support surface opposing the pad surfaces or both. Relative rotation between the pad surfaces and the support surface results in the development of a pressurized gas film between the support surface and the pad surface.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.