Patent · US Expired

Compact electric motor construction employing fluid bearings

US5770906A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
13References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 1995
Grant dateJun 23, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 13, 2015

Classification

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

Abstract

A compact electric motor construction employing fluid bearings for use in a disk drive apparatus includes a spindle having a shaft and a thrust plate and a hub assembly including a hub having an outer disk support portion with an inner thrust bearing surface located axially above the upper thrust bearing surface of the thrust plate. The hub also includes an inner sleeve which substantially surrounds the shaft and provides an air gap between its inner diameter and the outer diameter of the thrust plate. The air gap is vented to the interior of the motor cavity by vent passages. Transition grooves are provided on bearing surfaces adjacent all fluid seal zones for controlling the migration of bearing fluid in a radial direction and for providing a low fluid pressure region adjacent capillary seals at the ends of the shaft to contain the seal and prevent leakage.

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