Patent · US Expired

Electric spindle motor with magnetic bearing and hydrodynamic bearing

US6545378B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
15References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 21, 2001
Grant dateApr 8, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 21, 2021

Classification

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

Abstract

An electric spindle motor for use in precision instruments such as hard disk drives comprises a stationary sub-assembly and a rotary sub-assembly movable relative to the stationary sub-assembly for carrying magnetic disks. The electric spindle motor has an integrated bearing system including a hydrodynamic journal bearing for providing desired radial load and a magnetic bearing for reducing friction resistance during staring/stopping and running of the electric spindle motor. The rotary sub-assembly is suspended from the stationary sub-assembly by the activation of the magnetic bearing during the rotating of the electric spindle motor. The electric spindle motor having integrated hydrodynamic journal bearing and magnetic bearing of the present invention is capable of high speed and high accuracy running, providing increased radial load and stiffness, and reduces the friction resistance therefore improves the performance and power saving.

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