Abstract: Two conflicting functions of sealing and lubrication of sliding faces are achieved for a long time. The sliding face of a rotating-side seal ring 3 is provided with dynamic pressure generation grooves 11 configured to communicate with the circumferential edge on the inner peripheral side of the sliding face and not to communicate with the circumferential edge on the outer peripheral side. A spring 7 is provided on the back side of a stationary-side seal ring 6 for pressing the stationary-side seal ring 6 against the sliding face of the rotating-side seal ring 3. A spring holder 8 is provided between the back side of the stationary-side seal ring 6 and the spring 7.

Abstract: A coulomb friction damped drive shaft may include an outer shaft defined by a longitudinal axis, a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion at opposite ends of the outer shaft; an inner shaft inserted through the outer shaft along the longitudinal axis and defined by a first uniform portion a second uniform portion adjacent to opposite ends of the inner shaft; a first tapered sleeve inserted between the first uniform portion and the first tapered portion; and a second tapered sleeve inserted between the second uniform portion and the second tapered portion. The first tapered sleeve may be biased along the longitudinal axis toward the second tapered sleeve to create a friction between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The friction may act on a twisting motion of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft to coulomb friction dampen oscillations in the inner shaft.

Abstract: A lubrication system for a main bearing positioned around a main shaft of a wind turbine includes a seal ring positioned around the shaft adjacent to the bearing, at least one gear adjacent to the seal ring, a mechanical lubricant pump arranged to engage the at least one gear, and at least one lubricant for providing lubrication to the bearing. Thus, as the shaft rotates, the gear(s) drives the lubricant pump such that the pump continuously provides the lubricant to the bearing so long as the shaft is rotating.

Abstract: Disclosed are degassers, couplings, impeller shafts and impellers for use in molten metal. One such coupling transfers gas into an impeller shaft, the coupling having a smooth, tapered internal surface to align with a corresponding surface on the impeller shaft and help prevent gas leakage and to assist in preventing damage to the impeller shaft. Improved impellers for shearing and mixing gas are also disclosed, as is a degasser including one or more of these components.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement of a helical spur gear which is non-rotatably arranged on a transmission shaft includes two conical sliding bearings configured for support of the transmission shaft. Each of the sliding bearings defines a cone angle, with the cone angle of one of the sliding bearings being different than the cone angle of the other one of the sliding bearings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid-dynamic bearing system, in particular for the rotary support of a spindle motor, the bearing system comprising: a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing counteracting the first conical bearing, a fixed shaft along which the two conical bearings are arranged, a sleeve, a first and a second conical bearing component, which together with the sleeve form the first and second conical bearings, bearing structures applied to the sleeve and/or the conical bearing components, a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid extending between the sleeve and the shaft and between the sleeve and the conical bearing components and sealed at each of its ends by a conical capillary seal, and a hub which rotates together with the sleeve about a rotation axis. The invention is characterized in that a pump seal is arranged between the first conical bearing and the adjacent capillary seal.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement for a unit that is mutually turnable around a center of rotation (R) comprising an external part (1) and an internal part (7), which, with the aid of high hydraulically acting pressure, is arranged to achieve a reciprocating rotary motion, or that is arranged to achieve a high hydraulic pressure from an applied torque from a reciprocating motion, whereby the external part (1) is provided with side walls arranged to axially surround at least a part of the internal part (7), and whereby the external part (1) comprises a radially inwardly arranged and essentially surrounding cavity (11, 12, 13, 14) in which the internal part (7) is arranged such that it can be rotated, which cavity (11, 12, 13, 14) is limited in the circumferential direction by at least one wing (3, 4) that protrudes inwards from the external part (1) and also limited by at least one wing (9, 10) that protrudes radially outwards from the internal part (7), which wings (3, 4, 9, 10) limit at least two chambers or compartment

Abstract: A fluid dynamic pressure bearing includes a conical bearing member having a conical bearing surface forming a first gap between a member constituting the rotor. A second gap connected to one end of the first gap and provided over the entire periphery of the shaft is formed between the conical bearing member and the shaft. A tapered seal portion is formed between the conical bearing member and the rotor. The conical bearing member is provided with a circulation hole that communicates the second gap and the tapered seal portion. The circulation hole communicates to another end of the first gap through a part of the tapered seal portion, so that the circulation hole and the other end of the first gap are spaced apart.

Abstract: A high pressure pump is provided to be used in a fuel feeding system for a vehicle engine and receive a fuel primarily pressurized by a low pressure pump, and secondarily compresses the fuel to increase the pressure of the fuel for supplying the fuel to a fuel injector. The high pressure pump includes a pump body and a camshaft that is rotatably installed in the pump body to be rotated using torque transmitted from an exterior of the pump body. Additionally, a roller bearing rotatably supports the camshaft in the pump body and an inlet port is disposed on the pump body to introduce a primarily pressurized fluid into the pump body. An orifice is configured to supply the fluid to the roller bearing while reducing a pressure of the fluid introduced via the inlet port.

Abstract: Compressed air handpiece including a handle connected to a head housing a turbine. The turbine includes a moving wheel from a periphery of which extends a plurality of blades which define an outer diameter of the moving wheel. The handpiece also includes injection means, whose function is to direct onto the blades of the moving wheel a compressed air flow whose pneumatic energy is converted into kinetic energy when the compressed air flow strikes the blades of the moving wheel. The injection means take the form of an independent insert inside which is arranged a compressed air flow feed pipe and which is mounted inside the handle of the handpiece.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus for drilling from inside a conduit having at least one service entrance is described. The drilling apparatus comprises a robot; an elongated flexible appliance having a first end and a second end, the elongated flexible appliance connected to the robot; a rotatable drill head connected to the second end of the elongated flexible appliance; the elongated flexible appliance driven by the robot to extend the rotatable drill head inside the service entrance by at least 8 cm and to retract the rotatable drill head out of the at least one service entrance. The apparatus further comprises means to bend the elongated flexible appliance to orient the drill head connected thereto perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the conduit.

Abstract: Provided herein, in some embodiments, is an apparatus including a plastic component; a stationary component including a thrustplate; a rotatable component including the plastic component affixed to a sleeve; and at least a first fluid dynamic bearing formed between the thrustplate and an opposing surface of the rotatable component.

Abstract: A fluidic dampening film supply method for a guiding bearing of a turbine engine shaft, said turbine engine being known to vibrate according to at least one given vibratory mode, said turbine engine being adapted to enter in resonance at a given resonance speed (wr) for said given vibratory mode, a monitoring range (P) being defined around the resonance speed (wr), a method wherein the fluidic dampening film of the guiding bearing being only supplied with fluid when the rotation speed of the turbine engine belongs to the monitoring range (P).

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system having a bearing bush and a shaft that are rotatable with respect to one another about a common rotational axis and form a bearing gap filled with bearing fluid between associated bearing surfaces. The bearing surfaces form at least one fluid dynamic radial bearing. A rotor component is disposed on the shaft. A stopper ring is disposed on the shaft or on the rotor component and adjoins the bearing bush, wherein a gap is formed between the mutually facing surfaces of the bearing bush and the stopper component that is filled with a bearing fluid and connected to the bearing gap and extends substantially in a radial direction. According to the invention, the surfaces of the bearing bush and/or the stopper component are formed such that the gap is tapered, narrowing radially outwards.

Abstract: A motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion that is rotatable about a central axis extending in a vertical direction with respect to the stationary portion. The stationary portion includes a shaft and a cup portion. The shaft extends in an axial direction and is fixed to the cup portion. The rotating portion includes a sleeve portion including at least a portion thereof arranged inside the cup portion, and is arranged opposite to the shaft. The cup portion includes a cylindrical portion, a bottom plate portion, and a first conical portion. The cylindrical portion is radially opposite to an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve portion. The bottom plate portion is inside the cylindrical portion. The first conical portion extends upward from an inner end portion of the bottom plate portion.

Abstract: Thus, if a shock or other disturbance to a disc stack spindle bearing assembly occurs that tilts the bearing assembly, the resulting motion is both a tilting, and a motion which is axial. If a shock axially moves the hub assembly, only an axial motion occurs. Thus the system has a non-linear behavior. Pursuant to this invention, when a tilting disturbance occurs, and some of it is dissipated in a net axial movement at a different frequency, energy is subtracted out of the system with motion that is not linearly related to the disturbance that created it.

Abstract: In a disk drive device according to an embodiment, radial dynamic pressure corresponding portions are structured such that the diameters thereof expand toward the axial outside of the sleeve, and that the shaft is in surface-contact with each of the radial dynamic pressure corresponding portions when the rotational drive of the disk drive device is stopped. Further, a herringbone-shaped radial dynamic pressure groove is formed in each of the radial dynamic pressure corresponding portions. The radial dynamic pressure groove in each radial dynamic pressure corresponding portion is formed such that the axial outside length from the turned-back portion of the herringbone-shape is longer than the axial inside length therefrom.

Abstract: A fluid bearing assembly well-suited for use as high performance, web handling roller includes a stationary inner component that extends coaxially within a rotatable outer component. The inner component includes a single conical member from which extends a narrow stem. The delivery of fluid into a nominal gap between the inner and outer components creates a tapered bearing, with the outer component capable of frictionless rotation relative to the inner component. A thrust plate is axially mounted onto the stem and is retained thereon by a threaded nut. By delivering fluid into a nominal gap between the thrust plate and the outer component, a thrust bearing is created which counterbalances the net axial force produced from the tapered bearing. Furthermore, precise adjustment of the tapered bearing air gap can be achieved through rotation of the threaded nut, thereby enabling certain performance characteristics of the fluid bearing assembly to be modified.

Abstract: The fluid dynamic bearing system has at least one stationary part, and at least one rotating part that is supported rotatable about a rotational axis with respect to the stationary part. A bearing gap filled with bearing fluid is formed between mutually opposing surfaces of the stationary and of the rotating part. The bearing system includes at least one fluid dynamic radial bearing and at least one fluid dynamic axial bearing that are disposed along sections of the bearing gap. In one aspect of the invention, an annular sealing gap for sealing open ends of the bearing gap has one end connected to the bearing gap and one end connected to an annular reservoir, the outside radius of the reservoir measured from the rotational axis being larger than the outside radius of the sealing gap.

Abstract: There is provided a spindle motor including: a lower thrust member fixedly attached to a base member; a shaft fixedly attached to at least one of the lower thrust member and the base member; a sleeve disposed on an upper portion of the lower thrust member and rotatably installed on the shaft; a rotor hub coupled to the sleeve to thereby rotate together therewith; and an upper thrust member fixedly attached to an upper end portion of the shaft and forming a liquid-vapor interface together therewith, wherein the sleeve has an inclination part formed at an upper end portion thereof so as to form the liquid-vapor interface together with the upper thrust member, the inclination part having an outer diameter larger in an upper portion thereof than in a lower portion thereof.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing system having a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing working in opposition to the first conical bearing, wherein the two conical bearings are disposed along a stationary shaft, wherein the first and the second conical bearing each comprises a bearing cone disposed on the shaft having bearing surfaces as well as a conical counter bearing disposed in a rotor component that are separated from one another by a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid, wherein the bearing gap has a first open end that is sealed by a first sealing gap partially filled with bearing fluid, wherein the bearing fluid in the sealing gap forms a fluid meniscus.

Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary portion preferably includes a shaft portion, an upper thrust portion, and an outer tubular portion. The rotating portion preferably includes an inner tubular portion, a flange portion, an upper hub annular portion, and a lower hub annular portion. The flange portion includes a communicating hole. An upper surface of a lubricating oil is located in a fifth gap defined between an upper thrust portion and an upper hub annular portion, while a lower surface of the lubricating oil is located in a sixth gap defined between an outer tubular portion and a lower hub annular portion. The communicating hole and a space extending from the fifth gap to the sixth gap through a fourth gap, a first gap, a second gap, and a third gap are continuously filled with the lubricating oil.

Abstract: There is provided a spindle motor including: a shaft fixedly coupled to a base member; a stationary unit coupled to the shaft so as to be disposed over the base member; and a sleeve member forming a bearing clearance with the stationary unit to be filled with lubricating fluid, wherein the stationary unit includes a plurality of stationary members and the plurality of stationary members are disposed to be opposed to each other while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval so as to have the lubricating fluid interposed therebetween, the stationary members including a liquid-vapor interface formed therebetween.

Abstract: The fluid dynamic bearing system has at least one stationary part, and at least one rotating part that is supported rotatable about a rotational axis with respect to the stationary part. A bearing gap filled with bearing fluid is formed between mutually opposing surfaces of the stationary and of the rotating part. The bearing system includes at least one fluid dynamic radial bearing and at least one fluid dynamic axial bearing that are disposed along sections of the bearing gap. In one aspect of the invention, an annular sealing gap for sealing open ends of the bearing gap has one end connected to the bearing gap and one end connected to an annular reservoir, the outside radius of the reservoir measured from the rotational axis being larger than the outside radius of the sealing gap.

Abstract: Thus, if a shock or other disturbance to a disc stack spindle bearing assembly occurs that tilts the bearing assembly, the resulting motion is both a tilting, and a motion which is axial. If a shock axially moves the hub assembly, only an axial motion occurs. Thus the system has a non-linear behavior. Pursuant to this invention, when a tilting disturbance occurs, and some of it is dissipated in a net axial movement at a different frequency, energy is subtracted out of the system with motion that is not linearly related to the disturbance was that created it.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing includes an auxiliary bearing portion, a first radial bearing portion and a second radial bearing portion arranged along an axial direction of the fluid dynamic bearing, wherein the auxiliary groove formed in the auxiliary bearing portion is shallower in depth than the radial dynamic pressure groove formed in the first radial bearing portion, and wherein a gap size in the auxiliary bearing portion is set to be equal to or larger than a gap size in the radial bearing portions.

Abstract: A fluid bearing assembly well-suited for use as high performance, web handling roller includes a stationary inner component that extends coaxially within a rotatable outer component. The inner component includes a single conical member from which extends a narrow stem. The delivery of fluid into a nominal gap between the inner and outer components creates a tapered bearing, with the outer component capable of frictionless rotation relative to the inner component. A thrust plate is axially mounted onto the stem and is retained thereon by a threaded nut. By delivering fluid into a nominal gap between the thrust plate and the outer component, a thrust bearing is created which counterbalances the net axial force produced from the tapered bearing. Furthermore, precise adjustment of the tapered bearing air gap can be achieved through rotation of the threaded nut, thereby enabling certain performance characteristics of the fluid bearing assembly to be modified.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism includes a stationary shaft, a sleeve portion arranged to rotate with respect to the shaft, and a thrust portion including an upper end surface arranged oppose to a lower end surface of the sleeve portion. An inside surface of the thrust portion includes an inside surface contact portion arranged in contact with an outside surface of the shaft, and an inside surface lower non-contact portion spaced away from the outside surface of the shaft, and arranged to extend downward from a lower end of the inside surface contact portion. An outside surface of the thrust portion includes an outside surface inclined portion arranged in contact with an interface of a lubricating oil. The lower end of the inside surface contact portion is arranged at a level axially higher than that of a lower end of the outside surface inclined portion.

Abstract: A bearing mechanism includes a shaft, a sleeve portion, a thrust portion, and a cover portion. Lubricating oil is arranged in a communicating channel in the sleeve portion, a thrust gap between the sleeve portion and the thrust portion, and a tapered gap between an outside surface of the thrust portion and the cover portion. A lower end opening of the communicating channel is defined in an outer circumferential portion of a lower surface of the sleeve portion radially outward of the thrust gap. A radially outermost portion of the thrust portion is arranged either tangent to a wall surface of the communicating channel or closer to a central axis than the wall surface. The tapered gap is arranged closer to the central axis than a radially outermost point of the wall surface. The outer circumferential portion and the cover portion define a guide gap therebetween.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing formed by a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) wafer-level batch-fabrication process is provided. The process results in a high performance and high reliability fluid dynamic bearing having features including higher bearing lifetime at high RPM, improved bearing stiffness, durability and thrust/restoring forces capabilities. The present invention is especially useful with small form factor disc drive memory devices having constraints in motor height, such as a 2.5 inch disc drive, requiring high performance including high rotational speed and large areal density. A sacrificial layer is utilized in the process to simultaneously form symmetrical facing surfaces of relatively rotatable components. The facing surfaces define, therebetween, a desired feature, such as a journal bearing, a thrust bearing, a fluid channel, a fluid reservoir, a capillary seal, pressure generating grooves, and other profile geometries.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system having a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing working in opposition to the first conical bearing, the conical bearings being disposed along a stationary shaft. The first conical bearing has a first bearing cone disposed on the shaft having bearing surfaces extending at an angle ? to the rotational axis, and a first bearing bush having a tapered bearing bore and bearing surfaces that are separated by a first bearing gap filled with bearing fluid from the bearing surfaces of the first bearing cone. The second conical bearing has a second bearing cone disposed on the shaft having bearing surfaces extending at an angle ? to the rotational axis, and a second bearing bush having a tapered bearing bore and bearing surfaces that are separated by a second bearing gap filled with bearing fluid from the bearing surfaces of the second bearing cone.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor and method are described, wherein motor components, including complex shaped motor components, are molded of plastic. The molding ensures form control and dimensional control thereby accomplishing design requirements, and eliminating or reducing component costs and component machining. The mold can be shaped to form various motor geometries, thereby eliminating the need for multiple component assembly and related assembly costs. In an aspect, a plastic integral motor hub is formed by injection molding. Alternatively, a plastic motor hub is affixed to a metal sleeve. In another aspect, fluid containment structures are molded into the motor component, reducing the number of components as compared with machined metal components. In a further aspect, bearing structures such as grooves are molded into the motor component, thereby eliminating processes such as electrochemical machining. In yet a further aspect, a plastic hub faces a thrustplate, reducing expensive sleeve machining.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism includes a stationary shaft, a sleeve portion arranged to rotate with respect to the shaft, and a thrust portion including an upper end surface arranged oppose to a lower end surface of the sleeve portion. An inside surface of the thrust portion includes an inside surface contact portion arranged in contact with an outside surface of the shaft, and an inside surface lower non-contact portion spaced away from the outside surface of the shaft, and arranged to extend downward from a lower end of the inside surface contact portion. An outside surface of the thrust portion includes an outside surface inclined portion arranged in contact with an interface of a lubricating oil. The lower end of the inside surface contact portion is arranged at a level axially higher than that of a lower end of the outside surface inclined portion.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor and method are described, wherein motor components, including complex shaped motor components, are molded of plastic. The molding ensures form control and dimensional control thereby accomplishing design requirements, and eliminating or reducing component costs and component machining. The mold can be shaped to form various motor geometries, thereby eliminating the need for multiple component assembly and related assembly costs. In an aspect, a plastic integral motor hub is formed by injection molding. Alternatively, a plastic motor hub is affixed to a metal sleeve. In another aspect, fluid containment structures are molded into the motor component, reducing the number of components as compared with machined metal components. In a further aspect, bearing structures such as grooves are molded into the motor component, thereby eliminating processes such as electrochemical machining. In yet a further aspect, a plastic hub faces a thrustplate, reducing expensive sleeve machining.

Abstract: With a hydrodynamic bearing device 10, a first gap G1 is formed between a shaft 12 and a sleeve 11. A second gap G2 is formed between a sleeve cap 16 and the sleeve 11, and holds a lubricant 17. A thrust bearing member 21 is disposed near the inner peripheral surface of a center hole 16a of the sleeve cap 16. A third gap G3 is formed between the thrust bearing member 21 and the sleeve cap 16, and is open to the atmosphere. A fourth gap G4 is formed between the thrust bearing member 21 and the sleeve 11. The lubricant 17 circulates along a circulation passage that includes a communicating path 11b, the first gap G1 and the second gap G2.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system having a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing working in opposition to the first conical bearing, wherein the two conical bearings are disposed along a stationary shaft, wherein the first and the second conical bearing each comprises a bearing cone disposed on the shaft having bearing surfaces as well as a conical counter bearing disposed in a rotor component that are separated from one another by a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid, wherein the bearing gap has a first open end that is sealed by a first sealing gap partially filled with bearing fluid, wherein the bearing fluid in the sealing gap forms a fluid meniscus.

Abstract: A compact surface self-compensated hydrostatic bearing includes a rotor assembly including a rotor plate having upper and lower fluid restricting faces, a rotor top and bottom, each having bearing surfaces angled with respect to an axis of rotation of the rotor assembly; a stator assembly including a stator top and a stator bottom housing the rotor assembly therebetween, the stator top and bottom having bearing surfaces facing and spaced apart from the rotor top and bottom bearing surfaces forming upper and lower bearing gaps, respectively, therebetween; the stator top and bottom including a lower and an upper fluid restricting surface, respectively, facing and spaced apart from the rotor upper and rotor lower fluid restricting faces, respectively, forming upper and lower restricting gaps, respectively, therebetween; and a fluid supply system configured to supply pressurized fluid to the bearing gaps and into the upper and lower fluid restricting gaps.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system that comprises a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing working in opposition to the first conical bearing, the conical bearings being disposed along a stationary shaft. The first conical bearing has a first bearing cone disposed on the shaft having bearing surfaces extending at an angle ? to the rotational axis, and a first bearing bush having a tapered bearing bore and bearing surfaces that are separated by a first bearing gap filled with bearing fluid from the bearing surfaces of the first bearing cone. The second conical bearing has a second bearing cone disposed on the shaft having bearing surfaces extending at an angle ? to the rotational axis, and a second bearing bush having a tapered bearing bore and bearing surfaces that are separated by a second bearing gap filled with bearing fluid from the bearing surfaces of the second bearing cone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for a fluid dynamic bearing motor as may be utilized in a disc drive memory system. A fluid seal is situated at a first axial end of a bearing, and a grooved pumping seal is situated at a second axial end of the bearing. In an aspect, a fluid recirculation passageway is defined through a shaft and a thrustplate, to recirculate fluid from axially above the grooved pumping seal at the second axial end of the bearing to the first axial end of the bearing. Any air ingested at the grooved pumping seal, or which came out of solution from the fluid, is purged into a fluid reservoir and out the fluid seal. In an aspect, fluid is recirculated from the center of the journal bearing and the bearing pressure grooves to the fluid recirculation passageway and toward an air purging fluid seal.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing device comprises a shaft bush having a substantially conical inclined dynamic pressure surface around the outer circumference thereof which is relatively rotatably inserted in a bearing sleeve having a substantially conical inclined dynamic pressure surface around the inner circumference thereof. A substantially conical inclined bearing space is created in the gap between the inclined dynamic pressure surfaces of the bearing sleeve and shaft bush. Lubricant fluid is filled inside the inclined bearing space. A proper dynamic pressure generating means is formed on at least one of the inclined dynamic pressure surfaces of the shaft bush and bearing sleeve. The lubricant fluid is pressurized by the dynamic pressure generating means to generate dynamic pressure, by which the shaft bush and the bearing sleeve are relatively elevated in the radial and thrust directions so that their rotations are supported in a non-contact manner.

Abstract: When a sleeve of a fluid dynamic bearing is manufactured, its inner peripheral surface is formed by cutting. On the inner peripheral surface, first and second inclined surfaces are formed by a first cutting process such that a distance between the sleeve and a central axis is increased toward an upper end surface of the sleeve. Then, an upper bearing surface and a third inclined surface between the upper bearing surface and the first inclined surface are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve by a second cutting process of accuracy higher than that of the first cutting process. In the second cutting process, it is possible to form accurately in position a boundary between the upper bearing surface and the third inclined surface in contact with an upper end of an upper dynamic pressure groove provided on the upper bearing surface.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing device which can improve workability of injecting a lube repellant and effectively prevent leakage of a lubricant, a method for manufacturing the same, a spindle motor, and a recording and reproduction apparatus are provided. A hydrodynamic bearing device 4 includes a lube repellant 11a which is applied in a circular shape by a predetermined distance in a radial direction from a portion of an upper surface of a second thrust flange 41c where it is connected to a shaft 41 and a lube repellant 11b which is applied in a circular shape on an outer peripheral surface of the second thrust flange 41c below from an upper end in the radial direction by a predetermined distance. The lube repellant 11b is applied near the upper end portion in a gap formed between the outer peripheral surface of the second thrust flange 41c and an inner peripheral surface of an outer sleeve 44.

Abstract: An active fluid bearing system is provided. In one example, the active fluid bearing system includes an interface region formed between an outer surface of an inner member and an opposing inner surface of an outer member. The inner and outer members are disposed for relative rotation of the inner and outer members, and thereby form an interface region having a hydrodynamic bearing region and an active bearing region. A liquid is disposed in the interface region at the hydrodynamic bearing region, and is further disposed in the active bearing region if the inner and outer members are not relatively rotating. The bearing system is operable for evacuating at least a portion of the liquid from the active bearing region during relative rotation of the inner and outer members. The active bearing region may be a journal bearing or a thrust bearing.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a fluid dynamic bearing device and a bearing part for a thrust bearing, both of which are applied to a flat and thin bearing part and are capable of preventing abrasion and scratching even if two parts make contact with each other. A fluid dynamic bearing mechanism 40 includes a shaft 1 functioning as an axis of rotational, a sleeve, a flange 3, a thrust plate 4, and a thrust bearing portion 22. The sleeve is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the shaft. The flange is disposed in the vicinity of the end portion of the shaft, and includes a bottom surface 3c perpendicular to a central axis direction of the shaft. A thrust receiver includes a front surface 4a opposed to the bottom surface. The thrust bearing portion is formed between the bottom surface and the front surface, and includes a plurality of thrust dynamic generation grooves 3a formed on the bottom surface.

Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing design employing inherently compensated orifices whose geometric design is such that the use of multiple orifices is substantially simplified. In normal cylindrical hydrostatic bearings, the orifices are usually employed in rows. There can be from three to 120 orifices per row, and usually from one to six rows in most designs. In these designs, the orifice is usually a separate component, which is pressed into the surface that constitutes the bearing. Inherently compensated orifices are comprised of three sections, i.e. the entrance section, the restricting orifice section, and the exit section. The first two of these sections are of circular cross section. This design employs slots versus cylindrical type of construction, thereby giving square or rectangular cross sections. The manufacturing of this type of hydrostatic bearing is greatly simplified since only three or slightly more parts are required, versus a separate part for each orifice.

Abstract: To simplify fabrication of an integral hub piece, the opening between the upper and lower female cones in this hub has sufficient width or radial dimension to allow access to both cones from one side of the hub with the cutting tool. A cutting tool is used which has a width smaller than the opening between the cones. Preferably, the tool has a width which is about equal to or smaller than an angular dimension through this opening which is defined by extending surfaces of the upper and lower female cones. If this limitation is satisfied, both cones can be created with a single machine set up operating from one side of the integrated hub.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system that comprises a base (10), a stationary shaft (14) connected to the base, a hub (16) rotatably supported with respect to the shaft and two bearing plates (24, 44) that are disposed at a mutual spacing about the shaft and connected to the hub. A bushing (22) is provided that is disposed between the bearing plates and separated from them by a gap (30, 50) at least partly filled with a bearing fluid. There are two stopper plates (26, 46) that are fixedly connected to the shaft, each abutting one side of each bearing plate and separated from the bearing plate by a bearing gap (28, 48) filled with bearing fluid. This results in two independent fluid dynamic bearing systems, each of which is disposed about a bearing plate. The motor is driven by an electromagnetic drive system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system having at least one stationary (10) and at least one moving bearing part (22) that are rotatable about a common rotational axis (16) with respect to one another and form a bearing gap (14) filled with a bearing fluid between associated bearing surfaces, wherein a sealing gap (38) adjoins one end of the bearing gap, the sealing gap being disposed between a sleeve surface (40) of the stationary bearing part (10) and an opposing sleeve surface (42) of the moving bearing part (22) and comprising a radial section and an axial section and being at least partially filled with bearing fluid, wherein in the region of the axial section of the sealing gap (38), the sleeve surface (40) of the stationary bearing part (10) forms an acute angle a with the rotational axis (16) and the sleeve surface (42) of the moving bearing part (12, 22) forms an acute angle ? with the rotational axis (16), wherein for the angles the condition ???>0° applies, and the difference B2

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system used in particular for the rotational support of spindle motors for driving the storage disks in hard disk drives having a stationary bearing part (10, 16, 20) and a rotating bearing part (12, 14), wherein the bearing parts are separated from one another by a bearing gap (18) filled with bearing fluid and rotatable with respect to each other about a rotational axis (36), wherein at least one radial bearing (28; 30) is provided in a first section (18?) of the bearing gap and at least one axial bearing (32; 34) is provided in a second section (18?) of the bearing gap, and a supply volume (22) for the bearing fluid connected to the bearing gap (18) is provided. According to the invention, it is provided that the supply volume (22) is formed at the outside circumference of the stationary bearing part and that it is connected via a connecting channel (37) to the second section (18?) of the bearing gap.

Abstract: To simplify fabrication of an integral hub piece, the opening between the upper and lower female cones in this hub has sufficient width or radial dimension to allow access to both cones from one side of the hub with the cutting tool. A cutting tool is used which has a width smaller than the opening between the cones. Preferably, the tool has a width which is about equal to or smaller than an angular dimension through this opening which is defined by extending surfaces of the upper and lower female cones. If this limitation is satisfied, both cones can be created with a single machine set up operating from one side of the integrated hub.