Abstract: A dynamic groove bearing (9, 83, 95) with an inner bearing pan (15) and an outer bearing part (17) which is rotatable about the inner bearing part (15). The bearing parts (15, 17) are provided with cooperating bearing surfaces (23, 35) between which a bearing gap (45) is present filled with a liquid lubricant (75). The bearing surface (35) of at least one of the bearing pans (17) is provided with a pattern of grooves (51, 53).The outer bearing part (17) has an annular barrier (69, 87, 99) which is raised with respect to the bearing surface (35) of the outer bearing part (17) and which bounds the bearing gap (45). The barrier (69, 87, 99) prevents leakage of the liquid lubricant (75) from the dynamic groove bearing (9, 83, 95) at comparatively high rotation speeds of the dynamic groove bearing (9, 83, 95).

Abstract: A bearing seal system having a bag structure in a first embodiment wherein (1) oil is filled in a tapering bag space section positioned from the bag section to an exit section; (2) the space in the tapering space section is kept to 0.8 mm or less the slope angle of the outer end of the tapering space section is kept to 45.degree. or less. In this way, oil is kept from air and a stable no-leak status is made possible; (3) the capacity of the tapering space section is made larger than that of a bag section or a radial bearing section in order to retain oil in the bearing section at all times and to prevent oil from leaking as a result of variations in the quantity of oil injected or in the capacity; and (4) the space ratio of the inner end and the outer end of the tapering space section is made larger to prevent oil from moving to the bearing section even when air migrates into the oil surface.

Abstract: A motor includes a shaft; a shaft retainer which retains the shaft and a thrust plate provided to the shaft, and thrust dynamic pressure fluid bearing means are provided between the thrust plate and the shaft retainer and radial dynamic pressure fluid bearing means are provided between the shaft retainer and the shaft. Between the outer circumferential surface of the thrust plate and the inner circumferential surface of the shaft retainer, a ring-shaped space is formed and oil is filled in a part of this ring-shaped space. Ring-shaped projections are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the thrust plate. When the motor is running at a high-speed, oil in the ring-shaped space is retained on the shaft retainer and through this oil, oil in the thrust dynamic pressure fluid bearings at the upper and lower surface sides are communicated with each other.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a plain bearing part for a liquid metal lubricated plain bearing, the plain bearing part having a bearing surface that is in contact with a liquid metal during operation. This bearing surface is provided with a layer of a metal effective as diffusion barrier for the liquid metal and which is well wetted with the liquid metal. The layer is applied according to a PVD process.

Abstract: A plain bearing having a bearing gap filled with liquid metal has two plain bearing parts each having a surface contiguous to the liquid metal, these surfaces delimiting a gap connecting the bearing gap with the surrounding space. At least one of the surfaces is provided, in its area contiguous to the liquid metal, with a layer of a material that is effective as a wetting agent for the liquid metal.

Abstract: A seal for use in a gap between two non-contacting solid members, comprises a pool of fluid, the pool being anchored in a first of the members and contacting the second of the members, the pool being detachable from the second member in response to a pressure differential within the gap, and a bearing in a gap between two solid members used in a micromechanical pump, comprising a disk member suspended between the non-contacting solid members, and a pool of a first liquid between a first of the solid members and a first surface of the disk member, a second fluid in contact with a second surface of the disk member, the second fluid being dielectric, and an electrical potential applied across the disk member and the second fluid, the disk member being moveable in response to the electrical potential.

Abstract: A self-contained hydrodynamic bearing unit includes a shaft and a shaft housing defining an opening for receiving the shaft for relative rotation. The shaft and bearing define at least one radial hydrodynamic bearing and an annular thrust bearing, formed as a disk portion extending radially outward of a main cylindrical surface of the shaft which cooperates with an adjacent annular face of the shaft housing. A gap between an outer cylindrical wall of the thrust bearing disk portion and an adjacently facing cylindrical surface of the shaft housing provides a primary annular capillary seal segment. An annular bushing ring extends from the housing radially inwardly to enclose the thrust bearing disk, and cooperates with an adjacent outer face of the thrust bearing disk to provide a secondary containment capillary seal segment. Normally, lubricating liquid is in the bearing unit at the radial hydrodynamic bearing, at the hydrodynamic thrust bearing and in the primary annular capillary seal segment.

Abstract: A construction for an electric spindle motor includes a stationary central shaft with a horizontal thrust bearing plate and a rotating hub assembly. A flanged thrust bearing ring having an upper capillary surface is affixed to the hub assembly. An annular end cap having a lower capillary surface is nested within the flanged bearing ring. The upper and lower capillary surfaces are radially outwardly diverging horizontal surfaces relative to each other which define a capillary cavity. Lubricating fluid partially fills the capillary cavity to form a horizontal capillary seal which prevents the fluid from escaping the motor. The capillary seal may be formed by tapering either the upper or lower capillary surfaces to provide an enlargement of the bearing cavity in an axial direction radially outwardly from the central shaft. Alternatively, the capillary seal may be formed by substantially coating the upper and lower capillary surfaces with a barrier coating to increase surface tension.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing incorporates a flexible membrane at one end of the fluid gap in the hydrodynamic bearing. If voids exist in the fluid, and if changes in the size of these voids or bubbles occur with changes in temperature or pressure in which the disc drive is being used, then the volume of the fluid will change, and increase relative to the change in size of the volume of the surrounding physical part. The flexible membrane will yield to the increased pressure of the increasing volume of the fluid. The membrane essentially acts as a spring whose spring force is overcome by the pressure created by or accompanying a increase in volume of the fluid. As this happens, the spring force of the membrane is overcome, the membrane relaxes and forms a bladder, effectively increasing the volume in which the lubricating fluid is contained, and preventing its escape or being forced out of the inner region of the bearing.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing unit includes a shaft, a sleeve rotatably disposed over the shaft and defining a plurality of spaced-apart hydrodynamic journal bearings, an annular axial thrust plate secured to the shaft to form a shaft subassembly and having a first radial surface in facing confrontation with a shoulder of the sleeve and defining a first hydrodynamic thrust bearing, a thrust bushing secured to the sleeve to form a sleeve subassembly and having a bearing surface in overlying facing engagement with a second radial surface of the annular axial thrust plate to form a second hydrodynamic thrust bearing, a seal for hydrodynamic lubricant defined within an annular Vee groove located adjacent to the shaft and having an apex converging toward the second hydrodynamic thrust bearing, a motor for rotating the sleeve subassembly relative to the shaft subassembly, and hydrodynamic lubricant within the annular Vee groove, the lubricant being retained in place by capillary force in the absence, of rotation, and by c

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing device incorporates a relatively rotatable shaft 1 and a sleeve 2 internally sealed with the shaft 1. A groove for generating dynamic pressure is formed on an external circumferential surface of the shaft 1 or on internal circumferential surface of the sleeve 2. A circumferential groove 1a is formed at one end of the shaft 1 external to the bearing. An annular sealing plate 3 is secured to the sleeve 2 and interegagging with the shaft 1 external to the bearing and the circumferential groove 1a. A labyrinth is formed between the inner-diametric domain of the sealing plate 3. An annular recessed domain 2c is defined by internal circumferential surface of the sleeve 2 and the sealing plate 3 at a position substantially opposite the circumferential groove 1a. An oil-pooling space 4 thereby formed by the shaft 1, the circumferential groove 1a, the sleeve 2, the sealing plate 3, and the annular recessed domain 2c.

Abstract: In a bearing apparatus having an oilless bearing, plural grooves are formed on an outer surface of the bearing or an inner surface of a bearing holder for holding lubricant oil which is overflowed from the bearing, thereby the lubricant is maintained in a long service.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft/thrust plate combination is disposed within a sleeve to form a first clearance space between the shaft and the sleeve and a second clearance space between the thrust plate and the sleeve. The external faces of the thrust plate are exposed to air. The clearance spaces are filled with a liquid lubricant and the sleeve includes pressure equalization ports connecting the first and second clearance spaces. Surface tension dynamic seals are provided between axially extending surfaces of the thrust plate and sleeve. The equalization ports balance the hydrodynamic pressures in the lubricant to prevent the lubricant being pumped through one of the dynamic seals. The resulting bearing provides high precision with low repetitive and nonrepetitive runouts. The bearing provides hydrodynamic support of both radial and axial loads and the bearing seal is relatively insensitive to orientation of the spindle and minimizes the generation of debris and cotaminating particles.

Abstract: An improved bearing assembly provided with means whereby grease is supplied via a passageway (10) to egress between 2 bearing rings (1), whereby grease will pass by the outer sealing ring (1A) to be expelled through the labyrinth passage (3) to flush contaminants out of the seal.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft/thrust plate combination is disposed within a sleeve to form a first clearance space between the shaft and the sleeve and a second clearance space between the thrust plate and the sleeve. The external faces of the thrust plate are exposed to air. The clearance spaces are filled with a liquid lubricant and the sleeve includes pressure equalization ports connecting the first and second clearance spaces. Surface tension dynamic seals are provided between axially extending surfaces of the thrust plate and sleeve. The equalization ports balance the hydrodynamic pressures in the lubricant to prevent the lubricant being pumped through one of the dynamic seals. The resulting bearing provides high precision with low repetitive and nonrepetitive runouts. The bearing provides hydrodynamic support of both radial and axial loads and the bearing seal is relatively insensitive to orientation of the spindle and minimizes the generation of debris and contaminating particles.

Abstract: A bearing, having an inner ring, an outer ring, rolling members, inner seal members, outer seal members, a first grease having good heat resistance which is contained inward of the inner seal member, and a second grease having water-resistance and corrosion-prevention which is contained between the inner seal member and the outer seal member. The second grease prevents rusting in the outer and inner rings even if water enters the inner side of the outer seal member. The first grease assures satisfactory lubrication of the rolling members, the outer and inner rings under high speed and high temperature conditions.

Abstract: A high vacuum ion implantation chamber has a lower wall formed with an opening accommodating a depending sleeve through which a shaft passes supporting a substrate support platform at the top and connectable to external linear and rotary drives at the bottom. The sleeve is formed with four axially spaced annular grooves each coupled to a respective vacuum pump that maintains the annular grooves at respective pressures that progressively increase for grooves further away from the vacuum chamber bottom wall. A lowermost annular groove functions as an exhaust along with the region surrounding the shaft at the bottom of the sleeve. The sleeve also includes an air inlet. The gravity forces acting upon the shaft and platform assembly are counterbalanced by the differential pressure acting over the shaft area between the high vacuum chamber and the ambient surroundings.

Abstract: In order to prevent the escape of metal lubricant in a helical-groove bearing, the helical-groove bearing is provided with an anti-wetting layer on the surfaces which adjoin the helically grooved surfaces and which could act as a creepage path for the metal lubricant. An extremely accurate definition of the bearing portions to be wetted by the lubricant is also obtained by means of these layers. Thus, more complex bearings can also be locally provided with a metal lubricant.

Abstract: A stern tube bearing for vessels is sealed off in a leakproof aft seal asbly which comprises at least one annular chamber between axially spaced sealing elements. The annular chamber is filled with a liquid for lubricating the sealing elements. The liquid is circulated in a circulation system through a separating tank. The head of the circulated liquid is lower than the head of a lubricant in the stern tube bearing which again is lower than the lowest possible head of the sea-water surrounding the aft seal assembly. Any sea-water or dirt entering into the annular chamber will be removed out of it by the circulated liquid and separated from it in the separating tank which can be provided with devices for supervising the circulation system. A forward seal assembly of the stern tube bearing may be included in the circulation system.