Patents Examined by Thomas B. Hannon
  • Patent number: 5697708
    Abstract: A self-lubricating hydrodynamic spindle bearing comprising a stationary shaft including a conical, inwardly tapered surfaces extending axially form outer regions of the shaft toward a center connecting region of the shaft, a rotatably mounted sleeve surrounding the shaft and including surface regions flared axially inwardly toward a center region of the sleeve, the tapered surface regions and the flared surface regions defining a bearing gap for the hydrodynamic bearing, the sleeve defining a connection region adjacent the connecting region between the tapered surfaces of the shaft, the connection region including a tube collapsible in response to a change in internal pressure in the connection region to stabilize stiffness and power consumption in the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Leuthold, David Jennings, Lakshman Nagarathnam, Raquib Khan, Greg Rudd