Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing comprised of a hydrodynamic bearing and a pivot bearing, which can be used with a spindle motor. It also provides a spindle motor utilizing a hydrodynamic bearing and a pivot bearing.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive including a shaft and a bearing sleeve. The shaft has a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section with a step formed therebetween. The bearing sleeve has a central cylindrical opening, the shaft being inserted into the central cylindrical opening. A bearing gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve, the bearing gap being filled with lubricating fluid. A first hydrodynamic thrust bearing is formed in the area of the step. A hydrodynamic radial bearing is formed in the area of the larger diameter section of said shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing comprised of a hydrodynamic bearing and a pivot bearing, which can be used with a spindle motor. It also provides a spindle motor utilizing a hydrodynamic bearing and a pivot bearing.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of construction of a spindle motor having a bearing unit, a rotary shaft, a rotary hub member and an electro-magnetic motor is presented. The rotary shaft has a flange attached at a mid-section in an axial direction, between large and small diameter sections of the rotary shaft. Grooves between the bearing unit, rotary shaft and flange create radial dynamic pressure generating areas, each with as long as possible a span, and thrust dynamic pressure generating areas to both sides of the flange.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive having a rotor assembly and a stator assembly. The rotor assembly has a hub and a rotating shaft with an outer diameter, the hub being mounted for rotation on the rotating shaft. The stator assembly has a bearing sleeve with a bottom opening, the rotating shaft being inserted into the bearing sleeve for rotation. A counter-plate is inserted into the bottom opening of the bearing sleeve thereby closing the bottom opening. A thrust plate is mounted on the rotating shaft in opposing relationship with the counter-plate, the thrust plate having an outer diameter. A fluid dynamic thrust bearing is formed between the counter-plate and the thrust plate. A ratio between the outer diameter of the shaft to the outer diameter of the thrust plate is reduced to reduce spindle motor's power consumption.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a hydrodynamic bearing system, particularly to drive platters in a hard disk drive, the platters being disposed on a rotor, and the bearing system being formed by a bearing sleeve arranged on a baseplate and a shaft rotatably supported in an opening in the bearing sleeve and at least one thrust plate connected to the shaft. A liquid lubricant is filled into a bearing gap formed between the shaft, the thrust plate and the bearing sleeve. The invention is characterized in that the thrust plate rests directly against the rotor and is accommodated in an annular recess in the bearing sleeve facing the rotor.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive, the spindle motor including a shaft having a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section with a step formed therebetween. The spindle motor also includes a bearing sleeve having a central cylindrical opening, the shaft is inserted into the central cylindrical opening. A bearing gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve, the bearing gap being filled with lubricating fluid. A thrust plate is fixedly mounted on the shaft in the area of the step such that an upper side of the thrust plate is placed adjacently to the larger diameter section and a lower side of the thrust plate is placed adjacently to the smaller diameter section of the shaft.

Abstract: A spindle motor for a hard disk drive having a stationary component with a first bearing surface, and a rotating component with a second bearing surface located in opposing relationship with the first bearing surface. The first and the second bearing surfaces form a hydrodynamic bearing. A bearing gap is formed between the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface, the bearing gap being filled with lubricating fluid. An oil-free recess is provided in the motor for placement of electromagnetic components of the motor. The stationary component is provided with a first set of seal surfaces, and the rotating component is provided with a second set of seal surfaces. The seal surfaces of the first set are located opposite the seal surfaces of the second set and form a labyrinth seal sealing the bearing gap from the oil-free motor recess.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing system, particularly for a spindle motor, having a shaft, a thrust plate connected to the shaft and a bearing sleeve sealed at one end by a cover plate, the bearing sleeve enclosing the shaft and the thrust plate with a slight spacing forming a bearing gap filled with a lubricant, at least one of the bearing surfaces of the shaft and the bearing sleeve as well as the thrust plate and the cover plate interacting with each other being provided with a surface structure. The distinctive feature of the invention is that a bearing surface formed between the thrust plate and the bearing sleeve is provided with a herringbone-like surface pattern and a bearing surface formed between the thrust plate and the cover plate is provided with a grooved spiral shaped surface structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spindle motor and a method of manufacturing a spindle motor wherein a bearing unit is manufactured as a discrete modular component. A spindle motor that meets a set of specific technical requirements can be easily manufactured by combining such a bearing unit with other spindle moor components.

Abstract: In a method for the manufacture of a spindle motor for a hard disk drive comprising a stator, a rotor and a hydrodynamic bearing arrangement that rotatably supports the rotor, it is provided that the hydrodynamic bearing arrangement is prefabricated and fixedly connected to the rotor or the stator in a prefabricated state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing, particularly for a spindle motor, comprising a shaft, a thrust plate connected to the shaft and a bearing sleeve closed at one end by a cover plate, the bearing sleeve enclosing the shaft and the thrust plate with a slight radial spacing forming a concentric bearing gap filled with a lubricant. As is already known, the surfaces of the bearing sleeve and the shaft facing each other form at least one radial bearing region and the surfaces of the bearing sleeve, the cover plate and the thrust plate facing each other form at least one axial bearing region. In the hydrodynamic bearing according to the invention, at least one connecting channel is provided which connects a section between the bearing sleeve and the shaft abutting the radial bearing region and a section of the bearing gap abutting the axial bearing region to each other.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive having a base frame, a housing cover, a fixed shaft and a rotatable bearing sleeve. The fixed shaft has a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section with a step formed therebetween. The rotatable bearing sleeve has a central cylindrical opening, the shaft being inserted into the central cylindrical opening. A bearing gap is formed between the fixed shaft and the rotatable bearing sleeve, the bearing gap being filled with lubricating fluid. One end of the fixed shaft is secured to the base frame while another end of the shaft is secured to the housing cover.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing system for use in a spindle motor, especially for the actuation of hard disk drives, wherein the bearing arrangement features a shaft and a sleeve which, supported by a lubricant circulating between their bearing surfaces, are rotatable relative to one another. A reservoir for the lubricant is formed by a recess provided in the shaft and the inner surface of the sleeve. The reservoir is provided in the area of the face of at least one opening in the sleeve. To enable the fill level of the lubricant in the reservoir to be checked, the recess is provided with tapering transitional areas contours of which form an acute angle with the cutting plane of the shaft.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive having a base frame, a housing cover, a fixed shaft and a rotatable bearing sleeve. The fixed shaft has a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section with a step formed therebetween. The rotatable bearing sleeve has a central cylindrical opening, the shaft being inserted into the central cylindrical opening. A bearing gap is formed between the fixed shaft and the rotatable bearing sleeve, the bearing gap being filled with lubricating fluid. One end of the fixed shaft is secured to the base frame while another end of the shaft is secured to the housing cover.

Abstract: A spindle motor for hard disk drives having a hydrodynamic bearing arrangement. The arrangement has a shaft and a bearing sleeve including an upper sleeve part, a lower sleeve part and a spacer. The upper and lower sleeve parts are axially separated by the spacer. The shaft is positioned within the upper and lower parts. An annular cavity is formed by the upper sleeve part, lower sleeve part and the spacer where a thrust plate, attached to a central position along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, is located.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spindle motor and a method of manufacturing a spindle motor wherein a bearing unit is manufactured as a discrete modular component. A spindle motor that meets a set of specific technical requirements can be easily manufactured by combining such a bearing unit with other spindle moor components.

Abstract: A spindle motor for use in a disk drive having a base frame, a housing cover, a fixed shaft and a rotatable bearing sleeve. The fixed shaft has a larger diameter section and a smaller diameter section with a step formed therebetween. The rotatable bearing sleeve has a central cylindrical opening, the shaft being inserted into the central cylindrical opening. A bearing gap is formed between the fixed shaft and the rotatable bearing sleeve, the bearing gap being filled with lubricating fluid. One end of the fixed shaft is secured to the base frame while another end of the shaft is secured to the housing cover.

Abstract: A spindle motor for hard disk drives having a hydrodynamic bearing arrangement The arrangement has a shaft and a bearing sleeve including an upper sleeve part, a lower sleeve part and a spacer. The upper and lower sleeve parts are axially separated by the spacer. The shaft is positioned within the upper and lower sleeve parts. An annular cavity is formed by the upper sleeve part, lower sleeve part and the spacer where a thrust plate, attached to a central position along the longitudinal axis of the shaft, is located.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing system, in particular for a spindle motor, preferably for driving magnetic disks in disk drives, having at least one journal bearing formed by a shaft rotatably borne in a bearing sleeve. The hydrodynamic bearing system further includes at least one thrust bearing formed by a thrust plate, rotatably received in a recess of the sleeve and securely joined to the shaft, and a counter-bearing associated with the thrust plate that is in the form of a cover plate. The cover plate rests on and is attached to one end face of the sleeve. This reduces assembly-induced flexure in the cover plate.