Patents by Inventor Coda H. Pan

Coda H. Pan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Fluid retention principle for hydrodynamic bearings
    Patent number: 5993066
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing design is disclosed incorporating 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 in which the lubricating fluid is contained, and preventing its escape or being forced out of the inner region of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Leuthold, Coda H. Pan, David John Jennings, Lakshman Nagarathnam, Raquib U. Khan, Wesley Ronald Clark, Gunter Heine
  • Fluid retention principles for hydrodynamic bearings
    Patent number: 5524986
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hans Leuthold, Coda H. Pan, David J. Jennings, Lakshman Nagarathnam, Raquib U. Khan, Wesley R. Clark, Gunter Heine