Abstract: Improved shield designs for ball bearing based spindle motors that exhibit improved containment of grease and the base oil within the bearings at accelerated conditions of temperature and speed is disclosed. Improved shield designs are provided at the shield OD contact area, the use of an impervious shield material, the use of barrier films, shield/bearing designs that use tortuous paths and labyrinth schemes for reducing the oil and grease loss from the shield ID gap of DASD spindle ball bearings, and improved stainless steel shield designs.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a spindle motor having a shaft defining an axial bore that extends completely through the length of the shaft. At least a portion of the axial bore defines a fluid reservoir. A radial passageway extends radially from the fluid reservoir to an exterior surface of the shaft. The spindle motor also includes a pin that seals one end of the axial bore, and a plug that seals an opposite end of the axial bore. The motor further includes a rotor member that is rotatably mounted on the shaft. A bearing fluid forms a hydrodynamic bearing between the exterior surface of the shaft and the rotor member. The bearing fluid at least partially fills the fluid reservoir and the radial passageway.

Abstract: Shield designs for ball bearing based spindle motors that exhibit containment of grease and the base oil within the bearings at accelerated conditions of temperature and speed are provided at the shield OD contact area, the use of an impervious shield material, the use of barrier films, shield/bearing designs that use tortuous paths and labyrinth schemes for reducing the oil and grease loss from the shield ID gap of DASD spindle ball bearings, and stainless steel shield designs.

Abstract: An improved labyrinth seal for minimizing flow gradients leading to aerosoling of contaminants external to the labyrinth seal. The labyrinth seal that uses a pattern of gradient elements formed on a labyrinth plate to direct flow away from the labyrinth seal itself. The gradient elements may be grooves for directing flow gradients away from the labyrinth seal. The grooves may be coined into surface and may have a curvature for drawing the flow gradient away from the labyrinth seal. The gradient elements may alternatively include an outgrowth for directing flow gradients away from the labyrinth seal. The gradient elements may be formed on the surface for directing flow gradients from the outer diameter to the inner diameter or for directing flow gradients from the inner diameter to the outer diameter. The gradient elements control the magnitude of the flow away from the labyrinth seal.