Patents by Inventor Olaf Winterhalter
Olaf Winterhalter 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).
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Patent number: 10424992Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid-dynamic bearing system, in particular for the rotary support of a spindle motor, the bearing system comprising: a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing counteracting the first conical bearing, a fixed shaft along which the two conical bearings are arranged, a sleeve, a first and a second conical bearing component, which together with the sleeve form the first and second conical bearings, bearing structures applied to the sleeve and/or the conical bearing components, a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid extending between the sleeve and the shaft and between the sleeve and the conical bearing components and sealed at each of its ends by a conical capillary seal, and a hub which rotates together with the sleeve about a rotation axis. The invention is characterized in that a pump seal is arranged between the first conical bearing and the adjacent capillary seal.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.Inventors: Michael Bruckhoff, Tobias Kirchmeier, Olaf Winterhalter, Andreas Kull, Jorg Hoffmann
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Publication number: 20160102706Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid-dynamic bearing system, in particular for the rotary support of a spindle motor, the bearing system comprising: a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing counteracting the first conical bearing, a fixed shaft along which the two conical bearings are arranged, a sleeve, a first and a second conical bearing component, which together with the sleeve form the first and second conical bearings, bearing structures applied to the sleeve and/or the conical bearing components, a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid extending between the sleeve and the shaft and between the sleeve and the conical bearing components and sealed at each of its ends by a conical capillary seal, and a hub which rotates together with the sleeve about a rotation axis. The invention is characterized in that a pump seal is arranged between the first conical bearing and the adjacent capillary seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Michael BRUCKHOFF, Tobias KIRCHMEIER, Olaf WINTERHALTER, Andreas KULL, Jorg HOFFMANN
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Patent number: 8699181Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor, preferably for driving a hard disk drive, having a stationary motor component and a rotatable motor component that is rotatably supported with respect to the stationary motor component and that is driven by an electromagnetic drive system, at least one storage disk being fixed to the rotatable motor component using some means of mounting and fastening. According to the invention, at least parts of the rotatable motor component and at least parts of the means of mounting and fastening have a wear resistant surface coating or are subjected to a wear resistant surface treatment.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joerg Hoffmann, Olaf Winterhalter, Markus Loehr
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Patent number: 8322927Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing having at least one first bearing part as well as a second bearing part that are rotatably supported with respect to one another about a rotational axis and separated from one another by a bearing gap filled with bearing fluid. Associated bearing surfaces of the bearing parts form a first and a second radial bearing that are marked by grooved bearing patterns disposed on at least one bearing surface. Between the radial bearings, there is a separator gap having an enlarged gap distance compared to the bearing gap. The ends of the grooved bearing patterns of the radial bearings adjoining the separator gap penetrate into the separator gap. This measure prevents the creation of negative pressure at the ends of the grooved bearing patterns, as a result of which the formation of air bubbles is also reduced.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Olaf Winterhalter, Andreas Kull
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Patent number: 8220998Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system having a stationary bearing component and a moving bearing component, that are separated from one another by a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid. There are two radial bearing regions separated from one another and marked by radial bearing grooves. A separator region having a larger bearing gap width is disposed between the radial bearing regions. The radial bearing grooves of the two radial bearing regions have inner ends facing each other and outer ends facing away from each other. At least the outer ends of the radial bearing grooves are connected to each other by connecting grooves. According to the invention, wear zones provided especially for this purpose are disposed adjoining the connecting grooves, so as to prevent material wear at other regions of the bearing.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventor: Olaf Winterhalter
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Publication number: 20120162820Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor, preferably for driving a hard disk drive, having a stationary motor component and a rotatable motor component that is rotatably supported with respect to the stationary motor component and that is driven by an electromagnetic drive system, at least one storage disk being fixed to the rotatable motor component using some means of mounting and fastening. According to the invention, at least parts of the rotatable motor component and at least parts of the means of mounting and fastening have a wear resistant surface coating or are subjected to a wear resistant surface treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventors: Joerg HOFFMANN, Olaf Winterhalter, Markus Loehr
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Patent number: 7982349Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system comprising axial and radial bearings that contains a rotor component (14) which encloses a stationary shaft (12), which in turn is connected at both its ends to axially aligned bearing parts (16; 18) that are fashioned such that they form capillary sealing gaps (32; 34), a recirculation channel (28) filled with bearing fluid that connects the remote regions of the bearing to each other, and an electromagnetic drive system (42, 44) for driving the rotor component.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Vladimir V. Popov, Jurgen Fleig, Martin Bauer, Guido Schmid, Olaf Winterhalter, Mathias Wildpreth, Thomas Fuss, Martin Engesser, Stefan Schwamberger
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Patent number: 7866889Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing system used particularly for a spindle motor having a shaft that is accommodated in a bearing bush and rotatably supported with respect to the bearing bush, a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid being located between the shaft and the bearing bush. At least the outside circumference of a section of the shaft extending into the bearing bush is made of a plastic material. As an alternative, a film made of a plastic material whose thickness is less than the width of the bearing gap can be disposed in the bearing gap.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventor: Olaf Winterhalter
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Publication number: 20100270881Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system having a stationary bearing component and a moving bearing component, that are separated from one another by a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid. There are two radial bearing regions separated from one another and marked by radial bearing grooves. A separator region having a larger bearing gap width is disposed between the radial bearing regions. The radial bearing grooves of the two radial bearing regions have inner ends facing each other and outer ends facing away from each other. At least the outer ends of the radial bearing grooves are connected to each other by connecting grooves. According to the invention, wear zones provided especially for this purpose are disposed adjoining the connecting grooves, so as to prevent material wear at other regions of the bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventor: Olaf WINTERHALTER
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Publication number: 20090274402Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing having at least one first bearing part as well as a second bearing part that are rotatably supported with respect to one another about a rotational axis and separated from one another by a bearing gap filled with bearing fluid. Associated bearing surfaces of the bearing parts form a first and a second radial bearing that are marked by grooved bearing patterns disposed on at least one bearing surface. Between the radial bearings, there is a separator gap having an enlarged gap distance compared to the bearing gap. According to the invention, the ends of the grooved bearing patterns of the radial bearings adjoining the separator gap penetrate into the separator gap. This measure goes to prevent the creation of negative pressure at the ends of the grooved bearing patterns, as a result of which the formation of air bubbles is also reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2009Publication date: November 5, 2009Inventors: Olaf Winterhalter, Andreas Kull
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Publication number: 20090140587Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system comprising axial and radial bearings that contains a rotor component (14) which encloses a stationary shaft (12), which in turn is connected at both its ends to axially aligned bearing parts (16; 18) that are fashioned such that they form capillary sealing gaps (32; 34), a recirculation channel (28) filled with bearing fluid that connects the remote regions of the bearing to each other, and an electromagnetic drive system (42, 44) for driving the rotor component.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: June 4, 2009Inventors: Vladimir V. Popov, Jurgen Fleig, Martin Bauer, Guido Schmid, Olaf Winterhalter, Mathias Wildpreth, Thomas Fuss
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Publication number: 20090102300Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor for a hard disk drive comprising a baseplate (1), a shaft (2) fixedly connected to the baseplate (1), a thrust plate (3) fixedly connected to the free end of the shaft, a bearing bush (4) disposed about the shaft (2) and the thrust plate (3) and rotatably supported with respect to these components, a bearing gap (5) that is provided between the adjoining surfaces of the shaft (2), the bearing bush (4) and the thrust plate (3), at least one radial bearing (6; 7) formed by the adjoining surfaces of the shaft (2) and the bearing bush (4), an axial bearing (8) formed by the adjoining surfaces of the thrust plate (3) and the bearing bush (4), an annular rotor component (9) connected to the bearing bush (4), and an electromagnetic drive system having a rotor magnet (11) fixed to a rotating component and a stator arrangement (12) disposed on the baseplate (1) opposite the rotor magnet (11).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2007Publication date: April 23, 2009Inventors: Thilo Rehm, Olaf Winterhalter, Hiroshi Yoshikawa, Toshimitsu Horiuchi
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Publication number: 20080101739Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system having at least one stationary (10) and at least one moving bearing part (22) that are rotatable about a common rotational axis (16) with respect to one another and form a bearing gap (14) filled with a bearing fluid between associated bearing surfaces, wherein a sealing gap (38) adjoins one end of the bearing gap, the sealing gap being disposed between a sleeve surface (40) of the stationary bearing part (10) and an opposing sleeve surface (42) of the moving bearing part (22) and comprising a radial section and an axial section and being at least partially filled with bearing fluid, wherein in the region of the axial section of the sealing gap (38), the sleeve surface (40) of the stationary bearing part (10) forms an acute angle a with the rotational axis (16) and the sleeve surface (42) of the moving bearing part (12, 22) forms an acute angle ? with the rotational axis (16), wherein for the angles the condition ???>0° applies, and the difference B2Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Inventors: Matthias Wildpreth, Andreas Kull, Martin Hafen, Olaf Winterhalter, Thilo Rehm
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Patent number: 7344002Abstract: A method for filling the bearing gap of a hydrodynamic bearing with a lubricant, where drops of lubricant are produced in a defined manner and are applied to a defined region of the bearing to be filled.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Rudolf Neumann, Olaf Winterhalter, Carsten Etling, Guido Schmid, Holger Schoenfelder
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Patent number: 7345392Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Martin Hafen, Joerg Hoffmann, Andreas Kull, Tobias Kirchmeier, Rudolf Neumann, Thilo Rehm, Olaf Winterhalter
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Patent number: 7309937Abstract: The spindle motor described herein comprises a rotor having a rotor hub and a shaft connected to the rotor hub, a cylindrical bearing sleeve having a central bore to accommodate the shaft and a collar disposed at the receiving aperture, a cup-shaped bearing housing closed at one end to accommodate the bearing sleeve, a baseplate to hold the bearing receiving portion, a stopper ring disposed at the inside circumference of the rotor hub between the collar and the baseplate, and at least one radial bearing region formed between the outside diameter of the shaft and the inside diameter of the bore and defined by surface patterns. According to the invention, an annular axial bearing region is provided formed between a lower face of the collar and an upper face of the stopper ring. This design and construction makes it possible to realize spindle motors having small dimensions and, in particular, low overall heights.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2006Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Joerg Hoffmann, Olaf Winterhalter
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Publication number: 20070223848Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system particularly for a spindle motor having a rotating component comprising a shaft and a hub connected to the shaft, and a stationary component comprising a bearing bush made of a porous material, the shaft being accommodated in the bearing bush and rotatably supported with respect to the bearing bush, and there being a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid between the shaft and the bearing bush. According to the invention, the bearing bush is at least partly enclosed by a sleeve, a surface of the sleeve together with an adjoining surface of the rotating component forming a conical seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2007Publication date: September 27, 2007Inventor: Olaf Winterhalter
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Publication number: 20070183695Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid dynamic bearing system used particularly for a spindle motor, having a shaft, that is accommodated in a bearing bush and rotatably supported with respect to this bush, the bearing bush being tightly sealed at one end by a cover. According to the invention, the cover is made at least partly of plastics.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2007Publication date: August 9, 2007Inventor: Olaf Winterhalter
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Patent number: RE45387Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system comprising axial and radial bearings that contains a rotor component (14) which encloses a stationary shaft (12), which in turn is connected at both its ends to axially aligned bearing parts (16; 18) that are fashioned such that they form capillary sealing gaps (32; 34), a recirculation channel (28) filled with bearing fluid that connects the remote regions of the bearing to each other, and an electromagnetic drive system (42, 44) for driving the rotor component.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.Inventors: Vladimir V. Popov, Jürgen Fleig, Martin Bauer, Guido Schmid, Olaf Winterhalter, Matthias Wildpreth, Thomas Fuss, Martin Engesser, Stefan Schwamberger
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Patent number: RE46300Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system comprising axial and radial bearings that contains a rotor component (14) which encloses a stationary shaft (12), which in turn is connected at both its ends to axially aligned bearing parts (16; 18) that are fashioned such that they form capillary sealing gaps (32; 34), a recirculation channel (28) filled with bearing fluid that connects the remote regions of the bearing to each other, and an electromagnetic drive system (42, 44) for driving the rotor component.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2013Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: MINEBEA CO., LTD.Inventors: Vladimir V. Popov, Jürgen Fleig, Martin Bauer, Guido Schmid, Olaf Winterhalter, Matthias Wildpreth, Thomas Fuss, Martin Engesser, Stefan Schwamberger