Abstract: An electrostatic discharge apparatus for use with a hub and spindle assembly for a disc drive storage system comprising a spindle; a hub rotatably mounted on the spindle; a capsule formed at least in part from an electrically conductive material that can be placed in electrical communication with the hub and defining a chamber configured to hold an electrically conductive fluid and defining at least one capillary channel in fluid communication with an opening formed in the capsule, the opening configured to permit rotation about the spindle, and to permit a meniscus formed by the conductive fluid proximate to the opening to electrically contact the spindle during rotation of the hub about the spindle.

Abstract: A lubricating fluid contains a synthetic ester base fluid having a viscosity index of at least 110, from 0.01% to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the lubricating fluid, of at least one tri-C6-C14-aryl phosphate, and from 0.01% by weight to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the synthetic ester base fluid, of at least one carbodiimide.

Abstract: A lubricating fluid contains a synthetic ester base fluid having a viscosity index of at least 110, from 0.01% to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the lubricating fluid, of at least one tri-C6-C14-aryl phosphate, and from 0.01% by weight to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the synthetic ester base fluid, of at least one carbodiimide.

Abstract: Disc drive spindle motor having hydro bearing including a central axis; a stationary member which is fixed with respect to a housing and coaxial with the central axis; a stator is fixed with respect to the housing; a rotatable member which is rotatable about the central axis with respect to the stationary member; a rotor supported by the rotatable member and magnetically coupled to the stator; a hydro bearing interconnecting the stationary member and the rotatable member and having working surfaces separated by a lubricating fluid. The lubricating fluid contains a synthetic ester base fluid having a viscosity index of at least 110, from 0.01% to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the lubricating fluid, of at least one tri-C6-C14-aryl phosphate, and from 0.01% by weight to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the synthetic ester base fluid, of at least one carbodiimide.

Abstract: Disc drive spindle motor having hydro bearing including a stationary member; a rotatable member which is rotatable with respect to the stationary member; and a hydro bearing interconnecting the stationary member and the rotatable member and having working surfaces separated by a lubricating fluid, wherein the lubricating fluid includes at least one synthetic ester base fluid having a viscosity index of at least 110; from 10 to 5000 ppm of at least one conductivity inducing agent; from 0.01% to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the lubricating fluid, of at least one antioxidant; and from 0.01% to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the lubricating fluid, of at least one antiwear additive.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge apparatus for use with a hub and spindle assembly for a disc drive storage system comprising a spindle; a hub rotatably mounted on the spindle; a capsule formed at least in part from an electrically conductive material that can be placed in electrical communication with the hub and defining a chamber configured to hold an electrically conductive fluid and defining at least one capillary channel in fluid communication with an opening formed in the capsule, the opening configured to permit rotation about the spindle, and to permit a meniscus formed by the conductive fluid proximate to the opening to electrically contact the spindle during rotation of the hub about the spindle.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge apparatus for use with a hub and spindle assembly for a disc drive storage system comprising a spindle; a hub rotatably mounted on the spindle; a capsule formed at least in part from an electrically conductive material that can be placed in electrical communication with the hub and defining a chamber configured to hold an electrically conductive fluid and defining at least one capillary channel in fluid communication with an opening formed in the capsule, the opening configured to permit rotation about the spindle, and to permit a meniscus formed by the conductive fluid proximate to the opening to electrically contact the spindle during rotation of the hub about the spindle.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a spindle motor of a magnetic recording storage device, the spindle motor comprising a fluid dynamic bearing comprising a lubricant comprising at least one of an organic and inorganic nanomaterial.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a spindle motor of a magnetic recording storage device, the spindle motor comprising a fluid dynamic bearing comprising a lubricant comprising di-2-ethyl hexyl pimelate, di-2-ethyl hexyl suberate, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system and means is provided for preserving bearing surfaces and maintaining bearing life, for use with spindle motors. In an aspect, adhesive and abrasive wear is minimized, corrosion is reduced, and bearing dynamic performance and fluid purity is maintained. In an aspect, a silicon containing copper alloy is utilized for one bearing surface and a stainless steel is utilized for an adjacent surface. The present invention also satisfies considerations including hardness, thermal expansion, thermal conductivity and use with grooved surfaces.

Abstract: A disc drive storage system including a housing having a central axis, a stationary member that is fixed with respect to the housing and coaxial with the central axis, and a rotatable member that is rotatable about the central axis with respect to the stationary member is described. A hydrodynamic bearing interconnects the stationary member and the rotatable member and includes at least one working surface comprising a low-friction wear resistant coating.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for achieving good dynamic performance and negligible wear to spindle motor components. In an aspect, a disc drive storage system is provided having a hydro bearing surface coating for meeting bearing gap tolerance design specifications. In an aspect, the surface coating is a non-reactive coating of diamond like carbon (DLC), applied with physical vapor deposition (PVD). In an aspect, the surface coating nullifies any taper of an opposing surface coating. In an aspect, the hydro bearing, with an applied coating, defines a uniform gap between 0.5 microns and 6 microns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for allowing a molecularly thin film to be established on a surface of the gas fluid dynamic bearing. The film can be controllably replenished so that the problem of liquid lubricant starvation is overcome. A suitable non-sludging lubricant of low surface tension is held in a porous reservoir within the stationary portion of the bearing. This fluid migrates out of the reservoir to coat the contiguous bearing surfaces. Alternatively, the lubricant may be held in a porous reservoir within the rotating portion of the bearing; due to centrifugal force, as the rotating portion spins, the fluid is spun out and coats the opposite non-rotating surface. The reservoir may be replaced by a singular reservoir such as a simple hole, depression, cavity or groove filled with lubricant.

Abstract: A disc drive data storage system includes a hydrodynamic bearing including a housing having a central axis, a stationary member that is fixed with respect to the housing and coaxial with the central axis, and a rotatable member that is rotatable about the central axis with respect to the stationary member. A hydrodynamic bearing interconnects the stationary member and the rotatable member. At least a portion of a surface of one or more of the hydrodynamic bearing components has a tilt-limiting layer formed thereon to restrict the tilting distance between the working surfaces in the disc drive data storage system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for allowing a molecularly thin film to be established on a surface of the gas fluid dynamic bearing. The film can be controllably replenished so that the problem of liquid lubricant starvation is overcome. A suitable non-sludging lubricant of low surface tension is held in a porous reservoir within the stationary portion of the bearing. This fluid migrates out of the reservoir to coat the contiguous bearing surfaces. Alternatively, the lubricant may be held in a porous reservoir within the rotating portion of the bearing; due to centrifugal force, as the rotating portion spins, the fluid is spun out and coats the opposite non-rotating surface. The reservoir may be replaced by a singular reservoir such as a simple hole, depression, cavity or groove filled with lubricant.

Abstract: A system and means is provided for preserving bearing surfaces and maintaining bearing life, for use with spindle motors. In an aspect, adhesive and abrasive wear is minimized, corrosion is reduced, and bearing dynamic performance and fluid purity is maintained. In an aspect, a silicon containing copper alloy is utilized for one bearing surface and a stainless steel is utilized for an adjacent surface. The present invention also satisfies considerations including hardness, thermal expansion, thermal conductivity and use with grooved surfaces.

Abstract: A very thin lubricant coating is applied to one or both of the facing surfaces defining the gap of a hydrodynamic bearing to prevent wear of these surfaces. The lubricant film is necessarily very thin, in the range of about 10 Å to 1000 Å, so that the film is thin enough that it does not materially affect the performance of the hydrodynamic bearing gap which is about typically 1-10 &mgr;m. The thin lubricant film could be a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) or a mixture of PFPE or a phosphazine derivative. To improve the adhesion and lubricating performance, functional PFPE can be used. For pure metallic surface like steel, phosphate esters can also be used because of its affinity with the metallic surface, e.g., ferrous. For example, the film could be PFPE, or a mixture of PFPE and a phosphazine derivative. The lubricant should be chosen to be thermally stable, and non-reactive with the typical ambient environment.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for achieving good dynamic performance and negligible wear to spindle motor components. In an aspect, a disc drive storage system is provided having a hydro bearing surface coating for meeting bearing gap tolerance design specifications. In an aspect, the surface coating is a non-reactive coating of diamond like carbon (DLC), applied with physical vapor deposition (PVD). In an aspect, the surface coating nullifies any taper of an opposing surface coating. In an aspect, the hydro bearing, with an applied coating, defines a uniform gap between 0.5 microns and 6 microns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for allowing a molecularly thin film to be established on a surface of the gas fluid dynamic bearing. The film can be controllably replenished so that the problem of liquid lubricant starvation is overcome. A suitable non-sludging lubricant of low surface tension is held in a porous reservoir within the stationary portion of the bearing. This fluid migrates out of the reservoir to coat the contiguous bearing surfaces. Alternatively, the lubricant may be held in a porous reservoir within the rotating portion of the bearing; due to centrifugal force, as the rotating portion spins, the fluid is spun out and coats the opposite non-rotating surface. The reservoir may be replaced by a singular reservoir such as a simple hole, depression, cavity or groove filled with lubricant.

Abstract: A disc drive data storage system includes a hydrodynamic bearing comprising a housing having a central axis, a stationary member that is fixed with respect to the housing and coaxial with the central axis, and a rotatable member that is rotatable about the central axis with respect to the stationary member. A hydrodynamic bearing interconnects the stationary member and the rotatable member. At least a portion of a surface of one or more of the hydrodynamic bearing components has a tilt-limiting layer formed thereon to restrict the tilting distance between the working surfaces in the disc drive data storage system.