Abstract: A bushing structure for a motor has a shaft tube, a fastener and a bushing disposed on a hub. A bushing is disposed a bearing therein so that the shaft of the rotor penetrates through the bearing and rotates therein. The bushing has an engaging part over the bottom thereof and the engaging part integrally extends from the inner wall of the bushing and forms a plurality of projected and elastic plates capable of being inserted in the scoop channel over the end of the shaft to replace a snap ring such that the shaft and the rotor can be integrally disposed and positioned to prevent from falling off. As such, it is free of the concern if the snap ring will fall off or the issue posed on the assembling direction while assembling the bushing and the fastener.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing assembly (10) includes a bearing sleeve (11) defining a receiving chamber (113) therein, a bearing (12) received in the receiving chamber of the bearing sleeve, a sealing cover (15) mounted to an open end (112) of the bearing sleeve and including an enlarged section (153) adjacent to the bearing, a shaft (13) extending through the sealing cover and rotatably disposed in the bearing, on which a plurality lubricant pressure generating grooves are defined, and a lubricant retaining space (117) defined by the enlarged section of the sealing cover, an end of the bearing and the shaft for receiving lubricant therein. One of the sealing cover and the shaft defines a groove (134) therein, while the other one of the sealing cover and the shaft extends a flange (156) into the groove.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing includes a shaft, a stationary portion supporting the shaft in a rotatable manner, a lubricating oil arranged in a radial gap defined between an outer circumferential surface of the shaft and a surface of the stationary portion, opposing each other. The fluid dynamic bearing includes a first seal portion arranged radially outside of the radial gap, and a second seal portion arranged at an axially upper end of the radial gap. The axial length of the first seal portion is greater than that of the second seal portion.

Abstract: For a motor having fluid dynamic bearing(s) defined by surfaces of relatively rotatable motor members, aspects include providing a capillary reservoir between relatively irrotatable surfaces. The capillary reservoir may comprise a tapering gap that is vented to a gaseous environment through one end of the gap and is in fluidic communication with the fluid dynamic bearing(s) through another end of the gap. The gap may be axial, and the capillary reservoir may be disposed coaxially with one or more of the fluid dynamic bearing(s) about an axis of rotation. The capillary reservoir may extend from proximate a top portion of the motor to proximate a bottom portion of the motor.

Abstract: An inner space of a housing sealed with a seal member as well as internal pores of a bearing member (pores in a porous structure) are filled with a lubricating oil without the presence of air, so that the oil surface of the lubricating oil is within a seal space. Under a reduced pressure of 100 Torr, no lubricating oil leaks outside of the housing even at any attitude of the fluid lubricated bearing device such as normal, inverted, or horizontal attitude.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing arrangement, particularly for a spindle motor to drive the platters of a hard disk drive, the bearing arrangement having a shaft and a bearing bush, which, supported by a lubricant circulating between their bearing surfaces, are rotatable with respect to each other, a covering cap being provided that covers an end face and regions of the outside diameter of the bearing bush adjoining this end face. A free space is provided between the bearing bush and the covering cap, the free space being connected to the bearing gap and at least partially filled with lubricant. According to the invention, a channel running substantially in the longitudinal direction of the bearing bush is provided on the outside diameter of the bearing bush, one end of the channel leading into the free space and allowing the filling level of the lubricant in the free space to be measured.

Abstract: For motors using liquid lubricated bearing surfaces, shock resistant capillary seals and lubricating liquid reservoirs are provided. The seals and reservoirs are formed by the radially opposing disposition of an inner surface of an outer member and an outer surface of an inner member. The seals and reservoirs are each oriented with one portion in fluidic communication with a bearing surface and another portion in fluidic communication with an opening in fluidic communication with an open air region of the motor. Grooving is included on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface in a portion of the seal or the reservoir not regularly contacting lubricating liquid. During operation, if lubricating liquid splashes onto or near the grooving the grooving may help retain lubricating liquid in the seal and/or reservoir.

Abstract: An anti leakage device of lubrication oil for a fan includes a hub seat, a sleeve and a hub. The sleeve is provided on the hub seat and has a bearing therein to form an oil storage part for receiving lubrication oil. The hub is provided on the hub seat and has an annular recess at the inside thereof for being inserted with the sleeve. Hence, leakage from the oil storage part can be avoided by way of provision of the annular recess.

Abstract: A disk drive motor having a capillary bearing seal is provided. In one embodiment, a disk drive motor includes a stationary assembly and a rotating assembly having a fluid dynamic journal bearing disposed therebetween. A capillary seal is defined proximate an upper end of the journal bearing and coupled to at least one re-circulation path. The capillary seal is configured to advantageously retain lubricating fluids within the motor when the motor is subjected to lateral shock.

Abstract: A fluid bearing module has a bearing seat, a bearing, a deflecting member, and an impediment. The bearing seat has a capacity with an opening. The bearing in the capacity has a hollow space for the axis of a rotor to go through, and a lubricant medium is filled in between. The deflecting member protruding from the side near the opening of the bearing seat bends toward the capacity and clips on the rotor axis. The impediment protrudes from the side near the opening of the bearing seat for preventing the deflecting member from bending toward the opening and departing from the rotor. Moreover, the deflecting member and the impediment form a maze to keep the lubricant medium within.

Abstract: A seal with a primary axis lying in the radial direction so that the fluid bearing is primarily extending in the axial direction between the rotating shaft and surrounding sleeve is disclosed. The capillary seal is positioned with an opening adjacent an end of the fluid bearing gap, and comprises two walls which diverge as they extend radially away from the fluid bearing so that the fluid held in the radial capillary seal is maintained adjacent an end of the gap, while the size of the reservoir defined by the diverging walls provides a large reservoir volume. The seal uses an additional capillary defined by a narrow annulus between the rotating shaft and a seal wall end. The narrow annulus establishes very high shock resistance preventing fluid loss past the outer axial wall of the radially capillary seal, and defines a small surface area from which evaporation can occur.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing unit includes a bearing housing (20) axially defining therein a bearing hole (21), a rotary shaft rotatably received in the bearing hole with a radial space formed between the rotary shaft and the bearing housing, and lubricant filled in the radial space. A ventilating path (25) is formed in a wall of the bearing housing to communicate a bottom of the bearing hole with an exterior of the bearing housing.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing system, having a bearing sleeve and a shaft inserted into an inner cylindrical bore of the bearing sleeve. A bearing gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve, the bearing gap being filled with a lubricating oil. A shield encloses the bearing sleeve. The shield is secured within a recess formed at the top surface of the bearing sleeve at a position distanced from the bearing gap. The shield is pressed against a sharp edge of the recess by a metal ring placed into the recess.

Abstract: An air bearing including a unitary, i.e., single piece, housing, which removes the need for an insert, is disclosed. The air bearing may include a shaft opening longitudinally extending through the housing for receiving the shaft; a plurality of passages that longitudinally extend into the housing for communicating a gas; a set of a plurality of nozzle seat openings, each nozzle seat opening extending from the shaft opening and intersecting one of the passages; and a nozzle positioned in each nozzle seat opening at a distance from the shaft opening for injecting the gas into the shaft opening to support the shaft. The air bearing allows for contact of the shaft to the shaft opening in the housing without damage, no leakage, and easier and more cost-effective manufacturability.

Abstract: A spindle motor (80) is composed of a sleeve (5), a shaft (1) that is rotatably sustained by the sleeve (5) in a radial direction through a dynamic pressure bearing (20) containing lubricant (12), and a hub (3) that is fixed to the shaft (1). The hub (3) has a raised section (11) in a ring shape that surrounds one end portion of the sleeve (3).

Abstract: A seal assembly and cartridge for sealing a space between a rotating member and a stationary member in which a sleeve extends around the rotating member and with the inner surface of the sleeve being spaced from the outer surface of the rotating member to form a gap. Pressurized fluid is introduced to the sleeve to establish and maintain a predetermined gap between the sleeve and the rotating member, so that the pressure of the fluid can be varied to maintain the predetermined gap despite variations of the diameter of the rotating member during its rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing system particularly for the rotary bearing of spindle motors to drive the platters in hard disk drives which comprises at least one inner bearing part and at least one outer bearing part, the bearing parts being rotatable about a rotational axis with respect to one another. The bearing system has at least one radial bearing region and/or at least one axial bearing region which are formed on surfaces of the bearing parts facing each other. A bearing gap filled with lubricant is formed between the surfaces of the bearing parts facing each other and is connected to an equalizing volume in a fluid-conducting way. According to the invention, the equalizing volume is formed from a single or multiple thread provided on the circumference of the outer bearing part. The outer bearing part is enclosed by a sleeve so that a winding channel acting as an equalizing volume is formed between the outer bearing part and the sleeve.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing including a shaft rotating within a sleeve and a thrust plate or the like supported at an end of the shaft rotating in a recess defined with the sleeve. The thrust plate faces a counterplate supported from the sleeve over the recess, and the sleeve and shaft are supported for rotation by fluid in the gap or gaps between the shaft and sleeve, thrust plate and sleeve, and thrust plate and counterplate. To prevent fluid from leaking out of the fluid dynamic bearing into the surrounding atmosphere by seeping between the counterplate and sleeve face it rests on, a seal recess is defined in the sleeve, a crush ring seal is placed in the recess. The counterplate is then pressed into the recess, crushing the crush seal ring and blocking any passage of the fluid from the gap region surrounding the thrust plate through the gap between counterplate and sleeve.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing system, having a bearing sleeve and a shaft inserted into an inner cylindrical bore of the bearing sleeve. A bearing gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve, the bearing gap being filled with a lubricating oil. A shield encloses the bearing sleeve. The shield is secured at to an end surface of the bearing sleeve at a position on the end surface that is distanced from the bearing gap. The shield does not contact the lubricating oil.

Abstract: A fluid bearing device for preventing a lubricant from scattering outside even during rotation thereof, while holding a relatively large amount of lubricant in a seal surface portion. Lubricant is filled between a sleeve and a shaft, the seal surface portion is formed in a location facing an open end of the sleeve, a sectional shape of the seal surface portion is such that a smallest clearance from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft is at a radial bearing portion side end portion of the seal surface portion, a largest clearance is at an intermediate portion between the radial bearing portion side end portion and an open end side end portion of the seal surface portion, and a clearance at the open end side end portion of the seal surface portion is smaller than the clearance at the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A suitable the inner point is set on a vapor-liquid face of lubricating fluid formed in a composite capillary seal section that utilizes capillary force and rotational centrifugal force acted on the lubricating fluid. An inner peripheral surface of a ring-shaped portion is formed such that the minimum value R1 in radial-direction distances of the inner peripheral face of the ring-shaped portion becomes greater than a radial-direction distance R2 of the inner point (R1>R2). This can observe the inner point of the lubricating fluid from the immediately-above position, whereby the filling amount of the lubricating fluid can easily and surely be measured, thereby being capable of adjusting the filling amount of the lubricating fluid to a preset amount.

Abstract: A dustproof structure for a sleeve bearing includes an axial tube, a sleeve bearing and a dustproof cushion. The axial tube accommodates the sleeve bearing which bears an axial hole through which a shaft of a motor rotor is freely extended. The dustproof cushion is attached to an end surface of the sleeve bearing to prevent from entering foreign dust. At least one oil-returning groove is formed between the sleeve bearing and the dustproof cushion to ensure cycling lubricant so that sufficient lubricity between the sleeve bearing and the shaft is ensured.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing having a shaft, a bearing sleeve that encloses the shaft with a short radial spacing forming a concentric bearing gap, and an equalizing volume that is disposed between an outer circumference of the bearing sleeve and a covering cap at least partly overlapping the bearing sleeve and firmly fixed with respect to the bearing sleeve and connected to the bearing gap via at least one connecting channel or gap, a bearing fluid filling the bearing gap and the connecting channel/gap fully and the equalizing volume at least partially and the bearing fluid forming a continuous fluid film between the bearing gap and the equalizing volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing supporting a shaft and a sleeve so as to relatively rotate with respect to a rotation axis. In accordance with one example of the present invention, there is provided a hydrodynamic bearing in which a capillary seal portion is formed continuously in a bearing portion having a lubricating oil retained in a micro gap as a working fluid. The capillary seal portion is provided with a first capillary seal portion having a first radial gap, a dimension of the first radial gap being getting at least wider in accordance with increasing a distance from the bearing portion in the rotation axis, and a second capillary seal portion adjoining the first capillary seal portion and having a second radial gap, a dimension of the second radial gap being getting at least wider in accordance with increasing a distance from the bearing portion in the rotation axis.

Abstract: Improved capillary sealing is provided for withstanding shock events, vibration and evaporation, for use with fluid dynamic bearings. In an aspect, minimal axial space is occupied by a fluid reservoir and the sealing system and method withstands at least 1000 G shock events. A fluid reservoir having a capillary surface is formed between diverging walls. A fluid fill pool, separate from the fluid reservoir and having a steeper angle than the fluid reservoir, is positioned adjacent to a fluid fill hole. The fill pool, having a greater diverging angle than the fluid reservoir provides an unstable region for fluid to remain and any fluid is pulled by capillary force gradient to the fluid reservoir.

Abstract: An inner space of a housing sealed with a seal member as well as internal pores of a bearing member (pores in a porous structure) are filled with a lubricating oil without the presence of air, so that the oil surface of the lubricating oil is within a seal space. Under a reduced pressure of 100 Torr, no lubricating oil leaks outside of the housing even at any attitude of the fluid lubricated bearing device such as normal, inverted, or horizontal attitude.

Abstract: The housing made of a resin composition is formed by injection molding with a sintered metal bearing sleeve as an insert piece. The housing includes a cylindrical body part, a sealing portion extending from the top of the body part radially inwards, and a bottom part closing the lower end of the body part. Of these, the body part and bottom part are integrally formed, to which the sealing portion is welded.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing device with reduced costs is provided. A housing with a bearing sleeve housed therein is formed by drawing. A cup shaped thrust member is positioned in a bottom part of the housing, and by bringing this thrust member into contact with a lower end surface of the bearing sleeve, the widths of thrust bearing gaps within first and second thrust bearing parts are set to prescribed values.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor is described. In one embodiment, the fluid dynamic bearing motor includes a stationary shaft having a first end coupled to a first plate and a second end coupled to a second plate. The motor also includes a hub that is configured to rotate relative to the shaft. A fluid dynamic journal bearing, disposed between the shaft and the hub, radially supports the relative rotation of the shaft. The motor further includes a first seal, which is defined in part by the first plate and is disposed radially outboard of the journal bearing, and a second seal, which is defined in part by the second plate and is disposed radially outboard of the journal bearing.

Abstract: A bearing supporting structure includes a bearing sleeve provided on a motor stator unit for supporting a bearing therein and a coil therearound. The bearing sleeve is provided on an inner wall surface near an outer end thereof with radially inward projected stoppers, and split at an inner end to provide a plurality of spaced segments having a certain elasticity, each of which is provided at a lower inner surface with a radially inward projected flange having an inclined side surface. The bearing is moved through the flanges into the bearing sleeve to stably position therein between the stoppers and the flanges, so that the bearing may be quickly and easily removed from the bearing sleeve via the elastic segments without the need of moving the coil externally mounted around the bearing sleeve.

Abstract: A dustproof structure for a sleeve bearing includes an axial tube, a sleeve bearing, a dustproof cushion and a motor rotor. The motor rotor has a shaft seat and a shaft mounted thereto. The axial tube accommodates the sleeve bearing which bears an axial hole through which the shaft of the motor rotor is freely extended. The dustproof cushion is mounted in the axial tube and attached to an end surface of the sleeve bearing to prevent from entering foreign dust. An axial thickness of the dustproof cushion is used to compensate a clearance formed between the sleeve bearing and the shaft seat, and a diameter of the dustproof cushion is smaller than an outer diameter of the shaft seat to prevent from precipitation of dust on the sleeve bearing.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor assembly is described. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a shaft, a sleeve configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and a counterplate attached to the sleeve. The counterplate includes a radial section and a axial section, which is attached to the radial section and partially defines a labyrinth to remove bearing fluid from a region between the shaft and the axial section.

Abstract: A bearing has a thrust plate integrated with its shaft and a bearing member surrounds both. A radial pressure bearing portion and separate thrust portion generate pressure on a lubricating fluid in a gap between the shaft and bearing member. One end of the gap is closed while the other is open and has a capillary seal formed with an angle that is large at a boundary but smaller at increasing distance therefrom. The fluids fills the gap so that gas-fluid interface is where the angle is small and causes the thrust plate to float. A pressure mechanism forces the fluid from the open to the closed end and the quantity of fluid is set to fill the mechanism even if the gas-fluid interface moves.

Abstract: Low-profile spindle motor whose entire shaft length is utilized to configure, along an encompassing sleeve, a radial dynamic-pressure bearing section. One end of the shaft is unitary with the rotor, and a cover member closes the other end. Between the sleeve upper-end face and the rotor undersurface a thrust bearing section is configured. Micro-gaps are formed continuing between the sleeve upper-end face and the rotor undersurface; the sleeve inner-circumferential surface and the shaft outer-circumferential surface; and the cover member inner face and the shaft end face, where an axial support section is established. Oil continuously fills the micro-gaps, configuring a full-fill hydrodynamic bearing structure. Hydrodynamic pressure-generating grooves in the radial bearing section are configured either so that no axial flow, or so that a unidirectional flow that recirculates from one to the other axial end of the radial bearing section through a communicating pathway is induced in the oil.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing is provided which has a lubricant fluid reservoir space that can easily cope with increasing and decreasing of a lubricant fluid, and that can surely prevent leakage of the lubricant fluid to the outside caused by thermal expansion due to temperature rise, from occurring, and which can be processed relatively easily.

Abstract: Spindle-motor hydrodynamic bearing configuration having conical taper seals on the thrust-bearing ends. The spindle motor shaft is supported in a bore through the rotor by neighboring radial and thrust hydrodynamic bearings constituted through radial micro-gaps cylindrically between the shaft and rotor, axial micro-gaps between thrust plates on either shaft end and recesses endwise in the rotor bore, dynamic-pressure-generating grooves in the micro-gap forming surfaces, and lubricant retained continuously in the radial and axial micro-gaps. The thrust plates are at least partially conical, tapering axially outward. A ring fitted in each rotor bore recess has a conical inner peripheral surface corresponding to the opposing conical surface of the thrust plate, forming a taper seal sloped with respect to the rotational axial center of the motor. The gap clearance dimension gradually expands heading axially outward, wherein the lubricant forms an axial-end gas-liquid interface to function as a taper seal.

Abstract: A lubricant retention design for a fluid dynamic bearing design in a spindle motor utilizes a labyrinth gap that is formed between the sleeve and the shaft of the bearing. The gap is used in conjunction with a barrier film to impede the flow of lubricant into the lateral and axial vent holes during non-operational vibration, such as shipping and handling of the end product. In another version, a plug is located in the lateral vent hole. The plug has a very small passage that permits air to pass therethrough for atmospheric pressure equalization, but prevents the escape of lubricant into the vent holes. Alternatively, the plug may be formed from a non-wettable material such as porous foam or sintered material and provided with a larger opening. Yet another solution utilizes a combination of both the labyrinth and plug designs.

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 fluid dynamic bearing assembly including a shaft and a bearing sleeve. A bearing gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve and is filled with a lubricating fluid. A reservoir containing the excess of the lubricating fluid is formed at one end of the bearing sleeve. The reservoir is not located in close proximity to the shaft. A fluid trapping recess is formed in the shaft, the fluid trap being configured to prevent migration of the lubricating fluid along the shaft into the environment.

Abstract: A compact turbo-molecular pump having a high depressurizing capability. A motor for rotating a rotor vane includes an air bearing. The air bearing has a rotary cylinder and a fixed surface surrounding the rotary cylinder. The material of the rotary cylinder has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is smaller than that of the material of the fixed surface. Thus, change in the dimensions of the rotary cylinder is smaller than that of the fixed surface even if the temperature of the air bearing rises during operation of the pump. Thus, the rotary cylinder avoids contact with the fixed surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing supporting a shaft and a sleeve so as to relatively rotate with respect to a rotation axis. In accordance with one example of the present invention, there is provided a hydrodynamic bearing in which a capillary seal portion is formed continuously in a bearing portion having a lubricating oil retained in a micro gap as a working fluid. The capillary seal portion is provided with a first capillary seal portion having a first radial gap, a dimension of the first radial gap being getting at least wider in accordance with increasing a distance from the bearing portion in the rotation axis, and a second capillary seal portion adjoining the first capillary seal portion and having a second radial gap, a dimension of the second radial gap being getting at least wider in accordance with increasing a distance from the bearing portion in the rotation axis.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing assembly including a shaft and a bearing sleeve. A bearing gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve and is filled with a lubricating fluid. A reservoir containing the excess of the lubricating fluid is formed at one end of the bearing sleeve. The reservoir is not located in close proximity to the shaft. A fluid trapping recess is formed in the shaft, the fluid trap being configured to prevent migration of the lubricating fluid along the shaft into the environment.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing assembly including a shaft and a bearing sleeve. A bearing gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing sleeve and is filled with a lubricating fluid. A capillary seal is formed at one end of the bearing sleeve, and a recess is formed in the shaft immediately above the capillary seal. The surface of the recess forms an acute angle with an axis of the shaft.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric motor having a housing. The housing includes an internal chamber in which the rotor is mounted with its shaft in at least one bearing. An aim of the invention is to provide an electric motor whose housing includes an internal chamber, at least one part of which is sealed in a particularly reliable manner against the external chamber of the housing. To achieve this, one area of the housing has a stepped bore in which a seal is located, through which the shaft of the rotor projects out of the housing. The stepped bore has a first diameter with a first dimension and a second diameter with a second dimension, the first dimension being greater than the second dimension.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing cartridge includes a shaft or sleeve adapted to be fixed in place has at least one fluid dynamic bearing supporting the shaft and one or more seals at either end of the shaft. The seal arrangements may include a pair of centrifugal capillary seals at either end of the shaft. Alternatively, a grooved pumping seal or centrifugal capillary seal at one end may be used in combination with a static capillary seal, especially where a journal bearing defined along the shaft near the capillary seal has an imbalanced groove section.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor is described. In one embodiment, the fluid dynamic bearing motor includes a stationary shaft having a first end coupled to a first plate and a second end coupled to a second plate. The motor also includes a hub that is configured to rotate relative to the shaft. A fluid dynamic journal bearing, disposed between the shaft and the hub, radially supports the relative rotation of the shaft. The motor further includes a first seal, which is defined in part by the first plate and is disposed radially outboard of the journal bearing, and a second seal, which is defined in part by the second plate and is disposed radially outboard of the journal bearing.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing motor is provided that comprises a stationary member, a rotating member that is configured to rotate about a rotational axis, a fluid dynamic bearing that is configured to support relative rotation between the stationary member and the rotating member, and a dynamic radial capillary seal defined at least in part by the rotating member.

Abstract: A lubricant retention design for a fluid dynamic bearing design in a spindle motor utilizes a labyrinth gap that is formed between the sleeve and the shaft of the bearing. The gap is used in conjunction with a barrier film to impede the flow of lubricant into the lateral and axial vent holes during non-operational vibration, such as shipping and handling of the end product. In another version, a plug is located in the lateral vent hole. The plug has a very small passage that permits air to pass therethrough for atmospheric pressure equalization, but prevents the escape of lubricant into the vent holes. Alternatively, the plug may be formed from a non-wettable material such as porous foam or sintered material and provided with a larger opening. Yet another solution utilizes a combination of both the labyrinth and plug designs.

Abstract: A bearing structure/sealing configuration with asymmetric sealing and fluid recirculation allows the shaft to exit both ends of the spindle hub is used. Asymmetric sealing is used across the bearing section, with recirculation provided to ensure that the asymmetric seal predominates. A centrifugal capillary seal may be used on one end of the motor, while a grooved pumping seal may be used on the opposite end, providing asymmetric sealing.

Abstract: A bearing containing and force applying device comprises a single piece member including an adjustable force applying spring clip having a chest portion for mounting over and against a bearing device. The chest portion has first and second edges; a first surface, and a second surface for contacting an outer or back end of the bearing member. The adjustable force applying spring clip also has bearing retaining members connected to the second surface of the chest portion for receiving and retaining the bearing member; and resilient shoulder portions connected the first and second edges and bent backwards towards the first or back surface of the chest portion.