Seagate Technology Incorporated

David Wuester

Roger Allen Addy

Thaveesinn Vasavakul

Kok Chai Low

Kirby V Pool

A single step shaft assembly and oil fill process begins with the sleeve and thrust plate being assembled, leaving open the entire shaft cavity. The assembly is then placed in an evacuation chamber, and air is evacuated. A measured amount of oil or hydrofluid is then placed in the shaft cavity. The shaft is then inserted in the shaft cavity and pressed or otherwise inserted into an opening in the thrust plate. When this is done, the oil will disperse throughout the bearing fluid gap and cavity. When properly measured, no oil will exit the cavity.

Vacuum fill/assembly method for fluid dynamic bearing motor

Air which would otherwise be entrapped in an O-ring seal groove in a hydrodynamic bearing arrangement is removable from the seal groove by providing at least one passage between the seal groove and an adjacent thrust plate recess. The air is removed from the seal groove though the passages by drawing a vacuum at a lower end of the bearing arrangement. Preferably, the passages are formed, at least in part, by grooves defined in the upper surface of a land formed between the seal groove and the thrust plate recess.

Hydrodynamic bearing arrangement having a structure permitting the removal of entrapped air

Air which would otherwise be entrapped in an O-ring seal groove in a hydrodynamic bearing arrangement is removable from the seal groove by providing at least one passage between the seal groove and an adjacent thrust plate recess. The air is removed from the seal groove though the passages by drawing a vacuum at a lower end of the bearing arrangement. Preferably, the passages are formed, at least in part, by grooves defined in the upper surface of a land formed between the seal groove and the thrust plate recess. A method of forming the grooves is also disclosed.

Hydrodynamic bearing arrangement having a structure permitting the

An apparatus for filling a hydrodynamics bearing with fluid. The apparatus includes a fill tube having first and second openings and a fluid reservoir having a reservoir opening. The first opening of the fill tube is aligned relative to a bearing channel opening for filling bearing channels. The second opening of the fill tube is selectively aligned relative to the fluid reservoir for filling bearing channels with fluid from the fluid reservoir via relative movement of the fill tube and fluid reservoir between a retracted position and a filling position. In the retracted position, the second opening of the fill tube is spaced from the reservoir and in the filling position, the second opening of the fill tube is immersed in the fluid reservoir to fill the bearing channels with fluid from the fluid reservoir.

Method for filling a hydrodynamic bearing

An apparatus for filling a hydrodynamic bearing with fluid. The apparatus includes a fill tube having first and second openings and a fluid reservoir having a reservoir opening. The first opening of the fill tube is aligned relative to a bearing channel opening for filling bearing channels. The second opening of the fill tube is selectively aligned relative to the fluid reservoir for filling bearing channels with fluid from the fluid reservoir via relative movement of the fill tube and fluid reservoir between a retracted position and a filling position. In the retracted position, the second opening of the fill tube is spaced from the reservoir and in the filling position, the second opening of the fill tube is immersed in the fluid reservoir to fill the bearing channels with fluid from the fluid reservoir.

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Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

David Wuester