Seagate Technology Incorporated

James Sidney Lee

Norbert Steven Parsoneault

Jerry Joseph Weingord

James Scott Bowdoin

Troy Michael Herndon

Alan Lyndon Grantz

Robert Alan Nottingham

Jeffry Arnold LeBlanc

Chris Michael Woldemar

Donald James Macleod

Christopher Michael Woldemar

Thaveesinn Vasavakul

Sanjay Champaklal Sheth

In one example, an FDB motor having a shield member is provided. In one example, the method includes disposing a first member and a second member for relative rotation about an axis of rotation. An annular shield member is attached to the first member, the shield member disposed adjacent a fluid reservoir for containing a bearing fluid. The reservoir is filled through an aperture (e.g., a fill hole) in the shield member. Thereafter, the aperture is at least partially sealed. The aperture may be hermetically sealed via one or more laser pulses. In other examples, a two piece shield is provided for shielding a reservoir without a fill hole.

Shield restricting axial movement

The present invention provides methods for laser sealing of disk drive housings. In addition, laser sealed housings are provided. Laser sealing of hard drives, allows for the disk drive assembly to be maintained in an inert gas environment.

Method and apparatus for a laser-welded disk drive housing

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.

Capillary seal with fill pool

A through hub fill hole and air vent having an enlarged fluid diffusion path is provided for spindle motors. Oil leakage and evaporation from a motor is reduced. In an aspect, oil is retained under conditions of at least a 1000 G shock event. In an aspect, the hub fill hole has a varying diameter and geometry, and is angled, further reducing oil leakage. In an aspect, an additional cavity is employed within the hub, for maintaining rotor rotational balance. The process of filling oil into a spindle motor is made easier from a motor set up and tooling perspective. Removal of the hub and other motor components is not necessary for filling a motor. Large diameter oil fill dispenser heads, subambient and ambient fill processes, and micro dispenser fill processes may be utilized. A measured and controlled amount of oil can be dispensed, reducing variability in the motor filling process.

Through hub oil fill and vent for a fluid dynamic bearing motor

A method and apparatus for filling a motor having a fluid dynamic bearing is provided. In one embodiment, a method for filling a motor having a fluid dynamic bearing having at least two passages coupling the bearing to the surrounding environment includes the steps of moving a fluid injection tool into contact with the fluid bearing motor, sealing the fluid injection tool to the fluid bearing motor, and injecting fluid from the fluid injection tool into a first passage coupled to the fluid dynamic bearing. In one embodiment, an apparatus for filling a motor having a fluid dynamic bearing having at least two passages coupling the bearing to the surrounding environment includes a body coupled to an actuator and fluid transfer mechanism. The actuator is adapted to move the body and fluid transfer mechanism is adapted to dispense fluid through a fluid port formed in the body. A seal is coupled to the body and adapted to seal the fluid port to a fluid bearing injection motor during filling.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

James Sidney Lee