Seagate Technology Incorporated

Lynn B Le

Troy Michael Herndon

Norbert Steven Parsoneault

Robert Alan Nottingham

Alan Lydon Grantz

Jeffry A LeBlanc

Hans L Leuthold

Klaus Dieter Kloeppel

Alan Lyndon Grantz

Paco Gregor Flores

Jeffry Arnold LeBlanc

Chris Michael Woldemar

Matthew M McConnell

A system and method are provided for sealing a fluid dynamic bearing motor. A first and a second folded fluid channel are shaped for maximizing bearing axial span and establishing angular stiffness, to resist gyroscopic rocking of the facing bearing surfaces. The first folded fluid channel is limited to occupying at least a portion of the same axial space as the bearing. A first and a second fluid sealing system are connected to opposite axial ends of the bearing. The first fluid sealing system forms an active pumping seal to pump fluid during motor rotation. In an aspect, a top cover attached shaft, and a single thrust surface are employed, allowing for a rigid motor structure and power reduction in applications including high rotational speed disc drives. Also, by employing a rigid shaft design, significantly lower amplitude radial vibration responses are exhibited at higher frequencies than prior art motor designs.

Folded fluid channel for a fluid dynamic bearing

An apparatus includes a stationary shaft and a sleeve rotatable with respect to the shaft. A fluid dynamic bearing is defined by the stationary shaft and the sleeve. A fluid channel includes a first axially extending portion in the fluid dynamic bearing, and a radially extending portion extending radially outward from the first axially extending portion. In addition the fluid channel includes a second axially extending portion extending axially downward from the radially extending portion. The apparatus further includes a pump seal including grooves formed in the second axially extending portion.

Folded fluid channel for a fluid dynamic bearing motor

Provided herein is an apparatus, having a cylindrical structure extending from a base; a stator assembly having a stator ring and a plurality of stator teeth extending from an outer diameter of the stator ring; and a stator assembly support having a supporting means for supporting at least one of the stator ring or the plurality of stator teeth, wherein the stator assembly support is configured to dampen mechanical vibrations in the base.

Stator assembly support

A motor includes a rotatable component rotatable relative to a stationary component, a fluid operable to flow between the rotatable and stationary component, and a capillary sealing component. The capillary sealing component provides a capillary seal and includes at least one tapered slot configured to pump the fluid between the rotatable and stationary components.

Fluid pumping capillary seal for a fluid dynamic bearing

A component for restricting relative movement of a rotor and a shaft is disclosed. A motor may include a shaft and a rotor, where the rotor is disposed for relative rotation with respect to said shaft. A component is operable to restrict relative movement of the rotor and the shaft, where the component includes a first surface operable to receive a fluid.

Lubricated limiter for fluid dynamic bearing motor

In one example, a FDB motor having a top-cover attached, EM biased bearing system is provided. The motor includes a shaft and rotor disposed for relative rotation, and an axial limiter for restricting axial movement of the rotor with respect to the shaft, wherein the axial limiter is wet or lubricated during contact. The limiter is spatially fixed with respect to one of the shaft or the rotor and disposed with an axial end surface opposing a surface portion spatially fixed with respect to the other of the shaft or the rotor to form a gap therebetween. The gap may be filled with a fluid such as bearing lubricant, thereby providing a lubricated or wet contact surface to restrict axial movement of the shaft and rotor. Additionally, one or both surfaces may include a groove or slot to provide circulation of fluid through the gap.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Lynn B Le