Minebea Company, Limited

Mathias Wildpreth

Olaf Winterhalter

Andreas Kull

Martin Engesser

Stefan Schwamberger

Guido Schmid

Vladimir Vladimirovich Popov

Martin Bauer

Thilo Rehm

Martin Hafen

Thomas Fuss

Jürgen Oelsch

Joerg Hoffman

Jorg Hoffmann

Ralf Dittes

Helmut Hueneke

The invention relates to a spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system comprising axial and radial bearings that contains a rotor component () which encloses a stationary shaft (), which in turn is connected at both its ends to axially aligned bearing parts () that are fashioned such that they form capillary sealing gaps (), a recirculation channel () filled with bearing fluid that connects the remote regions of the bearing to each other, and an electromagnetic drive system () for driving the rotor component.

Spindle motor having a fluid dynamic bearing system and a stationary shaft

A hydrodynamic thrust bearing, particularly forming a part of a bearing system for a rotary bearing of spindle motors utilized to power hard disk drives. The thrust bearing includes at least one annular thrust plate and a counter bearing corresponding to the thrust plate. The thrust plate is fixedly mounted on a shaft rotatably supported by means of a radial bearing system. The thrust plate is arranged on the shaft which is provided with an axial bore in the area where the thrust plate is to be positioned. A spherical element fixing the thrust plate is pressed into the axial bore. An outer diameter of the fixing element is greater than the inner diameter of the axial bore. This type of press connection between the thrust plate and the shaft allows comparatively thinner thrust plates to be used while the performance of the thrust bearing remains the same or improves.

Hydrodynamic thrust bearing

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.

Hydrodynamic bearing arrangement for a spindle motor

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Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

Mathias Wildpreth