Seagate Technology Incorporated

Other

Lumenetix, Inc.

Robert Alan Nottingham

Troy Michael Herndon

Norbert Steven Parsoneault

Jeffry Arnold LeBlanc

Alan Lyndon Grantz

Jeffry A LeBlanc

Paco Gregor Flores

Alexander Gredinberg

Lynn B Le

James Scott Bowdoin

Robert Michael Pelstring

Donald J MacLeod

Christopher Michael Woldemar

Jerry Joseph Weingord

Thaveesinn Vasavakul

Peter G Robinson

Jeffrey Arnold LeBlanc

Hans L Leuthold

Anthony Joseph Aiello

Klaus Dieter Kloeppel

Long Van Nguyen

Mohamed Mizanur Rahman

Alan Lydon Grantz

Roger Allen Addy

Michael David Kennedy

Michael Ray Tiller

Dustin Cochran

James Ian Lee

James Sidney Lee

Alexander Parkhomovsky

Saul Ceballos

Gregor Flores

Norbert Steve Parsoneault

Alireza Rahimi

Jeffry A Le Blanc

In certain embodiments, a motor includes a shaft positioned adjacent a sleeve for relative rotation. The sleeve includes a first radial recirculation channel. The shaft and sleeve form first and second gaps. The first gap is configured to form a pump seal, is positioned above the first radial recirculation channel, and has a width measured between the shaft and sleeve. The second gap is configured to form a journal bearing, is positioned below the first radial recirculation channel, and has a width measured between the shaft and sleeve. The width of the first gap is greater than the width of the second gap.

Fluid dynamic bearing motors with different width pump seals and journal bearings

An apparatus includes a stationary sleeve and a shaft operable to rotate with respect to the stationary sleeve. A hub rotates with respect to the stationary sleeve in response to the shaft rotating. A mechanically adjustable gap forming component is attached to the stationary sleeve and radially extends between the hub and a base. The mechanically adjustable gap forming component forms a radially extending gap above the mechanically adjustable gap forming component. The mechanically adjustable gap forming component is mechanically adjustable in an axial direction with respect to the stationary sleeve. The hub dynamically adjusts the radially extending gap above the mechanically adjustable gap forming component during rotation of the hub.

Adjustable gap for a fluid dynamic bearing

A fluid bearing motor. The fluid bearing motor includes a stationary sleeve, a backiron, a hub coupled to the backiron, and a gap forming component. The hub is operable to rotate with respect to the stationary sleeve. The gap forming component is attached to the stationary sleeve and forms a gap between the stationary sleeve and the backiron. The size of the gap dynamically changes in response to changes in temperature.

A lighting system comprising multiple linear lighting module building blocks is described. A lighting module is designed to emit light in a linear configuration, and multiple lighting modules are concatenated to emit light in a single linear configuration. A mechanical coupling system allows the lighting modules to be inserted into the linear configuration from a direction perpendicular to the linear configuration. The housing of the lighting modules is designed to allow the module to be clipped together in the linear configuration.

Mechanical attachment system for linear light modules

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

A fluid dynamic bearing motor is provided having relatively rotatable facing surfaces that are reliably lubricated. A radial gap is defined between the relatively rotatable facing surfaces, wherein a first axial end of a fluid dynamic bearing has a larger radial gap as compared to a central region of the fluid dynamic bearing. In an aspect, a fluid recirculation passageway is established between the first axial end and the central region of the fluid dynamic bearing. In an aspect, a fluid reservoir is formed axially above the first axial end of the fluid dynamic bearing. Robustness of the FDB motor is increased, and sensitivity to external loads or mechanical shock events is reduced. Dry surface-to-surface contact of bearing surfaces and reduced performance or failure of the motor or disc drive components is averted. The use of diamond-like coating on relatively rotatable fluid bearing surfaces may also be reduced or eliminated.

Fluid dynamic bearing and pumping seal

A rotating hub and fixed spindle assembly with first and second fluid dynamic journal bearings and first and second fluid dynamic thrust bearings for a disc drive memory system has a pump seal and a radial ring seal at a first axial terminus for lubricant containment, and a capillary seal and a labyrinth seal at a second axial terminus for lubricant containment and storage. Lubricant fluid pressure differences between first and second seals are minimized through one or more lubricant fluid communicating channels in the hub assembly, in order to minimize lubricant fluid loss through a seal. Lubricant fluid can also be purged of any air bubbles by lubricant fluid circulation through the channel.

Hub and spindle assembly

According to various embodiments of the invention, a motor with a rotatable hub having fluid dynamic journal and thrust bearings can be assembled from four major components: a spindle, a hub, a thrust washer, and a base. The spindle can integrate journal bearing, axial limiter, and ring seal functions. The hub can integrate journal bearing, thrust bearing, ring seal, axial limiter, capillary seal, and bumper functions. The thrust washer can integrate thrust bearing and lubricant circulation functions. The base can integrate capillary seal and lubricant storage and circulation functions. Each function can be integrated as structural feature in its corresponding component. The spindle, hub, and thrust bearing can be preassembled. The base can be loaded with lubricant prior to assembly with the spindle/hub/thrust bearing combination.

Spindle regions

In one example, a fluid dynamic bearing 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.

Shielding fluid reservoirs of fluid dynamic bearing motors

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

Multifunctional components enable the construction of economical motor assemblies. A first embodiment of the present invention provides a hub, cup, spindle, and base assembly for a motor assembly having at least one journal bearing, at least one thrust bearing, and at least one fluid seal. A second embodiment of the present invention provides a hub, spindle, and base with integrated cup assembly for a disc drive bearing having at least one journal bearing, at least one thrust bearing, and at least one fluid seal. In a third embodiment, a hub is rotatably assembled with a spindle coupled to a thrust bearing, prior to assembly with a base. In further embodiments, motor assemblies comprise the above embodiments combined with stator and rotor assemblies.

Motor assembly with multifunctional components

A fluid dynamic bearing having a hub, a sleeve, and a sealing arrangement comprising a first capillary seal substantially retaining a first fluid and a second capillary seal comprising a second fluid. The second capillary seal is located between the first capillary seal and an opening between the hub and the sleeve.

Dual seal for optimized performance

Growing community of inventors

Santa Cruz, CA, United States of America

Robert Alan Nottingham