The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1997
Hans Leuthold, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Coda H Pan, Millbury, MA (US);
David John Jennings, Santa Cruz, CA (US);
Lakshman Nagarathnam, Capitola, CA (US);
Raquib U Khan, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Wesley Ronald Clark, Watsonville, CA (US);
Gunter Heine, Aptos, CA (US);
Seagate Technology, Inc., Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
A hydrodynamic bearing design is disclosed incorporating a flexible membrane at one end of the fluid gap in the hydrodynamic bearing. If voids exist in the fluid, and if changes in the size of these voids or bubbles occur with changes in temperature or pressure in which the disc drive is being used, then the volume of the fluid will change, and increase relative to the change in size of the volume of the surrounding physical part. The flexible membrane will yield to the increased pressure of the increasing volume of the fluid. The membrane essentially acts as a spring whose spring force is overcome by the pressure created by or accompanying a increase in volume in which the lubricating fluid is contained, and preventing its escape or being forced out of the inner region of the bearing.