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:
Feb. 06, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1999
Klaus Kloeppel, Watsonville, CA (US);
Anthony Aiello, Aptos, CA (US);
Peter R. Riegler, Coronado, CA (US);
Seagate Technology LLC, Scotts Valley, CA (US);
Abstract
A shaft having a thrust plate at or near one end, and a sleeve cooperating with the shaft to define one or more journal bearings and a counterplate (which may be supported by the sleeve or defined by the sleeve) defining at least one counter thrust surface in cooperation with the thrust plate. In order to maintain an enhanced fluid distribution across the journal bearing and maintain pressure distribution boundary conditions as desired, one or more grooves are defined along the shaft extending behind or between the thrust plate and the shaft. The grooves typically extend from one radial side of the thrustplate behind the thrustplate and up to a point on the shaft adjacent or nearly adjacent to one of the journal bearings. Alternatively, the slot or slots may extend to a point between two journal bearings. In this way, the pressure from the distal axial surface of the thrust bearing to the point where the slot terminates is equalized, enhancing the stability of the boundary conditions over each of the journal bearings and equalizing the pressure at the opposite ends of the fluid distribution slot.