Apparatus and method for setting bearing gaps in an electric motor
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsKlaus D. Kloeppel, Troy M. Herndon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for setting a gap in a hydrodynamic bearing of a disc drive spindle motor is provided. The invention comprises placing an end of the shaft into shaft support apertures in the hub, fitting a thrust bearing counterplate into a recess defined by an annular retaining flange that is proximate the end of the shaft, and deforming the counterplate to form a gap between the end of the shaft and a surface of the counterplate.
Claims9
A method for setting a gap in the hydrodynamic bearings of an electric motor, said method comprising:
- (a) placing an end of a shaft into a shaft support aperture of a rotor hub;
- (b) fitting a thrust bearing counterplate into a counterplate recess defined by an annular retaining flange that is proximate the end of said shaft;
- and
- (c) deforming the thrust bearing counterplate to form a gap between the end of the shaft and a surface of the thrust bearing counterplate.
Apparatus for setting a gap in hydrodynamic bearings of an electric motor having a rotor hub, wherein the rotor hub is disposed about a stationary shaft, comprising:
- a recess formed within the rotor hub where the recess is coaxially aligned into a stationary shaft;
- a thrust bearing counterplate positioned within the recess;
- and
- means for deforming and retaining the thrust bearing counterplate to form a gap between the thrust bearing counterplate and an end of the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.