US 2016/0297019 A1 · METHODS FOR FORMING GROOVED BEARING PATTERNS

Abstract

Proposed is a fluid dynamic bearing system having a bearing bush, a shaft rotatably supported in a bearing bore of the bearing bush and a hub connected to the shaft. A bearing gap filled with bearing fluid and having an axial section is defined between the shaft, the bearing bush and the hub. A first and a second fluid dynamic radial bearing are disposed along the axial section of the bearing gap, the radial bearings being marked by grooved bearing patterns on the associated bearing surfaces of the shaft and/or of the bearing bush. The two radial bearings have a mutual distance dL measured from an apex line of the first radial bearing to an apex line of the second radial bearing. A separator groove is disposed in the bearing bush or in the shaft in the axial section of the bearing gap between the two radial bearings and has an axial length lS. According to the invention, the ratio between the distance dL and the length lS 6is greater than 5 (five).

Claims12

Dependent claims

1-13. (canceled)

A method for forming grooved bearing patterns (20a, 22a) and a separator groove (28) in a surface of a component of a fluid dynamic bearing system comprising a bearing bush (10), a shaft (12) rotatably supported in a bearing bore of the bearing bush (10), a hub (24) connected to the shaft (12), a bearing gap (16) filled with bearing fluid and having an axial section between mutually opposing surfaces of the shaft (12) and of the bearing bush (10), and two fluid dynamic radial bearings (20, 22) formed by the grooved bearing patterns (20a, 22a) on associated bearing surfaces of the shaft (12) and/or of the bearing bush (10),

wherein the grooved bearing patterns (20a, 22a) are separated from one another by the separator groove (28) and have a mutual distance dL measured between their respective apex lines (20b, 22b),
wherein the separator groove (28) is disposed in the bearing bush (10) or in the shaft (12) in the axial section of the bearing gap (16) between the two fluid dynamic radial bearings (20, 22) and has an axial length lS and depth tS, wherein the ratio between the distance dL and the length lS is greater than 5 (five),
wherein the grooved bearing patterns (20a, 22a) forming the two fluid dynamic radial bearings (20, 22) have a depth tR of 1 to 10 micrometers, such that the following inequality applies:
tR<=tS<=1.5*tR,
and wherein the grooved bearing patterns (20a, 22a) of the two fluid dynamic radial bearings (20;
22) and the separator groove (28) are manufactured in the same operation using an electrochemical machining process (ECM).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/185,691Filed 17 Jun 2016

Priority

DE 10 2009 043 590.530 Sep 2009

Published

13 Oct 2016

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

B23H 9/06
Machining specially adapted for treating particular metal objects or for obtaining special effects or results on metal objects: marking or engraving
F16C 17/026
For radial load only: with helical grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. herringbone grooves
F16C 33/106
With liquid, e.g. oil, as lubricant: details of distribution or circulation inside the bearings, e.g. details of the bearing surfaces to affect…
F16C 33/14
Sliding surface mainly made of metal: special methods of manufacture; Running-in

Methods for forming grooved bearing patterns

Life of this patent

Methods for forming grooved bearing patterns

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12