US 5,013,947 A · Low-profile disk drive motor

Abstract

A disk drive motor having a low profile construction and a gas-lubricated deflecting pad support usable in the disk drive motor and elsewhere includes a cup-shaped rotor having an integral cylindrical portion extending from the base of the cup; the cylindrical extension may be a shaft or a large hollow extension which encloses the stator windings. The stator can be conventional or can have a closed end and/or a cup-like portion to simplify construction and eliminate the need for a seal. A support mounted on the stator or the rotor supports the rotor for rotation relative to the stator. The support can be a deflecting pad support such as a deflecting pad hydrodynamic bearing or the plane or gas-lubricated deflecting pad support disclosed herein. The gas-lubricated deflecting pad support member includes bearing pads and a support structure which supports the bearings for strictly radial movement. A contoured surface is formed on the pad surfaces or a support surface opposing the pad surfaces or both. Relative rotation between the pad surfaces and the support surface results in the development of a pressurized gas film between the support surface and the pad surface.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A motor for driving a magnetic disk comprising;

a rotor casing, the rotor casing having at least one permanent magnet mounted thereon and including a cup-shaped portion having a cylindrical outer wall, a closed end, and an inner portion having a cylindrical outer periphery extending from the closed end, the inner portion being substantially coaxial with the cylindrical outer wall so as to define a cylindrical space between the cylindrical outer wall and the inner portion;
a stator, the stator including laminations and windings and the stator having at least a portion thereof mounted in the cylindrical space provided in the rotor;
at least one support member extending between the stator and the rotor for supporting the rotor for rotation with respect to the stator;
wherein the inner portion is a hollow cylindrical extension having an inner wall on which the permanent magnet is mounted, the inner portion surrounding the stator windings;
and the stator comprising a cup-like casing portion having a cylindrical outer periphery defined by an axially extending cylindrical wall having a radial dimension which allows it to be nested between the outer periphery of the inner portion of the rotor and the interior of the cylindrical outer walls of the rotor.

2 more elements

An interlocked disk drive motor construction for driving a magnetic disk, the motor comprising:

a cup-space rotor having a closed end, a cylindrical outer wall integral with and extending from the closed end and an inner cylindrical wall integral with and extending from the closed end, the inner cylindrical wall coaxial with the outer wall and spaced radially inward of the outer wall so as to define a ring shaped space between the inner and outer cylindrical wall, at least one permanent magnet mounted to the rotor;
a stator, the stator comprising a cup-shaped casing including a closed end and a cylindrical outer wall integral with and extending from the closed end into the ring-shaped space, the stator outer wall being coaxial with the cylindrical outer wall of the rotor and having a radial dimension which allows it to fit within the ring-shaped space defined by the inner and outer walls of the rotor;
and
at least one bearing extending between the cylindrical outer wall of the stator and one of the cylindrical walls of the rotor.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Low-profile disk drive motor

Life of this patent

Low-profile disk drive motor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18