Hydrodynamic bearing

A hydrodynamic bearing comprising:

• a shaft/thrust plate combination disposed within a sleeve for relative rotation, forming a first clearance space between the shaft and the sleeve and a second clearance space between the thrust plate and the sleeve, the clearance spaces being fillable with a liquid lubricant, an extension of the thrust plate being exposed to air;
• including at least one pressure equalization ports defined at least in part by the sleeve and/or the shaft/thrust plate combination for connecting the first clearance space and the second clearance space;
• and
• wherein each end of the bearing includes both internal and external surface tension dynamic seals with an air space disposed between the ends.

A hydrodynamic bearing comprising a cylindrical sleeve including a portion having a smaller inside diameter;

• a shaft including a portion having a diameter adapted to form a first clearance space with respect to the smaller diameter portion of the sleeve;
• a pair of thrust plates on the shaft forming second clearance spaces with respect to radially extending faces from the smaller diameter portion of the sleeve, the respective external faces of the thrust plates being exposed to air, the clearance spaces being for receiving a lubricant;
• the smaller diameter portion of the sleeve including passageways interconnecting the first and second clearance spaces;
• and
• each thrust plate paired with the sleeve for cooperatively defining axially extending surfaces which diverge from each other toward the ends of the bearing in a straight taper for forming respective surface tension seals with the lubricant.

A hydrodynamic bearing comprising a cylindrical sleeve including a portion having a smaller inside diameter;

• a shaft including a portion having a diameter adapted to form a first clearance space with respect to the smaller diameter portion of the sleeve;
• a pair of thrust plates on the shaft forming second clearance spaces with respect to radially extending faces from the smaller diameter portion of the sleeve, the respective external faces of the thrust plates being exposed to air, the clearance spaces being for receiving a lubricant;
• the smaller diameter portion of the sleeve including passageways interconnecting the first and second clearance spaces;
• each thrust plate paired with the sleeve for cooperatively defining axially extending surfaces which diverge from each other toward the ends of the bearing in a straight taper for forming respective surface tension seals with the lubricant;
• and
• wherein each thrust plate comprises a truncated cone with the surface of truncation of each cone facing each other.

A hydrodynamic bearing comprising

• a shaft disposed within a sleeve for relative rotation thereof, said shaft and said sleeve comprising mating portions at an end of the bearing, said mating portions defining lubricant fillable clearance space for supporting loads;
• an external surface tension dynamic seal for said lubricant and formed between said clearance space and an outside environment;
• an internal air reservoir located between said shaft and said sleeve inwardly of said external seal and said clearance space;
• an internal surface tension dynamic seal for said lubricant and formed between said clearance space and said internal air reservoir;
• and
• pressure equalization ports, comprising passageways defined at least in part by said sleeve, connecting said internal surface tension dynamic seal with said external surface tension dynamic seal.

A hydrodynamic bearing comprising

• a shaft disposed within a sleeve for relative rotation thereof, said shaft and sleeve comprising mating portions at each end of the bearing defining lubricant fillable clearance spaces for supporting loads;
• a pair of external surface tension dynamic seals for said lubricant, each associated with one of said clearance spaces, disposed near an end of said bearing, and formed between said associated clearance space and an outside environment;
• an internal air reservoir located between the shaft and the sleeve inwardly of each said external seal and each said clearance space;
• a pair of internal surface tension dynamic seals for said lubricant, each associated with one of said external seals and one of said clearance spaces, disposed near an end of said bearing, and formed between said associated clearance space and said internal air reservoir;
• and
• pressure equalization ports, comprising passageways defined at least in part by said sleeve, connecting each one of said internal surface tension dynamic seals with its associated external surface tension dynamic seal.