Precision self-contained hydrodynamic bearing assembly

Abstract

A method for forming a precision groove in a cylindrical surface of an article such as a sleeve-shaft hydrodynamic journal bearing system includes the steps of: aligning a groove-forming machine to an axial datum plane of the article defined in a spaced-apart relation with the cylindrical surface by a predetermined nominal first dimension, translating the groove-forming machine in an axial direction toward and upon a first edge of the cylindrical surface by an amount equal to the predetermined nominal first dimension and thereupon forming a first groove axial step segment in the cylindrical surface until a second predetermined axial datum plane is reached, simultaneously axially translating and rotating the groove-forming machine from the second axial datum plane until a third predetermined axial datum plane is reached and thereupon forming the precision groove pattern in the cylindrical surface between the second axial datum plane and the third axial datum plane, and axially translating the groove-forming machine from the third predetermined axial datum plane until a second edge of the cylindrical surface is reached and thereupon forming a second groove axial step segment in the cylindrical surface from the third axial datum plane to the second edge. A hydrodynamic being system formed in accordance with the disclosed method is also claimed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.