Hydrodynamic bearing having lubricant particle traps

The hydrodynamic bearing assembly of claim 11 including:

• a thrust plate secured to the shaft;
• a hydrodynamic thrust bearing defined between a shoulder portion of the sleeve and a portion of the trust plate;
• and
• a thrust particle trap for receiving and entrapping particles which may exist in the lubricant proximate the thrust bearing, the thrust particle trap including a thrust trap inlet which is positioned proximate the thrust bearing, so that the particles and lubricant exiting the hydrodynamic thrust bearing are forced directly into the trap by the centrifugal force imparted by the relative rotation of the shaft and the thrust plate.

A hydrodynamic bearing assembly comprising:

• a shaft;
• a thrust plate secured to the shaft;
• a sleeve including an opening for receiving at least a portion of the shaft and allowing for relative rotation between the thrust plate and the sleeve;
• a hydrodynamic thrust bearing defined between a shoulder portion of the sleeve and at least a portion of the thrust plate;
• a lubricant positioned between the sleeve and the thrust plate, the relative rotation between the sleeve and the thrust plate generating and imparting a centrifugal force to the lubricant;
• and
• a thrust particle trap mounted in the sleeve for receiving and entrapping particles which may exist in the lubricant proximate the thrust bearing, the thrust particle trap including a thrust trap inlet which is positioned proximate the thrust bearing, so that the particles and lubricant exiting the thrust bearing are directly forced into the trap by the centrifugal force imparted by the relative rotation between the shaft and the thrust plate wherein the particle trap, including the trap inlet, is defined by a substantially annular channel which is beveled, so that a width of the channel is smallest approximate to the trap inlet.

A hydrodynamic bearing assembly comprising:

• a shaft including a thrust plate secured thereto;
• a sleeve including an opening for receiving at least a portion of the shaft and allowing for relative rotation between the shaft and the sleeve;
• a lubricant positioned within the opening in the sleeve, the relative rotation between the sleeve and the shaft generating and imparting a centrifugal force to the lubricant;
• a first hydrodynamic bearing defined between a portion of the shaft and a portion of the sleeve;
• a first particle trap mounted in the sleeve for receiving and entrapping particles which may exist in the lubricant proximate the first hydrodynamic bearing, the first particle trap including a first trap inlet defined by a substantially annular shaped channel which substantially encircles the shaft, and positioned so that the particles and lubricant exiting the hydrodynamic bearings are forced directly into the trap by the centrifugal force imported at the first hydrodynamic bearing;
• and
• wherein the first particle trap, including the first trap inlet, is defined by a substantially annular channel which is beveled, so that a width of the channel is smallest proximate to the first trap inlet.