Spindle motor with fluid dynamic bearing having a journal bearing in combination with a conical bearing

Abstract

A hydrodynamic fluid bearing useful in a bearing cartridge which cartridge may be incorporated into a spindle motor or the like, where the bearing includes a shaft, a conical bearing supported on the shaft, and journal bearings located at least on one side and typically both above and below the conical bearing. A sleeve is mounted for rotation relative to the shaft and defines, in cooperation with the shaft, the gaps necessary for both the conical hydrodynamic bearing and the axial, journal bearings. At an end of the shaft, capillary seals are defined between the sleeve and the shaft so that fluid does not escape from the hydrodynamic bearing. The shaft itself includes a central hole, with bores communicating with both the conical bearing and the journal bearings to maintain appropriate pressure balances. In a further desirable feature, in some embodiments the diameter of one end of the shaft can be made greater than the diameter of the other end of the shaft. This allows for making the gaps between the shaft and the surrounding sleeve or journal to be greater where the diameter of the fixed shaft is greater, reducing the need for tight tolerances within at least part of the hydrodynamic bearing. Preferably the top end of the shaft (i.e. the end of the shaft adjacent the wider end of the conical bearing) has the journal bearing with greater diameter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.