Fluid dynamic bearing evaluating method capable of quantitatively evaluating clearance between rotating member and fixed member in operation

Abstract

There is provided a fluid dynamic bearing evaluating method capable of quantitatively observing a clearance between a shaft 3 and a housing 2 in an operating state and evaluating a fluid dynamic bearing 1 more in detail. This fluid dynamic bearing evaluating method is to evaluate the fluid dynamic bearing 1 by filling a space between the housing 2 and the shaft 3 with an uncharged lubricant, flowing a current through between the housing 2 and the shaft 3 and measuring an electrical resistance value of the fluid dynamic bearing 1 including the lubricant. According to this evaluating method, the lubricant placed between the housing 2 and the shaft 3 is not electrically charged, and therefore, the measured electrical resistance value has a correlation with the clearance between the housing 2 and the shaft 3, and the clearance can be quantitatively observed by this electrical resistance value.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.