IP Library Granted Patent US 7,119,464
Granted Patent B2
US 7,119,464 · App. 11/003,833 · Granted Oct 10, 2006

Spindle motor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,119,464
App. No.
11/003,833
Granted
Oct 10, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a spindle motor, particularly for the purpose of driving the platters in hard disk drives having a baseplate, a stator arrangement that is stationary with respect to the baseplate, a shaft and a bearing system to rotatably support a rotary driven rotor connected to the shaft. In order to create a spindle motor in which it is possible to connect the shaft to the rotor with a high holding force and improved running precision, provision is made according to the invention for the shaft to be at least partly formed as a hollow shaft and for the rotor to have a shaft shoulder aligned concentric to its rotational axis which is inserted into the hollow shaft and firmly connected to the shaft.

Claims (21)

1. A spindle motor, particularly for the purpose of driving platters in hard disk drives, comprising:

a base plate;

a stator arrangement that is stationary with respect to the base plate;

a shaft and a hydrodynamic bearing system on which a rotary driven rotor connected to the shaft is rotatably supported, the hydrodynamic bearing system including a liquid lubricant;

the shaft being formed at least partly as a hollow shaft and the rotor having a shaft shoulder aligned concentrically to its rotational axis, said shoulder disposed within and firmly fixed to the shaft;

said bearing system comprising at least one radial bearing region formed by an outer surface of said shaft and a bearing sleeve having an inner surface surrounding said shaft, said bearing system further comprising a thrust bearing formed by a thrust plate arranged at a lower end of the hollow shaft and a covering plate;

said thrust plate and said hollow shaft constituting a monolithic element.

2. A spindle motor according to claim 1 , characterized in that the connection between the shaft shoulder and the hollow shaft is an interference fit.

3. A spindle motor according to claim 1 , characterized in that the connection between the shaft shoulder and the hollow shaft is a bonded connection.

4. A spindle motor according to claim 1 , characterized in that the shaft shoulder is a monolithic part of the rotor.

5. A spindle motor according to claim 1 , characterized in that the shaft shoulder is a monolithic part of the rotor.

6. A spindle motor, particularly for the purpose of driving platters in hard disk drives, comprising:

a base plate;

a stator arrangement that is stationary with respect to the base plate;

a shaft and a hydrodynamic bearing system on which a rotary driven rotor connected to the shaft is rotatably supported, the hydrodynamic bearing system including a liquid lubricant;

the shaft being formed at least partly as a hollow shaft and the rotor having a shaft shoulder aligned concentrically to its rotational axis, said shoulder disposed within and firmly fixed to the shaft;

said bearing system comprising at least one radial bearing region formed by an outer surface of said shaft and a bearing sleeve having an inner surface surrounding said shaft, said bearing system further comprising a thrust bearing formed by a thrust plate arranged at a lower end of the hollow shaft and a covering plate;

said thrust plate constituting a monolithic element with a plug that is inserted into the hollow shaft and firmly connected to the hollow shaft.

7. A spindle motor according to claim 6 , characterized in that the connection between the plug and the hollow shaft is an interference fit.

8. Spindle motor according to claim 6 , characterized in that the connection between the plug and the hollow shaft is a bonded connection.

9. A spindle motor according to claim 6 , characterized in that the rotor shaft shoulder is a monolithic part of the rotor.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 14, 2018
From: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
To: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
Reel/Frame 046633/0976 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 14, 2018
From: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
To: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
Reel/Frame 046785/0796 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2005
From: BRAUN, DIETER; HOFFMANN, JOERG
To: MINEBEA CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015570/0567 →