IP Library Granted Patent US 7,350,975
Granted Patent B2
US 7,350,975 · App. 11/296,538 · Granted Apr 1, 2008

Hydrodynamic bearing device and spindle motor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,350,975
App. No.
11/296,538
Granted
Apr 1, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention provides a hydrodynamic bearing device with a function of circulating the operating fluid by supplying the operating fluid to between the cover and the sleeve by way of a circular communication path, the hydrodynamic bearing device allowing the cover for covering the sleeve to be satisfactorily bonded, preventing the operating fluid from leaking outward, and preventing the adhesive from blocking the opening of the circular communication path; and a spindle motor. An adhesive inflow allowing space for allowing the adhesive from the adhesive setting and bonding part to flow in is formed between the adhesive setting and bonding part for setting the adhesive and bonding the cover and the sleeve, and a space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve for circulating and introducing the operating fluid so as to create a space in the cover.

Claims (52)

1. A hydrodynamic bearing device comprising:

a shaft;

a sleeve including a bearing hole with an open end that opens and a close end that is closed, the shaft being inserted into the bearing hole for freely rotating with a predetermined gap in between;

a cover attached to the sleeve and covering an end face on the open end side of the sleeve in an orientation of including a space;

a radial dynamic pressure generating groove formed on at least one of an outer peripheral surface of the shaft and an inner peripheral surface of the sleeve where the shaft and the sleeve face each other, the dynamic pressure generating groove supporting the shaft with respect to the sleeve in a relatively rotatable fashion in a radial direction in a non-contacting manner;

a circular communication path formed in the sleeve, for communicating a space region on the close end face of the sleeve and a space region on the open end side between the cover and the end face on the open end side of the sleeve; and

a working fluid being filled into a space in the sleeve including at least one part of the space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve, whereby when the shaft is relatively rotated with respect to the sleeve, the working fluid is circulated through a space between the shaft and the sleeve, the space region on the close end side leading to the space between the shaft and the sleeve, the circular communication path leading to the space region on the close end side, and the space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve leading to the circular communication path, wherein

an adhesive inflow allowing space is formed between an adhesive setting and bonding part for setting the adhesive and bonding the cover and the sleeve, and the space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve for circulating and introducing the working fluid, so as to include a space in at least one of the cover and the sleeve to allow the inflow of the adhesive from the adhesive setting and bonding part.

2. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the adhesive inflow allowing space is formed by a groove depressed across the entire circumference of the respective joining faces in at least the cover or the sleeve.

3. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein

a communication part is formed for communicating the space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve and the adhesive inflow allowing space and allowing the working fluid to flow into the adhesive inflow allowing space.

4. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 3 , wherein

the communication part is formed at a position proximate to the open end of the sleeve with respect to a bearing axis direction than an inside surface of the cover facing the space region on the open end side to create a step between the inside surface of the cover and the communication part.

5. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein

collars are formed respectively at the cover and the sleeve across the entire circumference of the outer periphery side so as to face each other,

a clearance is formed between the collars by bringing the end face of the peripheral wall forming the adhesive inflow allowing space and the end face on the open end side of the sleeve into contact to each other for positioning, the clearance thus contacting the end faces of the cover and the sleeve, and

the adhesive is fed and set between the collars to configure the adhesive setting and bonding part.

6. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the setting amount of the adhesive is greater than the capacity of the adhesive setting and bonding part, and less than the capacity of the capacity of the adhesive inflow allowing space and the capacity of the adhesive setting and bonding part combined.

7. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein

an introducing minimum clearance part for causing capillary phenomenon is formed to extend to the open end of the bearing hole from a location in a proximity of the opening of the circular communication path in the space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve, so that the working fluid from the circular communication path flows into the bearing hole of the sleeve due to the capillary phenomenon,

a vent hole leading to an outside air is formed at a location not formed with the introducing minimum clearance part of the cover, and

a fluid storage space for storing the working fluid is formed by being depressed so as to become a space larger than the clearance of the introducing minimum clearance part at the inside surface part of the cover facing the end face on the open end side of the sleeve, thereby to communicate the introducing minimum clearance part and the vent hole in the circumferential direction.

8. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein

a space region on the close end face side of the sleeve is a space region where a thrust flange fixed to a distal end of the shaft is arranged, and

the opening of the circular communication path arranged on the close end face of the sleeve is connected to the space where the thrust flange faces.

9. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein

a space region on the close end face of the sleeve is a space region defined by a distal end of the shaft and a close end face region close plate, and

the opening of the circular communication path arranged on the close end face side of the sleeve is connected to the space where the distal end of the shaft faces.

10. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 , wherein

the radial dynamic pressure generating groove is formed into a shape that applies circulating force to the working fluid.

11. A spindle motor comprising the hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 1 .

12. A hydrodynamic bearing device comprising:

a shaft;

a sleeve including a bearing hole with an open end that opens and a close end that is closed, the shaft being inserted into the bearing hole for freely rotating with a predetermined gap in between;

a cover attached to the sleeve and covering an end face on the open end side of the sleeve in an orientation of including a space; and

a working fluid being filled into a space in the sleeve including at least one part of a space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve, wherein

an adhesive inflow allowing space is formed between an adhesive setting and bonding part for setting the adhesive and bonding the cover and the sleeve, and the space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve, so as to include a space in at least one of the cover and the sleeve to allow the inflow of the adhesive from the adhesive setting and bonding part.

13. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 12 , wherein

the adhesive inflow allowing space is formed by a groove depressed across the entire circumference of the respective joining faces in at least the cover or the sleeve.

14. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 12 , wherein

a communication part is formed for communicating the space region on the open end side between the cover and the sleeve and the adhesive inflow allowing space and allowing the working fluid to flow into the adhesive inflow allowing space.

15. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 12 , wherein

the communication part is formed at a position proximate to the open end of the sleeve with respect to a bearing axis direction than an inside surface of the cover facing the space region on the open end side to create a step between the inside surface of the cover and the communication part.

16. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 12 , wherein

collars are formed respectively at the cover and the sleeve across the entire circumference of the outer periphery side so as to face each other,

a clearance is formed between the collars by bringing the end face of the peripheral wall forming the adhesive inflow allowing space and the end face on the open end side of the sleeve into contact to each other for positioning, the clearance thus contacting the end faces of the cover and the sleeve, and

the adhesive is fed and set between the collars to configure the adhesive setting and bonding part.

17. The hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 12 , wherein

the setting amount of the adhesive is greater than the capacity of the adhesive setting and bonding part, and less than the capacity of the capacity of the adhesive inflow allowing space and the capacity of the adhesive setting and bonding part combined.

18. A spindle motor comprising the hydrodynamic bearing device according to claim 12 .

Assignments (7)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 29, 2018
From: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: PHC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046459/0861 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PHC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 032785/0498 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 29, 2014
From: PHC HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 032785/0563 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2014
From: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032480/0433 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 032360/0795 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 25, 2014
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032332/0082 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 21, 2006
From: UENOSONO, KAORU; YOSHIKAWA, YOSEI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017194/0760 →