Dynamic radial capillary seal
View Patent ↗A fluid dynamic bearing motor is provided that comprises a stationary member, a rotating member that is configured to rotate about a rotational axis, a fluid dynamic bearing that is configured to support relative rotation between the stationary member and the rotating member, and a dynamic radial capillary seal defined at least in part by the rotating member.
1. A fluid dynamic bearing motor comprising:
a stationary member;
a rotating member configured to rotate about a rotational axis;
a fluid dynamic bearing configured to support relative rotation between the stationary member and the rotating member;
a dynamic radial capillary seal defined at least in part by the rotating member;
a seal ring coupled to the rotating member, the seal ring including a first surface that partially defines a bearing fluid reservoir of the dynamic radial capillary seal; and
a secondary capillary seal defined by an inner surface of the seal ring and an outer surface of the stationary member;
wherein the secondary capillary seal is in fluid communication with the dynamic radial capillary seal.
2. The fluid dynamic bearing motor of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the seal ring and the outer surface of the stationary member diverge with increasing axial distance from the fluid dynamic bearing.
3. The fluid dynamic bearing motor of claim 1 , wherein one or more channels are defined along the seal ring, the one or more channels configured to fluidly couple the bearing fluid reservoir to the secondary capillary seal and to the fluid dynamic bearing.
4. The fluid dynamic bearing motor of claim 1 , wherein one or more end channels are defined along an outer surface of the seal ring, and one or more lower channels are defined along a bottom surface of the seal ring, the one or more end channels and the one or more lower channels configured to fluidly couple the bearing fluid reservoir to the secondary capillary seal and to the fluid dynamic bearing.
5. The fluid dynamic bearing motor of claim 4 , further comprising one or more recirculation channels, each recirculation channel configured to couple a distal end of the fluid dynamic bearing to one of the lower channels defined along the bottom surface of the seal ring.
6. The fluid dynamic bearing motor of claim 5 , wherein a circumferential channel is defined along the bottom surface of the seal ring, the circumferential channel configured to fluidly couple together the one or more lower channels defined along the bottom surface of the seal ring to each of the recirculation channels.
7. The fluid dynamic bearing motor of claim 5 , wherein the fluid dynamic bearing is configured asymmetrically to pump bearing fluid away from the dynamic radial capillary seal to establish a circulation of bearing fluid through the fluid dynamic bearing that returns bearing fluid to the dynamic radial capillary seal through the one or more recirculation channels.
8. The fluid dynamic bearing motor of claim 4 , wherein the one or more end channels and the one or more lower channels are sufficiently shallow to establish strong capillary forces to maintain bearing fluid flow towards the fluid dynamic bearing.
9. The fluid dynamic bearing motor of claim 4 , wherein one or more upper channels are defined in a flat region of a top surface of the seal ring, the one or more upper channels, the one or more end channels and the one or more lower channels configured with successively reduced cross-sections to enable capillary movement of the bearing fluid and spontaneous evacuation of air bubbles from the bearing fluid.