Lynn Marie Le

6781266, Aug 24, 2004

Jun 27, 2001

09/894475

Lynn Bich-Quy Le - San Jose CA
Donald J. Macleod - Scotts Valley CA
Anthony J. Aiello - Aptos CA

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

H02K 708

310 90, 310 905

The counterplate and/or sleeve are modified to reduce or eliminate distortion in the counterplate in a laser welded fluid bearing design. It is known to directly weld the counterplate which lies across the end of the shaft and the thrust plate to a wall or shoulder of the sleeve in which the counterplate is fit. The radial stiffness of the sleeve is weakened by cutting grooves or the like at or near the interface between the sleeve wall and the counterplate, or on the outer diameter of the sleeve wall to essentially weaken the sleeve wall. This weakening of the sleeve wall prevents bowing or distortion of the counterplate being imposed by the sleeve.

7407327, Aug 5, 2008

Jul 31, 2003

10/632449

Lynn Bich-Quy Le - San Jose CA, US
Alan Lyndon Grantz - Aptos CA, US

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

F16C 32/06

384107, 384130, 384114

A system, method and means is provided for withstanding mechanical shock for use with fluid dynamic bearings. A sealing system is provided that withstands 1000 G shock events. In an aspect, a grooved pumping seal employed between a thrust plate and a shield, a thrust plate having spiral grooves, a fluid recirculation passageway, and a reservoir creates an asymmetric pressure gradient. In an aspect, fluid is retained and air is purged utilizing an enlarged fluid reservoir, axial channels and an angled fill hole. In an aspect, a shaft is attached to a top cover supplying radial stiffness, and an enlarged single-sided thrust plate improves dynamic parallelism.

8534919, Sep 17, 2013

Sep 15, 2012

13/621212

Lynn Bich-Quy Le - San Jose CA, US
Alan Lyndon Grantz - Aptos CA, US

Seagate Technology LLC - Cupertino CA

F16C 32/06
F16C 33/74

384107

A system, method and means is provided for withstanding mechanical shock for use with fluid dynamic bearings. A sealing system is provided that withstands 1000 G shock events. In an aspect, a grooved pumping seal employed between a thrust plate and a shield, a thrust plate having spiral grooves, a fluid recirculation passageway, and a reservoir creates an asymmetric pressure gradient. In an aspect, fluid is retained and air is purged utilizing an enlarged fluid reservoir, axial channels and an angled fill hole. In an aspect, a shaft is attached to a top cover supplying radial stiffness, and an enlarged single-sided thrust plate improves dynamic parallelism.

20030133634, Jul 17, 2003

May 8, 2002

10/142381

Lynn Le - San Jose CA, US
Chris Woldemar - Santa Cruz CA, US

F16C033/74
F16C032/06

384/132000, 384/124000

A fluid dynamic bearing includes a shaft rotating within a sleeve. The shaft and sleeve are supported for relative rotation by fluid in the gap between the shaft and sleeve. To prevent fluid from leaking out of the fluid dynamic bearing into the surrounding atmosphere, one end of the fluid is defined by a capillary seal. The seal is defined between the hub which rotates to establish rotation of the discs, and a facing surface of the sleeve. The surface of the hub and surface of the sleeve are in relative rotation, and diverge from one another in the region where the capillary seal is to be established. The gap which is incorporated in the capillary seal is in airway communication with the gap between the shaft and the sleeve; but the capillary seal is now defined by a radially outer surface of the sleeve and is substantially parallel to the gap between the shaft and the sleeve. The capillary seal is preferably substantially parallel to but radially spaced from the region where one of the dual journal bearing groove sets is defined. The grooves on the shaft that define the dual journal bearings may be located so that they are distributed as well as possible on either side of the center of gravity of the system.

20080273822, Nov 6, 2008

Jul 19, 2008

12/176360

Lynn Bich-Quy Le - San Jose CA, US
Alan Lyndon Grantz - Aptos CA, US

F16C 32/06

384107, 384115

A system, method and means is provided for withstanding mechanical shock for use with fluid dynamic bearings. A sealing system is provided that withstands 1000 G shock events. In an aspect, a grooved pumping seal employed between a thrust plate and a shield, a thrust plate having spiral grooves, a fluid recirculation passageway, and a reservoir creates an asymmetric pressure gradient. In an aspect, fluid is retained and air is purged utilizing an enlarged fluid reservoir, axial channels and an angled fill hole. In an aspect, a shaft is attached to a top cover supplying radial stiffness, and an enlarged single-sided thrust plate improves dynamic parallelism.

20090279818, Nov 12, 2009

May 8, 2008

12/117619

Lynn B. Le - San Jose CA, US
Alan L. Grantz - Aptos CA, US

F16C 32/06
F16N 25/04

384112, 184 8

A system and method are provided for sealing a fluid dynamic bearing motor. A first and a second folded fluid channel are shaped for maximizing bearing axial span and establishing angular stiffness, to resist gyroscopic rocking of the facing bearing surfaces. The first folded fluid channel is limited to occupying at least a portion of the same axial space as the bearing. A first and a second fluid sealing system are connected to opposite axial ends of the bearing. The first fluid sealing system forms an active pumping seal to pump fluid during motor rotation. In an aspect, a top cover attached shaft, and a single thrust surface are employed, allowing for a rigid motor structure and power reduction in applications including high rotational speed disc drives. Also, by employing a rigid shaft design, significantly lower amplitude radial vibration responses are exhibited at higher frequencies than prior art motor designs.

20110285232, Nov 24, 2011

Jul 29, 2011

13/194796

Lynn Bich-Quy Le - San Jose CA, US
Alan Lyndon Grantz - Aptos CA, US

Segate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

H02K 7/08
F16C 32/06

310 90, 384114

A system, method and means is provided for withstanding mechanical shock for use with fluid dynamic bearings. A sealing system is provided that withstands G shock events. In an aspect, a grooved pumping seal employed between a thrust plate and a shield, a thrust plate having spiral grooves, a fluid recirculation passageway, and a reservoir creates an asymmetric pressure gradient. In an aspect, fluid is retained and air is purged utilizing an enlarged fluid reservoir, axial channels and an angled fill hole. In an aspect, a shaft is attached to a top cover supplying radial stiffness, and an enlarged single-sided thrust plate improves dynamic parallelism.

20140023300, Jan 23, 2014

Sep 20, 2013

14/033215

Lynn Bich-Quy Le - San Jose CA, US
Klaus Diete Kloeppel - Royal Oaks CA, US

Seagate Technology LLC - Cupertino CA

F16C 32/06

384123

An apparatus and method are provided for a robust and shock resistant fluid dynamic bearing. A fluid sealing system with fluid pumping and capillary features provides increased reliability and performance for small form factor disc drive memory systems. Concerns of motor jog are addressed, jog being the rapid and repeated opening and closing of spaces between relatively rotatable components that can dispel oil from, or draw air into, these spaces. The fluid pumping capillary sealing system includes a fluid pumping groove with a rib portion and a slot portion for pumping fluid. The fluid pumping capillary sealing system also includes a capillary seal. In an aspect, a sweeping rib sweeps fluid toward the bearing. A truncated rib is situated adjacent to the sweeping rib, the truncated rib extending a shorter radial distance as compared to the sweeping rib and forming a plenum region.