Crowned conical bearing

Details Crowned conical bearing Crowned conical bearing

2000-02-01

2001-08-28

Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)

Bearings

Rotary bearing

Fluid bearing

Reexamination Certificate

active

06280088

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to magnetic disc drive storage systems and, more particularly, to a fluid dynamic bearing for rotatably supporting a spindle hub assembly that rotatably supports magnetic disc drives.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,651 of Grantz et at, entitled “Magnetic Disc Storage System with Hydrodynamic Bearing,” discloses a bearing cartridge for rotatably supporting a magnetic storage disc that utilizes fluid-dynamic bearings defined by spherical bearing cones and bearing seats. Spherical bearings are known to improve assembly and alignment tolerances in that they allow for greater angular misalignment of the bearing cone piece with respect to the bearing seat.
Conical bearing designs are also known wherein both the bearing seat and the bearing cone are conical in shape. Conical bearings improve the tilting stiffness of fluid-dynamic bearings and thereby resist radial and axial displacement greater than, for example, spherical bearings. However, conical bearings are more susceptible to angular misalignment, which can significantly affect the performance of the bearing.
The present invention is an attempt to maximize the advantages of spherical and conical bearings while at the same time minimizing their respective disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, the present invention comprises a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a rotating component about a fixed shaft, wherein the bearing assembly includes a bearing cone having a crowned bearing surface, secured to one of the rotating component and the fixed shaft, a conical bearing seat secured to the other of the rotating component and the shaft, and lubricating fluid in a gap between the crowned bearing surface of the bearing cone and the bearing seat. The bearing cone includes grooves for channeling lubricating fluid toward the midline of the crowned bearing surface for creating a fluid bearing between the bearing cone and the bearing seat as the bearing seat rotates about the bearing cone.
According to an aspect of the invention, the grooves in the bearing cone are shallow at the midline of the bearing surface and deep at the outer edges of the bearing surface. In this manner, lubricating fluid is forced out the grooves at the midline and thereby forms a lubricating barrier between the bearing cone and the bearing surface. Preferably, the grooves are V-shaped and their depth is proportional to the crown of the bearing cone.
These and other features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the claims, which are all incorporated herein as part of the disclosure of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3174809 (1965-03-01), Mackie
patent: 5697708 (1997-12-01), Leuthold et al.

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