Patent ID: 6921209
Filing Date: 2005-07-26
Classification: F16C,H02K

Abstract:
1. A bearing comprising: a sleeve having a first section, a second section and a third section, said sections of said sleeve forming a cavity within said sleeve, said second section of said sleeve extending from said first section of the sleeve to said third section of the sleeve, a shaft having a first section, a second section, a third section and a fourth section, said third section of said shaft extending from said second section of the shaft to said fourth section of the shaft; and a fluid; wherein said shaft extends into said cavity within said sleeve, and a gap exists between said shaft and said sleeve; said fluid is contained in said gap; said second section of said sleeve has a length extending from said first section of said sleeve, and it has an inner radius perpendicular to said length that increases as a function of a distance measured along said length from said first section of said sleeve; said third section of said shaft has a length extending from said second section of said shaft, and it has a radius perpendicular to said length that increases as a function of a distance measured along the length from said second section of said shaft; said third section of said shaft is positioned inside said second section of said sleeve; pressure generating grooves are formed on one of said second section of said sleeve and said third section of said shaft; said fourth section of said shaft has a length extending from said third section of said shaft and it has a radius perpendicular to said length that decreases as a function of a distance measured along the length from said third section of said shaft until said radius of said fourth section of said shaft reaches zero at the end of said length; the fourth section of said shaft is positioned inside said third section of said sleeve.