Patent ID: 6674201
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: H02K

Abstract:
A spindle motor including a stator component and a rotor component, said components including a shaft and a hub, said shaft and hub being provided for relative rotation and said hub for supporting one or more discs, said hub including a hub sleeve including a cylindrical portion surrounding said shaft, said motor comprising a bearing assembly between the components, formed of a journal bearing and a thrust bearing, wherein the journal bearing is an aerodynamic bearing provided between said shaft and said cylindrical portion of said hub sleeve and the thrust bearing is adapted to function in a bi-directional manner and includes an annular member projecting radially from one of the shaft and sleeve into an associated recess formed in the other of the shaft and sleeve, wherein the annular member has two opposed bearing faces arranged adjacent corresponding bearing surfaces of said recess portion, and a hydrodynamic thrust bearing is formed between the respective bearing faces and surfaces, both a hydrodynamic thrust bearing and an aerodynamic journal bearing thereby being provided between said shaft and said hub sleeve of said components.