Patent ID: 8007177

Claim:
A fluid dynamic bearing system ( 10 ; 210 ) having a first bearing part and a second bearing part that is rotatable with respect to the first bearing part, both of which form a bearing gap ( 22 ; 222 ) filled with a bearing fluid between opposing bearing surfaces, the bearing gap having two open ends that are each sealed against the environment by means of sealing zones ( 24 , 26 ; 224 ; 226 ), and bearing patterns used to generate hydrodynamic pressure within the bearing gap being provided on at least two spatially separated bearing surfaces, the first bearing part has a first bearing ring ( 12 ; 212 ) and a first and third bearing plate ( 16 , 20 ; 216 , 220 ) being disposed on the first bearing ring at a mutual spacing so that an annular space is formed between the first bearing ring ( 12 ; 212 ) and the first and third bearing plate, and that the second bearing part has a second bearing ring ( 14 ; 214 ) and a second bearing plate ( 18 ; 218 ) connected fixedly to the second bearing ring, the second bearing plate being accommodated in the annular space rotatable about a rotational axis ( 40 ; 240 ), the bearing gap ( 22 ; 222 ) extending between opposing surfaces of the bearing ring ( 12 ; 212 ), the first and third bearing plate ( 16 , 20 ; 216 , 220 ) and the second bearing plate, the bearing patterns used to generate hydrodynamic pressure being disposed on selected opposing bearing surfaces of the first bearing ring ( 12 ; 212 ), the first and third bearing plate or the second bearing plate, the bearing system comprising a segment step bearing that may be operated in both directions of rotation, the segment step bearing comprising two axial bearings that are formed by the radially extending bearing surfaces facing each other of the second bearing plate ( 18 ; 218 ) and of the first and third bearing plate ( 16 , 20 ; 216 , 220 ), and a radial bearing that is formed by the axially extending bearing surfaces facing each other of the second bearing plate ( 18 ; 218 ) and of the first bearing ring ( 12 ; 212 ), and the ends of the sealing zones ( 24 , 26 ; 224 ; 226 ) open to the environment are disposed on a smaller radial diameter than the bearing gap, so that the bearing fluid is kept in the bearing gap by means of a centrifugal force.