Patent ID: 7001073

Claim:
A hydrodynamic bearing assembly comprising: a rotational shaft; a stationary flange including a bearing sleeve portion encompassing the rotational shaft with a small radial clearance such that an inner surface of the bearing sleeve portion is located immediately adjacently to an outer surface of the rotational shaft, said bearing sleeve portion having a partially enclosed end and an open end; a radial bearing formed between the inner surface of the bearing sleeve portion and the outer surface of the rotational shaft, the radial bearing comprising a plurality of hydrodynamic pressure generating grooves formed on at least one of the outer surface of the rotational shaft and the inner surface of the bearing sleeve portion; a counter plate enclosing the open end of the bearing sleeve portion; and a thrust bearing formed between an upper surface of the counter plate and a bottom surface of the rotational shaft, wherein the bearing sleeve portion is constructed as a single, seamless and integral component of the stationary flange, wherein an upward movement of the rotational shaft is prevented by the partially enclosed end of the bearing sleeve portion and wherein no part of the bearing sleeve portion is located below a bottom surface of the stationary flange.