SPINDLE MOTOR

• US 20100207470A1
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Kum Kyung, Kim, Jin San
• Application Number:
  US12/424,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20100207470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/90
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/045 with grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. spiral groove thrust bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2370/12 Hard disk drives or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/745 by capillary action
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/2036 Motors characterized by fluid-dynamic bearings

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a spindle motor including a journal bearing and a thrust bearing, thus preventing the lack of fluid occurring as a result of the evaporation or scattering of fluid, and making it easy to control the injected amount of fluid. The spindle motor includes a rotating shaft having a thrust plate inserted perpendicularly into the upper portion thereof. A sleeve accommodates and rotatably supports the rotating shaft. A plate is provided such that the sleeve is secured to the plate. An inner cap is secured to the sleeve in such a way as to face the upper surface of the thrust plate, and a first fluid sealing part is defined between the thrust plate and the inner cap. An outer cap is secured to the upper portion of the inner cap, and a second fluid sealing part is defined between the inner and outer caps.

Claims

1. A spindle motor, comprising:

a rotating shaft having a thrust plate inserted perpendicularly into an upper portion of the rotating shaft;

a sleeve accommodating the rotating shaft and rotatably supporting the rotating shaft;

a plate provided such that the sleeve is secured to the plate;

an inner cap secured to the sleeve in such a way as to face an upper surface of the thrust plate, with a first fluid sealing part defined between the thrust plate and the inner cap; and

an outer cap secured to an upper portion of the inner cap, with a second fluid sealing part defined between the inner cap and the outer cap.

2. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer cap is made of a transparent material to allow a interface of fluid stored in the second fluid sealing part to be observed from outside.

3. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner circumference holding the rotating shaft and a bearing surface facing the thrust plate, with a journal bearing provided between the inner circumference and the rotating shaft using fluid dynamic pressure.

4. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 3, wherein an upper thrust bearing is formed between the thrust plate and the inner cap using fluid dynamic pressure, and a lower thrust bearing is formed between the thrust plate and the bearing surface using fluid dynamic pressure.

5. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first fluid sealing part is formed between the inner cap and the thrust plate in an axial direction of the rotating shaft.

6. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 5, wherein at least two fluid supply holes are formed in the axial direction in the inner cap to supply fluid from the second fluid sealing part to the first fluid sealing part.

7. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 6, wherein a second fluid sealing part is formed between the outer cap and the inner cap in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

8. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 7, wherein a measurement scale is printed on the outer cap to measure an amount of injected fluid.

9. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 8, wherein an OK level of the fluid interface is marked on the measurement scale.

10. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 2, wherein the sleeve comprises an inner circumference holding the rotating shaft and a bearing surface facing the thrust plate, with a journal bearing provided between the inner circumference and the rotating shaft using fluid dynamic pressure.

11. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 10, wherein an upper thrust bearing is formed between the thrust plate and the inner cap using fluid dynamic pressure, and a lower thrust bearing is formed between the thrust plate and the bearing surface using fluid dynamic pressure.

12. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 11, wherein the first fluid sealing part is formed between the inner cap and the thrust plate in an axial direction of the rotating shaft.

13. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 12, wherein at least two fluid supply holes are formed in the axial direction in the inner cap to supply fluid from the second fluid sealing part to the first fluid sealing part.

14. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 13, wherein a second fluid sealing part is formed between the outer cap and the inner cap in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

15. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 14, wherein a measurement scale is printed on the outer cap to measure an amount of injected fluid.

16. The spindle motor as set forth in claim 15, wherein an OK level of the fluid interface is marked on the measurement scale.