Oil lubricating process for actuator pivot bearings

• US 9,366,384 B1
• Filed: 09/04/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Walker, Shane, Winter, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reese, Robert T
• Application Number:
  US14/018,000
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 184/7.4, 508/552
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2370/12 Hard disk drives or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6614 in recesses or cavities provided in retainers, races or rolling elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6633 Grease properties or compositions, e.g. rheological properties
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/664 Retaining the liquid in or near the bearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6688 Lubricant compositions or properties, e.g. viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 25/00 Distributing equipment with or without proportioning devices

Abstract

A method of lubricating a bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device, the method including receiving an assembled bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device, applying a volume of soap-free oil onto a bearing component of the assembled bearing, and dispensing a predetermined volume of soap-containing grease into a bearing cage.

Claims

1. A method of lubricating a bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device, the method comprising:

receiving an assembled bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device;

applying a first lubricant comprising a volume of soap-free oil onto a bearing component of the assembled bearing, the bearing component comprising one or more of a raceway and a ball bearing; and

dispensing a second lubricant comprising a predetermined volume of soap-containing grease into a bearing cage.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising exercising the bearing after applying the volume of soap-free oil by rotating the bearing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the exercising the bearing comprises rotating the bearing through an entire range of motion of the bearing.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the volume of soap-free oil is dispensed using a precisely controlled oil-dispensing apparatus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the oil-dispensing apparatus is a computer-controlled dispensing apparatus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying the first lubricant comprises applying soap-free oil to at least one of a raceway of the bearing and a ball of the bearing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying the first lubricant comprises submerging the bearing component into the soap-free oil.

8. A method of lubricating a bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device, the method comprising:

applying a first lubricant comprising a volume of soap-free oil onto a bearing component to be placed within the bearing of the actuator pivot, the bearing component comprising one or more of a raceway and a ball bearing;

inserting the bearing component into the bearing of the actuator pivot to assemble the bearing; and

dispensing a second lubricant comprising a predetermined volume of soap-containing grease into a bearing cage.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising exercising the bearing after inserting the bearing component by rotating the bearing.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the exercising the bearing comprises rotating the bearing through an entire range of motion of the bearing.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the volume of soap-free oil is dispensed using a precisely controlled oil-dispensing apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the oil-dispensing apparatus is a computer-controlled dispensing apparatus.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the applying the first lubricant onto a bearing component comprises applying soap-free oil to at least one of a raceway of the bearing and a ball of the bearing.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the applying the first lubricant comprises submerging the bearing component into the soap-free oil.

15. A method of lubricating a bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device, the method comprising:

receiving an assembled bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device;

dispensing a second lubricant comprising a predetermined volume of soap-containing grease into a bearing cage of the assembled bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device;

and

applying a first lubricant comprising a volume of soap-free oil onto a bearing component of the assembled bearing, the bearing component comprising one or more of a raceway and a ball bearing.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising exercising the bearing after applying the volume of soap-free oil by rotating the bearing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the exercising the bearing comprises rotating the bearing through an entire range of motion of the bearing.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the volume of soap-free oil is dispensed using a precisely controlled oil-dispensing apparatus.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the oil-dispensing apparatus is a computer-controlled dispensing apparatus.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the applying the first lubricant onto a bearing component comprises applying soap-free oil to at least one of a raceway of the bearing and a ball of the bearing.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the applying first lubricant comprises submerging the bearing component into the soap-free oil.

22. A method of lubricating a bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device, the method comprising:

dispensing a second lubricant comprising a predetermined volume of soap-containing grease into a bearing cage of the assembled bearing for an actuator pivot of a storage device;

applying a first lubricant comprising a volume of soap-free oil onto a bearing component to be placed within the bearing of the actuator pivot, the bearing component comprising one or more of a raceway and a ball bearing; and

inserting the bearing component into the bearing of the actuator pivot to assemble the bearing.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising exercising the bearing after inserting the bearing component by rotating the bearing.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the exercising the bearing comprises rotating the bearing through an entire range of motion of the bearing.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the volume of soap-free oil is dispensed using a precisely controlled oil-dispensing apparatus.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the oil-dispensing apparatus is a computer-controlled dispensing apparatus.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the applying the first lubricant onto a bearing component comprises applying soap-free oil to at least one of a raceway of the bearing and a ball of the bearing.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the applying the first lubricant comprises submerging the bearing component into the soap-free oil.