ALAN LYNDON GRANTZ
Pilots in Aptos, CA

6655841, Dec 2, 2003

Jun 15, 2000

09/595295

Gunter Heine - Aptos CA
Alan Lyndon Grantz - Aptos CA

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

F16C 3206

384110

A fluid dynamic bearing cartridge includes a shaft or sleeve adapted to be fixed in place has at least one fluid dynamic bearing supporting the shaft and one or more seals at either end of the shaft. The seal arrangements may include a pair of centrifugal capillary seals at either end of the shaft. Alternatively, a grooved pumping seal or centrifugal capillary seal at one end may be used in combination with a static capillary seal, especially where a journal bearing defined along the shaft near the capillary seal has an imbalanced groove section.

2003019, Oct 9, 2003

Oct 2, 2002

10/263609

Alan Grantz - Aptos CA, US
Raquib Khan - Pleasanton CA, US
Norbert Parsoneault - Scotts Valley CA, US

F16C032/06, F16C033/74

384/119000, 384/132000

A seal whose primary axis lies in the radial direction where the fluid bearing is primarily extending in the axial direction between the rotating shaft and surrounding sleeve. The capillary seal is positioned with an opening adjacent an end of the fluid bearing gap, and comprises two diverging walls, with the narrowest gap between the two generally radially extending walls being closely adjacent an end of the fluid gap. The walls diverge as they extend radially away from the fluid bearing. In this way, the fluid held in the radial capillary seal is maintained adjacent an end of the gap, while the size of the reservoir provided or defined by the diverging walls provides a relatively large reservoir volume. The seal uses an additional capillary which is defined by a narrow annulus between the rotating shaft and a radially inward end of one of the two walls of the seal adjacent the narrow end of the radial capillary seal. This very narrow gap provides a narrow annulus which establishes very high shock resistance to the loss of fluid past the outer axial wall of the radially capillary seal, as well as defining a small surface area from which evaporation can occur.

7042125, May 9, 2006

Oct 2, 2002

10/264229

Jeffry Arnold LeBlanc - Aptos CA, US
Alan Lyndon Grantz - Aptos CA, US
Troy Michael Herndon - San Jose CA, US
Michael David Kennedy - Boulder Creek CA, US
Anthony Joseph Aiello - Aptos CA, US
Robert Alan Notthingham - Santa Cruz CA, US

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

H02K 5/16

310 90, 384110, 360 9908

A fluid bearing design is provided which according to one aspect includes a shaft defining together with a surrounding sleeve an asymmetric journal bearing, and a thrust bearing at or near an end of the shaft towards which the asymmetric journal bearing is pumping, with that end of the shaft being closed off. The journal bearing asymmetry establishes a hydraulic pressure toward the closed end of the shaft. This pressure provides an axial thrust to set the bearing gap for the conical bearing. The conical bearing itself is a relatively balanced bearing, although it may have a bias pumping toward the shaft and the journal bearing. A pressure closed equalization path from the journal bearing through the conical bearing to the end of the shaft may be established to maintain a constant hydraulic force across the conical bearing, and which may also prevent any asymmetry in the conical bearing from affecting the net thrust force acting upon the end of the shaft where the conical bearing is located. Alternatively, in a fluid dynamic bearing design comprising a shaft and a thrust plate at or near an end of the shaft, asymmetry is again established along the journal bearing to establish a pressure gradient directed toward the thrust bearing.

2014001, Jan 9, 2014

Dec 14, 2012

13/716079

Benjamin CLAWSON - Santa Cruz CA, US
Alan GRANTZ - Aptos CA, US

ANTHEM ORTHOPAEDICS VAN, LLC - Los Altos CA

A61B 17/72

606 62

An intramedullary rod for use in a mammalian body comprising an elongate nail having a stem and a head and a threaded element carried by the head and accessible at the proximal end for rotation relative to the head. A locking mechanism coupled to the threaded element and configured to preclude rotation of the threaded element relative to the head when the locking mechanism is in a first position and permit rotation of the threaded element relative to the head when the locking mechanism is in a second position.

2003023, Dec 25, 2003

Jun 20, 2003

10/600096

Norbert Parsoneault - Scotts Valley CA, US
Robert Nottingham - Santa Cruz CA, US
Alan Grantz - Aptos CA, US
Michael Tiller - Santa Cruz CA, US
Jeffry LeBlanc - Aptos CA, US
Troy Herndon - San Jose CA, US
Michael Whittome - Scotts Valley CA, US
Chris Woldemar - Santa Cruz CA, US

H02K005/16

310/090000

A motor is provided comprising a rotor, a stationary sleeve disposed about the rotor, a fluid dynamic bearing between the rotor and sleeve, and a limiter for restricting axial movement of the rotor relative to the stationary sleeve.

5938343, Aug 17, 1999

Nov 3, 1997

8/963565

Alan L. Grantz - Aptos CA
Klaus Kloeppel - Watsonville CA
John Dunfield - Santa Cruz CA

Seagate Technology, Inc. - Scotts Valley CA

F16C 3372, F16C 3206

384152

A rotating shaft motor or cartridge incorporates an o-ring which surrounds the rotating shaft and is borne on a carrier. As supported on the carrier, the o-ring does not normally block the bearing passages which would prevent the smooth distribution of oil throughout the motor. However, the carrier and o-ring combination are designed to allow the o-ring to be forced into an opening between the shaft and sleeve for completely sealing the remaining portion of the bearing during filling. The rotating shaft includes a central reservoir, having one or more grooves or passages communicating with the hydrodynamic bearing surfaces and ending in a septum or rubber plug which is inserted in an opening in the shaft.

6181039, Jan 30, 2001

Jun 11, 1999

9/330705

Michael D. Kennedy - Boulder Creek CA
Alan Lyndon Grantz - Aptos CA

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

H02K 708, F16C 3206

310 90

A fluid dynamic bearing usable in a spindle motor where the bearing is defined between two relative rotating surfaces which are open to the air at both ends, allowing the use of a fixed shaft. At one end of the shaft, at least one high volume, low stiffness seal is used, in combination with a low volume, high stiffness seal. The pressure differential between these two seals is balanced by one or more high stiffness, low volume seals spaced axially away along the shaft.

8308365, Nov 13, 2012

May 25, 2010

12/787325

Anthony J. Aiello - Santa Cruz CA, US
Christopher M. Woldemar - Santa Cruz CA, US
Norbert S. Parsoneault - Scotts Valley CA, US
Alan L. Grantz - Aptos CA, US

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

F16C 32/06, G11B 17/02, G11B 17/04

384107, 360 9907, 360 9908

A robust spindle motor is provided having improved shock resistance for fluid containment, as well as enhanced air purging characteristics. In an aspect, axial displacement of relatively rotating components is restricted by utilizing a limiter situated adjacent to a limiter bushing forming an axial limiter gap therebetween. A fluid channel, at least partially diverging, extends from a hydrodynamic bearing to the axial limiter gap, and continues to a region beyond the axial limiter gap. In an aspect, an axially diverging slot is situated adjacent to the axial limiter gap. Power is reduced by reducing viscous drag between relatively rotating components, hydrodynamic bearing length is increased, and higher stiffness of the hydrodynamic bearing is provided. Fluid volume may be increased, thereby offsetting fluid evaporation losses and allowing for the use of lower viscosity lubricants.

7390125, Jun 24, 2008

Jun 3, 2005

11/144538

Michael D. Kennedy - Boulder Creek CA, US
Roger A. Addy - Gilroy CA, US
Alan L. Grantz - Aptos CA, US
Norbert Steven Parsoneault - Scott Valley CA, US
Wesley R. Clark - Watsonville CA, US
Matt L. Shumway - San Jose CA, US
Ronald T. Albo - Campbell CA, US

Seagate Technology, Inc. - Scotts Valley CA

F16C 17/10

384110

To simplify fabrication of an integral hub piece, the opening between the upper and lower female cones in this hub has sufficient width or radial dimension to allow access to both cones from one side of the hub with the cutting tool. A cutting tool is used which has a width smaller than the opening between the cones. Preferably, the tool has a width which is about equal to or smaller than an angular dimension through this opening which is defined by extending surfaces of the upper and lower female cones. If this limitation is satisfied, both cones can be created with a single machine set up operating from one side of the integrated hub.

5908247, Jun 1, 1999

Aug 22, 1997

8/836508

Hans Leuthold - Santa Cruz CA
David John Jennings - Santa Cruz CA
Lakshman Nagarathnam - Milpitas CA
Alan Grantz - Aptos CA
Steve Parsoneault - Watsonville CA

Seagate Technology, Inc. - Scotts Valley CA

F16C 3206

384114

A bearing having two surfaces (60, 72) rotatable with respect to each other, a lubrication medium located in a gap between the tow surfaces during rotation of the bearing and a sinusoidal groove pattern (20) formed on one of the tow surfaces to distribute the lubrication medium over the surface of the bearing and create a pressure distribution in the bearing to create a stiff hydrodynamic bearing.