US Patent 6837621 Rotor bearing for increased lubricant flow

Disclosed is an improved hydrodynamic bearing assembly for use in a motor assembly. The motor assembly typically includes a shaft with an axially oriented fluid channel and at least one radial shaft port extending through the wall of the shaft. The bearing assembly includes a bearing sleeve and a bearing collar. Preferably, the radial thickness of the bearing sleeve is at least the radial thickness of the bearing collar. It is also preferred that the bearing sleeve includes at least one bearing port that can be aligned with the shaft port to provide a path of fluid travel from inside the axially oriented fluid channel through the bearing sleeve.