A motor assembly includes a first bearing installed on a rotating shaft adjacent to an impeller to support a first support part of the rotating shaft, a second bearing installed on the rotating shaft adjacent to the rotor to support a second support part of the rotating shaft, a bearing bracket receiving the first and second bearings therein, an elastic member inserted between the first bearing and the bearing bracket or between the second bearing and the bearing bracket to press either the first bearing or the second bearing to get closer to each other, and a separation preventing member installed on the bearing bracket to fix the first bearing, the second bearing and the elastic member to an inner space of the bearing bracket such that at least one portion of the separation preventing member overlaps with one of the first bearing, the second bearing and the elastic member.

A motor assembly includes a first bearing installed on a rotating shaft adjacent to an impeller to support a first support part of the rotating shaft, a second bearing installed on the rotating shaft adjacent to the rotor to support a second support part of the rotating shaft, a bearing bracket receiving the first and second bearings therein, an elastic member inserted between the first bearing and the bearing bracket or between the second bearing and the bearing bracket to press either the first bearing or the second bearing to get closer to each other, and a separation preventing member installed on the bearing bracket to fix the first bearing, the second bearing and the elastic member to an inner space of the bearing bracket such that at least one portion of the separation preventing member overlaps with one of the first bearing, the second bearing and the elastic member.

A tensioning arrangement for a bearing ring, which introduces a compressive force towards a rotational centre of the bearing ring, to prevent the bearing ring distorting as a shaft supported by the bearing turns. The tensioner arrangement includes a strap and a tensioner. The strap has a connector at each end, and tensioner has an element for connecting to the connectors. The tensioner also has an element for applying tension to the strap. In use, the strap is arranged around the bearing ring and a circumferential length of the strap in contact with the bearing ring is reduced, thereby applying compressive force to the bearing ring.

A tensioning arrangement for a bearing ring, which introduces a compressive force towards a rotational centre of the bearing ring, to prevent the bearing ring distorting as a shaft supported by the bearing turns. The tensioner arrangement includes a strap and a tensioner. The strap has a connector at each end, and tensioner has an element for connecting to the connectors. The tensioner also has an element for applying tension to the strap. In use, the strap is arranged around the bearing ring and a circumferential length of the strap in contact with the bearing ring is reduced, thereby applying compressive force to the bearing ring.

Load sharing stacked bearing structure including first bearing having a first inner race, first outer race and first set of roller elements housed between first inner race and first outer race and a second bearing having a second inner race, second outer race and second set of roller elements housed between second inner race and the second outer race. A housing surrounds the first and second bearings. First compliant element is provided with the first compliant element connected between the housing and the first outer race. The first compliant element, first outer race and housing define at a pressure chamber. The first outer race axially slidable relative to the second outer race such that an increase in pressure in pressure chamber causes a change in axial spacing between the outer races. This induces an additional axial load on the bearings which helps balance thrust load sharing.

Load sharing stacked bearing structure including first bearing having a first inner race, first outer race and first set of roller elements housed between first inner race and first outer race and a second bearing having a second inner race, second outer race and second set of roller elements housed between second inner race and the second outer race. A housing surrounds the first and second bearings. First compliant element is provided with the first compliant element connected between the housing and the first outer race. The first compliant element, first outer race and housing define at a pressure chamber. The first outer race axially slidable relative to the second outer race such that an increase in pressure in pressure chamber causes a change in axial spacing between the outer races. This induces an additional axial load on the bearings which helps balance thrust load sharing.

A thrust bearing configured to support axial loads that act on a rotating body includes a thrust shaft rotatably supportable in a bearing housing, a thrust collar, and a retainer connected to the thrust shaft and configured to support a plurality of thrust pieces. The thrust pieces each have a front sliding surface in sliding contact with the thrust collar, and the retainer includes a disk having a central opening and an outer circumference and a plurality of radial incisions extending radially inwardly from the outer circumference which incisions have inner ends radially spaced from the central opening. The radial incisions define circumferentially adjacent spring sections each of the which is individually axially flexible against and away from the bearing housing to open and close a spring gap between each of the spring sections and the bearing housing.

A thrust bearing configured to support axial loads that act on a rotating body includes a thrust shaft rotatably supportable in a bearing housing, a thrust collar, and a retainer connected to the thrust shaft and configured to support a plurality of thrust pieces. The thrust pieces each have a front sliding surface in sliding contact with the thrust collar, and the retainer includes a disk having a central opening and an outer circumference and a plurality of radial incisions extending radially inwardly from the outer circumference which incisions have inner ends radially spaced from the central opening. The radial incisions define circumferentially adjacent spring sections each of the which is individually axially flexible against and away from the bearing housing to open and close a spring gap between each of the spring sections and the bearing housing.

A bearing arrangement comprising: a first bearing including a first inner race coupled to a rotatable component, a first outer race; and a plurality of first roller elements between the first inner race and the first outer race; a second bearing including a second inner race coupled to the rotatable component, a second outer race, and a plurality of second roller elements between the second inner race and the second outer race; a component, the first outer race being axially moveable relative to the component; and a member between the first bearing and the second bearing and arranged to provide an indirect first force on the first outer race to prevent the first roller elements from skidding when the first bearing and the second bearing receive a second force in a first direction, the second bearing being configured to transfer the second force to the component.

This invention prevents seizure of a dynamic pressure gas bearing caused upon swinging contact between a motor shaft and a sleeve and an increase in contact friction torque. It also detects rotation of auxiliary bearings. A motor includes auxiliary bearings in series with a dynamic pressure gas bearing, and a non-contact detent torque generation mechanism parallel to the auxiliary bearings suppresses rotation of the auxiliary bearings. Where Ta denotes rotation-time viscous friction torque of the dynamic pressure gas bearing, Tka denotes contact friction torque possibly causing damage to the dynamic pressure gas bearing, Tb denotes rotation friction torque of the auxiliary bearings, and Td.sub.max denotes maximum torque generated when rotation of the auxiliary bearings is suppressed by the non-contact detent torque generation mechanism, (Ta+Tka)>(Tb+Td.sub.max)>(Ta), and the rotation detecting means detects the rotation of the auxiliary bearings.