초록 ▼

A self-aligning fluid bearing for supporting a moving part, and allowing that part to move along at least one flat support surface substantially without friction, includes a body with at least one planar face having at least one spheroidal concave depression therein, channels within the body for dir

A self-aligning fluid bearing for supporting a moving part, and allowing that part to move along at least one flat support surface substantially without friction, includes a body with at least one planar face having at least one spheroidal concave depression therein, channels within the body for directing pressurized fluid to each depression, and one planoconvex disk for each depression. Each disk includes a convex spheroidal surface with a spherical radius which is approximately equal to that of the corresponding concave depression and an oppositely facing planar surface so that the convex surface of the disk is located in spaced relation to the depression surface when pressurized fluid is directed into the depression. Each disk furthermore has a passageway between the convex surface and the planar surface through which pressurized fluid can pass to the planar surface of that disk so that the disk is supported in spaced relation to the flat support surface when pressurized fluid is directed through that passageway. Each planoconvex disk is slightly rotatable with respect to its corresponding depression so that the disks can move to compensate for imperfections in the flat support surface without upsetting the bearing. The bearing may include one or more magnets which bias the bearing toward a ferromagnetic flat support surface.

대표청구항 ▼

A self-aligning fluid bearing for supporting a moving part and allowing that part to move along at least one flat support surface substantially without friction comprising: (a) a body including at least one face which is substantially planar and having at least one spheroidal concave depression ther

A self-aligning fluid bearing for supporting a moving part and allowing that part to move along at least one flat support surface substantially without friction comprising: (a) a body including at least one face which is substantially planar and having at least one spheroidal concave depression therein; (b) means within the body for directing pressurized fluid to each depression; (c) one planoconvex disk for each depression, each disk including a convex spheroidal surface with a spherical radius which is approximately equal to that of the corresponding concave depression, and an oppositely facing planar surface, the disk having at least one first passageway between the convex surface and the planar surface through which pressurized fluid can pass and being suspended within a cushion of fluid while located largely within the corresponding depression between and in spaced relation to a surface of the depression and to the flat support surface, the concave depression surface and convex surface forming therebetween a second passageway through which pressurized fluid can pass to an outside environment, and the planar surface on the disk forming with the flat support surface a third passageway therebetween through which the pressurized fluid can pass from the first passageway to the outside environment.