Abstract: A device for controlling the rectilinear translation of a movable member, comprises a screw engaged by a nut having cooperatingly shaped thread surfaces the dimensions of which are such that there is a radial clearance between the screw and the nut and an axial clearance between adjacent helical flanks of the screw and the nut. The nut is provided with radial passages communicating with the chambers defining the radial clearances, which can be put into communication with a source of compressed gas enabling the formation of an air cushion or air bearing between the two relatively movable members thereby reducing the turning moment necessary for effecting rectilinear movement of the movable member.

Abstract: A hydrostatic apparatus for supporting a collared shaft bearing face which xially translates creating thrust force on a button bearing face wherein the button bearing is radially supported and fluidly sealed by two separate means. This arrangement avoids sustantial non-parallelism between said shaft bearing face and said button bearing face.

Abstract: The invention refers to a device for supporting and carrying, e.g. a centrifugal rotor. For making possible an adjustment of the rotor thus that any possible unbalance is eliminated as far as possible, the rotor is supported upon a supporting element, on which it is radially displaceable. Between the rotor and the supporting element is provided a bearing part. This is rotatable and displaceable laterally on the supporting element and carries the rotor with means, which incorporate deformable members, which allow a tilting of the rotor upon the bearing part.

Abstract: The tiltwise stiffness of an axially-lobed, nearly-spherical elastomeric joint is made uniform at all azimuths by contouring the axial height of the elastomer or by reducing the thickness or durometer of the elastomer at azimuths where the joint otherwise would be tiltwise stiffer, such as at the lobes. The improvement is useful in the application of the joint to a gimbal-like rotor system.

Abstract: Compensation for shaft excursion in a seal housing is achieved with a fluid film bearing in which bearing fluid is supplied to the bearing region at a pressure and flow rate which depend upon shaft rotational speed. In a disclosed embodiment, the bearing fluid is provided from a centrifugal fluid seal which delivers part of its fluid to the bearing region as a function of centrifugal pressure. A magnetic fluid seal is employed for zero and low speed operation. The shaft includes an annular collar which rotates in an annular cavity formed in a seal cartridge which is rotationally stationary but capable of small axial displacements to compensate for axial shaft displacement. A spring biases the cartridge in opposition to the axial forces of the magnetic fluid seal so as to axially balance the system at zero and low shaft speed operation.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic axial thrust bearing structure in which two bearing members are disposed for movement relative to one another, a central bearing cavity adapted to receive pressurized bearing fluid is surrounded by a limited leakage seal structure which includes a ring of an elastomeric material disposed in a recess in one of the bearing members and a seal face formed on the other member which has a cylindrical outer surface received in a cylindrical projection of the one bearing member with a small axial leakage gap provided between the cylindrical sufaces of the two bearing members thereby providing a leakage path from the bearing cavity which is independent of the movement of the two bearing members relative to one another.

Abstract: An improved system for guiding one part relative another in an accurately defined path, both planar and linear, is disclosed. The improved system eliminates friction associated with heretofore moving parts, is characterized by simplicity and cost effectiveness, and comprises a first part having a primary reference surface prepared to close tolerances and accurately defining a predetermined path and an opposed parallel secondary surface, and a second part designed for guidance by the primary surface. A fixed air pad is adjustably mounted on the second part adjacent the primary surface. A second air pad is resiliently mounted on the second part adjacent the opposed secondary surface. The resilient mounting includes a bellows.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic bearing structure in which two bearing members are disposed for movement relative to one another with adjacent bearing surfaces adapted to accommodate therebetween a bearing fluid under pressure for supporting one of the members on the other, a bearing surface area of at least one of the members is formed by a thin layer of an elastomeric material on a substrate of a highly heat conductive material in order to avoid damage to the bearing surfaces by particular matter and friction heat.

Abstract: Rotary gas bearing and seal apparatus is disclosed which seals a region between the two planar bearing surfaces that is radially offset from the axis of rotation of the bearing. In the preferred embodiment, two arcuate gas sink channels sink the gas of the bearing away from the region. The gas outside the region and the two channels coact to effect the seal. A gas bearing and vacuum seal embodiment using air or alternatively nitrogen as the bearing gas is described.

Abstract: A gas thrust bearing for a shaft mounted for rotation and limited axial movement in a housing. As disclosed, the axial shaft load is supported by pressurized gas between an end of the shaft serving as a first thrust surface and a cylindrical thrust pad providing a second thrust surface having an outlet orifice at its center. Pressurized gas is introduced between the shaft and the housing and flows between the thrust surfaces to the outlet orifice. The outlet orifice is surrounded by a small raised annulus. The thrust pad carrying the second thrust surface is supported on a flexible diaphragm which moves in response to changes in the thrust load in a manner to damp out oscillations of the shaft.

Abstract: In order to be able to achieve, in yarn manufacture, the very high speeds required by the textile industry in open-end spinning devices, for the purpose of increasing production, and in order to achieve high operating reliability and a long life of the spinning devices, the rotor which rotates at high speeds and is subject to a variable imbalance and which is guided in gas-dynamic radial plain bearings is guided in a bearing carrier which is elastically pivotable in relation to the rigid bearing journal. At the same time, the bearing journal is connected, but so as to be elastically pivotable, to the bearing carrier via a bearing-body joint. A first gas-dynamic radial plain bearing, which is located in the region in the center of gravity of the rotor, is arranged on the bearing carrier, and a second gas-dynamic radial bearing is arranged at the opposite end of the bearing carrier.

Abstract: A vacuum-to-vacuum entry system which uses a rotary transport to transfer workpieces between two vacuum environments in a direction parallel to its axis of rotation and through the interface of a combination rotary gas bearing and seal. The combination gas bearing and seal seals off a zone in the gap between its two planar bearing surfaces that is radially offset from the axis of rotation of the bearing which is coincidental with the transport axis. Two arcuate gas sink channels on one of the bearing surfaces sink the gas of the bearing away from the zone. The bearing gas outside the zone in the gap and the two channels coact to effect a peripheral seal about the zone allowing the two vacuum environments when appropriately aligned to be in sealed communication with each other through the zone. A preferred embodiment is described for the transfer of ceramic substrates with circuitized surfaces between two vacuums environments.

Abstract: So as to be able to achieve, in yarn manufacture, the very high speed required by the textile industry in open-end spinning devices, for the purpose of increasing production, the rotors which are connected to the spinning container including a spinning groove, are designed as a hollow shaft, and this hollow shaft is guided radially on a bearing journal located in the interior of the hollow shaft by means of gas-dynamic radial plain bearings designed as inner bearings. Gas-dynamic axial plain bearings are provided for the axial guidance of the rotor rotating at very high speed. The rotor together with the spinning container can be pushed in and out in a simple way from the spinning side, and to position the rotor over the entire speed range, permanent magnets are located in the bearing journal opposite the rearside of the spinning container and in an annular widened portion of the bearing journal.

Abstract: A fluid bearing is disclosed which consists essentially of a number of bearing pads, each having a face member and a support member that are separated and bonded together by an elastomeric material. The face member will have a load engaging surface, and its back surface will have at least one arcuate portion to provide a point of inflection which opposes an identical arcuate surface providing another point of inflection located on the support member. In operation the pad which operates in a fluid that serves as a lubricant will develop friction and pressure forces, which move the pad in such a way as to provide a wedge for hydrodynamic lubrication.

Abstract: A pad-type sliding surface bearing is disclosed, in which the bearing surface is segmented into a plurality of pads that rockingly displace themselves to form a wedge shape converging in the direction of motion with a relatively moving part. The pads are each supported in a bearing housing or a support portion by a plurality of webs which indeed are integral with the pad and the housing or support portion, which allow the pad to rock by deflection of the webs. The opposing part that moves relative to the pads creates a viscous friction force in the direction to form a converging web shape between the moving part and the bearing pad, which rocks to a position until the bearing surface stabilizes where the moments of the fluid pressure and the load are in balance.

Abstract: A fixed pad thrust bearing for a turbomachine comprises a ring of sector-shaped pads separated by grooves and facing a thrust collar integral with the rotor of the turbomachine within a thrust bearing cage integral with the rotor. The ring bears on a deformable ring. Each pad is fed with oil via a space formed in the wall of the cage and facing an orifice in a bore in the pad. A front surface of each pad facing the collar is inclined relative to the rear surface of the ring. Each pad is further formed with a groove communicating with the aforementioned bore but not reaching as far as the inner and outer edges of the pad, being disposed adjacent the leading edge of the pad. The oil is recovered centrifugally from the outer edge of the collar. In this way, virtually all the power consumed by the oil goes towards providing the hydrodynamic supporting force, minimizing the shearing losses between the fixed and moving parts within the thrust bearing cage.

Abstract: Journal and/or thrust bearings of a high speed rotary machine are mounted on a portion of the machine stator by mounts which allow limited tracking of pivotal rotor displacements by the bearings to reduce the risk of bearing damage due to nonuniform bearing pressurization from such pivotal shaft displacements. The mounts resist radial and axial shaft displacements for maintenance of sufficient shaft-stator alignment to prevent risk of rotor-stator impact.

Abstract: An epoxy grout suitable for use in mounting and positioning bearing runner plates used in hydrostatic bearing assemblies for rotatably mounting large radio telescope structures to stationary support pedestals. The epoxy grout may be used in original mountings or may be used as part of a replacement system for repairing cavities in existing grout resulting from grout deterioration. The epoxy grout has a relatively short work life and cure time even in the presence of hydraulic oil. The epoxy grout cures without shrinking or sagging to form a grout which is sufficiently strong and durable to provide a grout especially well-suited for use under the high pressure loading and close tolerance requirements of large hydrostatic bearing assemblies.