Abstract: A bearing for a rotatable window in a laser enclosure includes a bearing shaft rotatably fitted in a bearing sleeve. The bearing shaft is in the form of a hollow cylinder and the window is held in the bearing sleeve. The bearing shaft and the bearing sleeve each include a circumferential generally V-shaped groove. The grooves are aligned with other and a coil spring in the form of a continuous loop is located in the grooves. Coils of the coil spring make point contact with sloping surfaces of the grooves and are under radial compression. This provides an axial and radial preload for the bearing. The radial and axial preload retain the bearing shaft in the bearing sleeve while maintaining alignment of the window as the bearing shaft is rotated.

Abstract: A bearing for a rotatable window in a laser enclosure includes a bearing shaft rotatably fitted in a bearing sleeve. The bearing shaft is in the form of a hollow cylinder and the window is held in the bearing sleeve. The bearing shaft and the bearing sleeve each include a circumferential generally V-shaped groove. The grooves are aligned with other and a coil spring in the form of a continuous loop is located in the grooves. Coils of the coil spring make point contact with sloping surfaces of the grooves and are under radial compression. This provides an axial and radial preload for the bearing. The radial and axial preload retain the bearing shaft in the bearing sleeve while maintaining alignment of the window as the bearing shaft is rotated.