Patent ID: 9441668
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: F16C,F16J

Claim Text:
1. An aerostatic or hydrostatic bearing and seal assembly comprising: a first opposing surface that is a circumferential surface or sleeve on a rotatable shaft; a second opposing surface that is a porous media; the porous media connected to a seal body and positioned over and covering a plenum in the seal body; the plenum being connected to a conductive passage for communicating a pressurized fluid to the plenum and the porous media distributing the pressurized fluid between the circumferential surface or sleeve and the porous media to create an annular film between the porous media and the circumferential surface or sleeve; and wherein the bearing and seal assembly is coupled to an end of a housing that is concentric to the shaft with an o-ring disposed therebetween so that the first and second opposed surfaces form a radial bearing and serve as a seal so that the pressurized fluid between the circumferential surface or sleeve and the porous media prevents the contents contained in the housing from escaping.