Patent ID: 6467960
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: F16C,G03F,H01J

Abstract:
An air bearing linear guide suitable for use in a vacuum environment, the air bearing linear guide being arranged to substantially wrap around a portion of a guide beam, the air bearing linear guide comprising:a sleeve, the sleeve having an inner surface; a first air pad, the first air pad being located on the inner surface of the sleeve; a first land, the first land being arranged on the inner surface of the sleeve at least partially around the first air pad; a first channel, the channel being defined between the first air pad and the first land, wherein the first channel is arranged to be vented to a non-vacuum environment; and a second land, the second land being arranged to substantially seal the inner surface of the sleeve from the vacuum environment; wherein a height of the first land and a height the first air pad are approximately the same.