Patent ID: 6271530
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: F16C,Y10S

Abstract:
A fluid bearing comprising:(i) a base;(ii) a stator attached to the base providing a first planar fluid bearing surface extending in a direction of movement;(iii) a moving member having a second planar fluid bearing surface extending over said first surface, said moving member being mounted to be movable relative to said stator in said direction of movement, said first and second bearing surfaces being adapted to allow the second surface to be supported spaced from said first surface by a bearing fluid, one of said stator and said base having a locating member extending normal to the plane of said first bearing surface and the other of said stator and said base having a recess shaped to receive said locating member;(iv) a fluid seal enabling said member to slide in said recess in said normal direction sealing off an enclosed volume between said member and said other of said stator and said base;(v) a plurality of fixtures at respective points distributed in a plane parallel to said first bearing surface to fix said locating member and said other of said stator and said base together at said points to form said enclosed volume, the number of said fixtures being the minimum necessary so that the first planar bearing surface of the said stator remains undistorted, and(vi) a fluid controller controlling the supply of a fluid to said enclosed volume to maintain said first planar bearing surface undistorted under the loading of said moving member.