Patent ID: 6428210
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
A carriage assembly adapted to be slidably mated to a slide ram for use in a linear slide assembly, the carriage assembly comprising:a plurality of gas bearings; upper and lower horizontal bearing carriers; left and right vertical bearing carriers; each bearing carrier being adapted to hold at least one gas bearing, the carriers including a throttling port which opens to a recessed gas cavity, the port and cavity being positioned behind each gas bearing; each carrier further including at least one internal passageway for delivering pressurized gas to the throttling port, wherein the pressurized gas enters the recessed cavity and is expelled through the gas bearing; the internal gas delivery passageways being aligned such that when the upper and lower horizontal carriers are attached to the left and right vertical carriers, one continuous passageway is formed such that each gas bearing in each respective carrier may be pressurized from a single external gas supply port; and fasteners for attaching the upper and lower bearing carriers to the left and right bearing carriers.