Gas pressure bearing

US5199796A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Stiftung · DE

Inventors

• Eckhard Enderle · Aalen, DE
• Peter Ahnelt · Oberkochen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 27, 1992
• Grant date: Apr 6, 1993
• Expiry date: Jul 27, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16C32/0666
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A load-compensating gas bearing which exhibits high total rigidity over a large range of loads. The bearing consists of a deformable disk (3) that is supported by, but is not fixed to, a circular support (6) that is rigidly mounted to a base element connected with the machine part (1) being supported by the bearing. The disk (3) is held and centered only by a cylindrical insert (5) that is also used to supply the supporting gas to the bearing span. The bearing side of the deformable disk is provided with a hard plastic coating for protection in the event the gas supply is discontinued; and in one preferred embodiment, the circular support (6) is mounted to a base element that is integral with the machine part being supported.