Hydrostatic bearing for linear motion guidance
US7311444B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 11, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C32/0659
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A self-compensating hydrostatic (pressurized fluid film) linear bearing that maintains a fluid gap between a carriage and a rail when relative forces are applied. The geometric shape of the rail and mating carriage enable the bearing to have very high stiffness and load capacity without exessive detrimental carriage deformation. The carriages contain bearing grooves and lands which control and use fluid pressure to provide a very high degree of restoring force in response to changes in the fluid gap. The fluid emanating from the bearing gap is prevented from immediately leaking from the bearing carriage, and is instead routed back to the source from which it is pumped, thereby sealing the bearing carriage and simplifying the handling of the lubricating fluid. The hydrostatic bearing is particularly designed to be compact and to be bolt-for-bolt compatible with conventional linear bearings.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.