Compound air and mechanical bearing system and method

摘要

A bearing system and method may include a first bearing assembly that may have an inner race. An outer race may be disposed around the inner race and may be rotatable relative to the inner race. A second bearing assembly may be disposed around the first bearing assembly. The second bearing assembly may be an air bearing. The outer race may be engageable with the inner race through the engagement mechanism that acts on the outer race so that the inner and outer races rotate together.

主权项

1. A bearing system comprising a first bearing assembly that has an inner race and an outer race disposed around the inner race and rotatable relative to the inner race, and a second bearing assembly disposed around the first bearing assembly, the second bearing assembly being an air bearing, and an engagement mechanism wherein the outer race is engageable with the inner race through the engagement mechanism that acts on the outer race by selectively and directly contacting the outer race so that the inner and outer races rotate together, and the engagement mechanism is selectively separable from the outer race releasing the outer race so that the inner and outer races rotate relative to each other.