| 摘要 |
A gas bearing (100) having pressurized axially extending chambers (110) in a housing (102) having a shaft bore (104) therein, the axially chambers (110) being in fluid communication with a bearing surface (108) that defines the bore via laser-drilled capillaries (118). The end (122) of each laser-drilled capillary at the bearing surface (108) is flared such that the narrowest portion of the capillary is set back from the bearing surface (108). This shape can ensure that the load carrying function of the bearing (100) does not fail during shaft eccentricity by ensuring that pressure restriction must happen within the capillary and not the gap being shaft and bearing surface. The bearing surface may face in an axial and/or radial direction with respect to the shaft. The axial chambers may be pressurized axially such that the outer circumference of the housing is unbroken and hence usable for other purposes. |
