AIR PRESSURE BEARING

摘要

An air pressure bearing including a bearing including an outer bearing race and inner bearing race with a bearing gap therebetween, mounted between an outer race support ring and inner race support structure. Pressurized air is monitored, for example air pressure and flow rate, and supplied to the bearing and exhausted from the bearing. A control module is used to adjust characteristics of the pressurized air to achieve design application parameters, such as load carrying, stiffness and dampening. A method of controlling an active air pressure bearing is also described, including providing and monitoring pressurized air and adjusting air supply to meet application design parameters.

主权项

1. A device comprising:
a perforated outer race support ring, including:
an air supply port passing through the ring; andan air exhaust port passing through the ring; an outer bearing race mounted radially within the outer bearing race support ring; an inner bearing race axially aligned with the outer bearing race, to form a bearing gap therebetween, and pressed on an inner bearing race support structure; two seals mounted on axially opposite ends of the inner and outer bearing races, to form two axially opposed low air pressure gaps, and radially between the outer bearing race support ring and the inner bearing race support structure; an external air pressure generating device to provide supply air to the air supply port; at least one supply sensor configured to monitor supply air provided to the air supply port; at least one exhaust sensor configured to monitor exhaust air exiting the air exhaust port; and a control module configured to receive information from the supply sensor and exhaust sensor and modify operation of the external air pressure generating device according to pre-determined design parameters.