摘要 |
A contactless system including an aerodynamically floatable device, a member having an outer surface adjacent to and spaced from the aerodynamically floatable device, a support mechanism adapted to support the aerodynamically floatable device for free movement toward and away from the outer surface of the member, the aerodynamically floatable device having a side adjacent to, spaced from, parallel to and facing the outer surface of the member, the aerodynamically floatable device also containing at least one passageway for directing at least one stream of a gas from the side of the aerodynamically floatable device toward the outer surface of the member with sufficient pressure to maintain the aerodynamically floatable device a constant distance from the outer surface of the member. This system may be utilized in a process comprising providing an aerodynamically floatable device spaced from an outer surface of a member, the aerodynamically floatable device being at least moveable toward and away from the outer surface of the member, the aerodynamically floatable device comprising at least one passageway for directing at least one stream of a gas from the moveable device toward the outer surface of the member, flowing a gas through the passageway with sufficient pressure to maintain the aerodynamically floatable device a constant distance from the outer surface of the member.
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