An aerostatic bearing includes a base having a foundation layer and a plurality of ventilation bodies protruding from the foundation layer, the ventilation bodies being made of a porous material; and a sealing layer covering the base and revealing at least one of the ventilation bodies.

A processing apparatus includes a processing unit. The processing unit includes a spindle, a spindle housing having an air bearing for rotatably supporting the spindle by using air, and a tool mounted on the front end of the spindle. The spindle housing has an air supply passage for supplying air to the air bearing, an air supply port connected to the air supply passage, an air discharge passage, and an air discharge port. The air supply port is connected through an air supply line to an air source. The air supply line is provided with a pressure gauge and a flowmeter. A first allowable value is previously set for the pressure to be detected by the pressure gauge, and a second allowable value is previously set for the flow rate to be detected by the flowmeter.

A linear guide includes an elongate guide body and a bearing cage, on the inner sides of which fluid pressure bearings are provided. The bearing cage moves along the guide body via the bearings. The bearing cage includes at least three interconnected plates. The plates each have an inner surface facing the guide body, an outer surface facing away from the guide body and side surfaces between the inner and the outer surface. Each plate is connected to a first other plate in a first end region and connected to a second other plate in an opposite second end region. For each of the plates: the first other plate, with its inner surface, abuts against a side surface of the considered plate, while the considered plate, with its inner surface, abuts against a side surface of the second other plate in the second end region of the considered plate.

A turbomachine includes a compressor section, a turbine section, and a rotary component. The rotary component is attached to and rotatable with a portion of at least one of the compressor section and the turbine section. The turbomachine additionally includes a seal having a gas bearing. The gas bearing defines an inner surface along a radial direction of the turbomachine, a high pressure end, and a low pressure end. The gas bearing supports the rotary component and also prevents an airflow from the high pressure end to the low pressure end between the rotary component and the inner surface of the gas bearing.

A turbomachine includes a rotating group with a turbine wheel. The turbomachine also includes a housing that houses the rotating group, wherein the housing defines a turbine outlet passage for exhaust from the turbine wheel. The turbine outlet passage is directed in a downstream direction along an axis of the turbine outlet passage. The turbomachine includes an air bearing system with at least one bearing component that supports the rotating group for rotation relative to the housing. The air bearing system includes a bearing cooling path that is fluidly connected to the at least one bearing component and that has a bearing air line outlet. The bearing air line outlet is fluidly connected to the turbine outlet passage and is directed in the downstream direction along the axis.

A workpiece support for a thermal processing system is provided. The workpiece support includes a rotor configured to support a workpiece. The workpiece support further includes a gas supply. The gas supply can include a plurality of bearing pads. Each of the bearing pads can be positioned closer to a periphery of the rotor than a center of the rotor. Each of the bearing define one or more passages configured to direct gas onto the rotor to control a position of the rotor along a first axis and a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. Furthermore, one or more of the bearing pads define at least one additional passage configured to direct gas onto the rotor to control rotation of the rotor about the first axis.

A bearing includes a thrust gas bearing attached to a journal bearing and two or more converging-diverging orifices defined in a surface of at least one of the thrust gas bearing and the journal bearing. The converging-diverging orifices supply at least one pressurized gas to an interior of the bearing. Hydrodynamic lifting grooves are provided on the faces of the thrust gas bearing and the journal bearing and provide improved load capacity and sealing capabilities. Control over the ratios of the pressurized gases provides for additional sealing capabilities and reduced leakage. A metal mesh damper provides increased damping of the gas bearing.

An apparatus, system and method for providing a floating end effector for grasping small precision parts. The end effector includes at least one end effector module having at least: tooling for grasping a part for pickup and placement; a module shaft connected on a first end to the tooling, and having a second end opposite the tooling; and at least two air bearing associated with the second end, wherein the at least two air bearings in combination impart degrees of freedom to the tooling in at least x and y axes and in theta.

A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes at least one side shoulder which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.

A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes side shoulders which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.