A circumferential seal assembly capable of separating a gas into two separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The seal assembly includes an annular seal housing, a pair of annular seal rings, a rotatable runner, and a plurality of groove structures. The seal housing is interposed between a pair of compartments. The seal rings are separately disposed within the seal housing and separately disposed around the rotatable runner. The groove structures are disposed along an outer annular surface of the rotatable runner. A gas is communicable onto the groove structures. Each groove structure includes at least two hydrodynamic grooves that separate and communicate the gas onto the seal rings. Each groove includes steps whereby the depth of at least one adjoining step decreases in the direction opposite to rotation with or without the depth of another adjoining steps increasing in the direction opposite to rotation.

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.

A tilting pad bearing includes a plurality of pads slidably supporting an outside surface of a rotor shaft, a housing covering the plurality of pads, a support portion swingably supporting the pad with respect to the housing, and a fluid supply unit configured to supply a fluid to a pad surface.

The support portion includes a pivot having a pad support surface in contact with a pad outside surface and a pivot curved surface curved facing and protruding toward a side opposite to the pad support surface, a liner having a first liner surface in contact with the pivot curved surface, and a biasing member biasing the liner toward the pivot with respect to the housing.

A support assembly is disclosed. The support assembly may comprise a component to interact with a photoconductive imaging unit, the component being rotatable relative to the photoconductive imaging unit. The support assembly may comprise an air bearing positioned adjacent to a surface of the photoconductive imaging unit, the air bearing to generate a cushion of gas to support the component at a defined distance from the photoconductive imaging unit. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

A throttle unit is equipped with a grooved block including at least one minute groove formed on a plane surface, and an opposite block having a plane surface which is opposite to the minute groove. The grooved block and the opposite block are detachably joined so as to be opposite to each other. A throttle fluid path is formed by the minute groove and the plane surface of the opposite block. At least one surface of each of the minute groove is constituted by a curved surface or an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the plane surface of the grooved block.

A fluid cushion guiding device (1) is provided for guiding a member (2) into relative movement, rotary and/or translatory, relative to the guiding device (1). The guiding device (1) comprises an inner cylindrical portion (10) and an outer cylindrical portion (11) that are coaxial with each other. The inner cylindrical portion (10) has a plurality of radial holes (12) having first ends (13) communicating with a first gap (15) provided between the inner cylindrical portion (10) and the member (2) to be guided. The outer cylindrical portion (11) has at least one radial opening (17) arranged to allow introducing from the outside a pressurised fluid which, by reaching the first gap (15) through the holes (12), is suitable to create a fluidic gap between the inner cylindrical portion (10) and the member (2) to be guided.

In an aerodynamic bearing, an outer peripheral surface of a shaft and an inner peripheral surface of a sleeve face each other in a radial direction. The sleeve includes a through hole penetrating the sleeve in the radial direction. A space on a radially inner side of the sleeve communicates with an external space of a motor through the through hole. A stationary portion includes a wall portion radially overlapping the through hole with a gap interposed therebetween on a radially outer side of the through hole.

An intershaft seal assembly for maintaining separation between a piston ring and a pair of mating rings is presented. The assembly includes a piston ring interposed between forward and aft mating rings and a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves disposed along a sealing face of each mating ring. Each hydrodynamic groove further includes at least two adjoining steps wherein each step is defined by a base wall arranged to decrease depthwise in the direction opposite to rotation of an inner shaft. Two adjoining base walls define a base shoulder which locally redirects potion of a longitudinal flow within the groove to form an outward flow in the direction of the piston ring. Base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls with at least one side shoulder thereon which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects portion of the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow from one side wall toward another side wall. Outward and lateral flows cooperate, with or without the longitudinal flow, to increase fluid pressure and maintain separation between the piston ring and the mating rings.