In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.

In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.

An active aerostatic bearing comprises a first plate and a force actuator. The first plate has a central recess area including an orifice forming an inlet restrictor for pressurized air from a central nozzle. The pressurized air forms an air gap between a guiding surface and the first plate. The force actuator is configured to act to deform the first plate so as to change a shape of the air gap, wherein the actuator is configured to cause a conical deformation of the first plate.

In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.

An aerostatic bearing includes a slider that is guidable on a guide surface. The slider has an inner, conical sliding surface of an inner air bearing facing the guide surface with a central compressed air supply. The conical sliding surface is attached by first joints to the central compressed air supply and by second joints to a base of the slider arranged on a side of the slider facing away from the guide surface, such that a cone angle of the conical sliding surface is variable. The conical sliding surface is surrounded by an annular sliding surface of an outer air bearing having an annular compressed air supply.

The axial bearing arrangement comprises a first axial bearing plate (12) and a second axial bearing plate (13) each having an annular ring shape, the first axial bearing plate (12) having a first surface (12.1) axially facing the second axial bearing plate (13) and a second surface (12.2) opposite to the respective first surface (12.1), the second axial bearing plate (13) having a first surface (13.1) axially facing the first axial bearing plate (12) and a second surface (13.2) opposite to the respective first surface (13.1); a spacer ring (14) clamped between the first surfaces (12.1, 13.1) of the first and second axial bearing plates (12, 13), the spacer ring (14) defining an axial distance between the first and second axial bearing plates (12, 13); and a bearing sleeve (15) abutting the second surface (13.2) of the second axial bearing plate (13) and being secured to a compressor block (16). The axial bearing arrangement includes an elastic element (22) axially biasing the first and second axial bearing plates (12, 13) and the spacer ring (14) with a predetermined force against an abutment surface (17) of the bearing sleeve (15).

An active aerostatic bearing comprises a first plate and a force actuator. The first plate has a central recess area including an orifice forming an inlet restrictor for pressurized air from a central nozzle. The pressurized air forms an air gap between a guiding surface and the first plate. The force actuator is configured to act to deform the first plate so as to change a shape of the air gap, wherein the actuator is configured to cause a conical deformation of the first plate.

An aerostatic bearing includes a slider that is guidable on a guide surface. The slider has an inner, conical sliding surface of an inner air bearing facing the guide surface with a central compressed air supply. The conical sliding surface is attached by first joints to the central compressed air supply and by second joints to a base of the slider arranged on a side of the slider facing away from the guide surface, such that a cone angle of the conical sliding surface is variable. The conical sliding surface is surrounded by an annular sliding surface of an outer air bearing having an annular compressed air supply.

In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.

The axial bearing arrangement comprises a first axial bearing plate (12) and a second axial bearing plate (13) each having an annular ring shape, the first axial bearing plate (12) having a first surface (12.1) axially facing the second axial bearing plate (13) and a second surface (12.2) opposite to the respective first surface (12.1), the second axial bearing plate (13) having a first surface (13.1) axially facing the first axial bearing plate (12) and a second surface (13.2) opposite to the respective first surface (13.1); a spacer ring (14) clamped between the first surfaces (12.1, 13.1) of the first and second axial bearing plates (12, 13), the spacer ring (14) defining an axial distance between the first and second axial bearing plates (12, 13); and a bearing sleeve (15) abutting the second surface (13.2) of the second axial bearing plate (13) and being secured to a compressor block (16). The axial bearing arrangement includes an elastic element (22) axially biasing the first and second axial bearing plates (12, 13) and the spacer ring (14) with a predetermined force against an abutment surface (17) of the bearing sleeve (15).