Patent US6446243B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US6377786B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0146004A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Air bearing for moving webs
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1984-11-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-11-23
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an air-bearing-surface characterized by one, or several, "trough enclosures".
Inventors
- 👤 Karl Ball
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:16
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B15/00; G11B15/60; G11B15/605; G11B15/607; F; F16; F16C; F16C32/00; F16C32/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
An air bearing means for pneumatically supporting and guiding a moving web segment as it is directed about an "outside" turn and bent in a convex configuration, this means including a convex air-bearing-surface with one or more "troughs" therein adapted to impel pressurized gas against the passing web segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
An air bearing means for pneumatically supporting and guiding a moving web segment as it is directed about an "outside" turn and bent in a convex configuration, this means including a convex air-bearing-surface with one or more "troughs" therein adapted to impel pressurized gas against the passing web segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein each said "trough" is defined by air-containing side-walls plus a pair of end-walls, each end-wall being made sufficiently thin and sharp that a severe discontinuity in gas-pressure is created at the end-wall and "web-touchdown" avoided.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as recited in claim 2 wherein each "trough" is provided with pressurized gas via prescribed inlet aperture means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein the inlet aperture means comprises at least one row of openings aligned along the air-bearing surface in the direction of web-passage and having a prescribed total aperture area AT.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein the air-containing side-walls are made sufficiently thin and sharp that a prescribed severe discontinuity in gas-pressure is created above the side-walls and "web-touchdown" avoided.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination as recited in claim 5 wherein the web comprises recording tape and the air bearing means is part of a tape drive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein two such "troughs" are so defined, each extending along the direction of tape passage, with a common intermediate rib separating them.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of supporting and guiding a moving web segment as it is directed about an "outside" turn and bent in a convex loop, this method including providing air bearing means which is formed and adpated to include a convex air-bearing-surface with one or more "troughs" therein adapted to impel pressurized gas against the passing web segment.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of supporting and guiding a moving web segment as it is directed about an "outside" turn and bent in a convex loop, this method including providing air bearing means which is formed and adpated to include a convex air-bearing-surface with one or more "troughs" therein adapted to impel pressurized gas against the passing web segment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 8 wherein each said "trough" is defined by providing air-containing side-walls and a pair of end-walls on the air-bearing-surface, each end-wall being made sufficiently thin and sharp that a prescribed severe discontinuity in gas-pressure is created there and "web-touchdown" avoided.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein each "trough" is provided with pressurized gas via prescribed inlet aperture means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the inlet aperture means is fashioned to comprise at least one row of openings aligned along the air-bearing-surface in the direction of web-passage, these having a prescribed total "aperture area" AT.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the side-walls are made sufficiently thin and sharp that a prescribed severe discontinuity in gas-pressure is created thereover, and "web-touchdown" avoided.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the web comprises recording tape and the air bearing means is part of a tape drive.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein two such "troughs" are so defined, each extending along the direction of tape passage, with a common intermediate rib provided to separate them.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
8 words
The product of the method in claim 9.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
8 words
The product of the method in claim 10.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
8 words
The product of the method in claim 11.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
10 words
The product of the method in claims 12 and 13.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
8 words
The product of the method in claim 14.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
8 words
A "troughed" air bearing for a tape drive.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
8 words
A "troughed" air bearing for a tape drive.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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