Preloaded hydrostatic way-bearing

Claim 2

A preloaded hydrostatic way-bearing construction for relatively slidable machine tool members and comprising, in combination: a. a supporting member, b. a pair of laterally spaced ways fixed to said member, c. each said way having a relatively wide flat supporting bearing surface on its upper side and a relatively narrower flat opposed bearing surface on its lower side, d. one of said ways having a pair of opposed vertical guide bearing surfaces, e. a supported member slidably mounted on said supporting member. f. said supported member having hydrostatic-bearing faces disposed in sliding engagement with respective ones of the supporting bearing surfaces of said ways, g. a pair of cleats fixed to said supported member in underlying relation with respective ones of said narrower opposed bearing surfaces of said ways, h. a pair of preload gibs having hydrostatic bearing surfaces and interposed between respective ones of said cleats and said narrower opposed bearing surfaces, i. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in each said cleat and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, j. said actuators also being disposed in engagement with said preload gibs for application of preload force thereto, k. another preload gib mounted in a recess in said supported member and having a hydrostatic bearing surface engaging one of said vertical bearing surfaces of said one way, l. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in said other preload gib and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, and m. said actuators being disposed in engagement with said recess in said supported member for application of preload force to said other preload gib.

Claim 3

A preloaded Hydrostatic way-bearing construction for relatively slidable machine tool members and comprising, in combination: a. a first machine member, b. a pair of laterally spaced ways fixed to said first member, c. each said way having a relatively wide flat bearing surface on one side thereof and a relatively narrower flat opposed bearing surface on the opposite side, d. one of said ways having a pair of opposed guide bearing surfaces transverse to said first mentioned bearing surfaces, e. a second machine member slidably mounted on said first member, f. said second member having hydrostatic bearing faces disposed in sliding engagement with respective ones of the first mentioned bearing surfaces of said ways, g. a pair of cleats fixed to said second member in interfitting relation with respective ones of said narrower opposed bearing surfaces of said ways, h. a pair of preload gibs having hydrostatic bearing surfaces and interposed between respective ones of said cleats and said narrower opposed bearing surfaces, i. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in each said cleat and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, j. said actuators also being disposed in engagement with said preload gibs for application of preload force thereto, k. another preload gib mounted in a recess in said second member and having a hydrostatic bearing surface engaging one of said opposed guide bearing surfaces of said one way, l. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in said other preload gib and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, and m. said actuators being disposed in engagement with said recess in said second member for application of preload force to said other preload gib.

Claim 4

A preloaded Hydrostatic way-bearing construction for relatively slidable machine tool members and comprising, in combination: a. a first machine member, b. a pair of laterally spaced ways fixed to said first member, c. each said way having a relatively wide flat bearing surface on one side thereof and a relatively narrower flat opposed bearing surface on the opposite side, d. one of said ways having a pair of opposed guide bearing surfaces transverse to said first mentioned bearing surfaces, e. a second machine member slidably mounted on said first member, f. said second member having hydrostatic bearing faces disposed in sliding engagement with respective ones of the first mentioned bearing surfaces of said ways, g. a pair of cleats fixed to said second member in interfitting relation with respective ones of said narrower opposed bearing surfaces of said ways, h. a pair of preload gibs having hydrostatic bearing surfaces and interposed between respective ones of said cleats and said narrower opposed bearing surfaces, i. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in each said cleat and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, j. said actuators also being disposed in engagement with said preload gibs for application of preload force thereto, k. another preload gib mounted in a recess in said second member and having a hydrostatic bearing surface engaging one of said opposed guide bearing surfaces of said one way, l. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in said other preload gib and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, and m. said actuators being disposed in engagement with said recess in said second member for application of preload force to said other preload gib.

Claim 5

In a preloaded hydrostatic way bearing construction for relatively slidable machine tool members, the combination comprising: a. a supporting member, b. a bearing way fixed to said member, c. said way having a relatively wide flat supporting bearing surface on its upper side and a relatively narrower flat opposed bearing surface on its lower side, d. said way also having a pair of opposed vertical guide bearing surfaces, e. a supported member slidably mounted on said supporting member, f. said supported member having hydrostatic bearing faces disposed in sliding engagement with respective ones of the bearing surfaces of said way, g. a cleat fixed to said supported member in underlying relation with said narrower opposed bearing surface of said way, h. a preload gib having hydrostatic bearing surfaces and interposed between said cleat and said narrower opposed bearing surface of said way, i. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in said cleat and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, j. said actuators also being disposed in engagement with said preload gib for application of preload force thereto, k. another preload gib mounted in a recess in said supported member and having a hydrostatic bearing surface engaging one of said vertical bearing surfaces of said way, l. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in said other preload gib and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, and m. said actuators being disposed in engagement with said recess in said supported member for application of preload force to said other preload gib.

Claim 6

In a preloaded hydrostatic way bearing construction for relatively slidable machine tool members, the combination comprising: a. a supporting member, b. a bearing way fixed to said member, c. said way having a relatively wide flat supporting bearing surface on its upper side and a relatively narrower flat opposed bearing surface on its lower side, d. said way also having a pair of opposed vertical guide bearing surfaces, e. a supported member slidably mounted on said supporting member, f. said supported member having hydrostatic bearing faces disposed in sliding engagement with respective ones of the bearing surfaces of said way, g. a cleat fixed to said supported member in underlying relation with said narrower opposed bearing surface of said way, h. a preload gib having hydrostatic bearing surfaces and interposed between said cleat and said narrower opposed bearing surface of said way, i. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in said cleat and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, j. said actuators also being disposed in engagement with said preload gib for application of preload force thereto, k. another preload gib mounted in a recess in said supported member and having a hydrostatic bearing surface engaging one of said vertical bearing surfaces of said way, l. a plurality of hydraulic actuators recessed in said other preload gib and disposed in longitudinally spaced relation therealong, and m. said actuators being disposed in engagement with said recess in said supported member for application of preload force to said other preload gib.

Claim 7

A preloaded hydrostatic way-bearing construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic actuators comprise relatively large diameter cylinders and disclike pistons sealed therein with O-rings.

Claim 8

A preloaded hydrostatic way-bearing construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hydrostatic way-bearing surfaces and said preload actuators are pressurized from independent sources.

Claim 9

A preloaded hydrostatic way-bearing construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said hydrostatic bearing surfaces are completely enclosed by resilient seals and exhaust oil is carried away by means of a suction pump.