Hydrostatic gas bearing systems

Claim 1

A hydrostatic gas bearing system using a gas pressure source for frictionless transmittal through a controlled gas film of a balancing force for maintaining close guided relationship between frictionlessly suspended bodies, comprising a. a first carrying body, b. a second body having a guide surface, c. one or more floating pads flexibly mounted and pneumaticaly sealed into first carrying body having opposed surfaces dimensionaly interrelated (d s and d o ) and pneumaticaly interconnected with sealed surface in first carrying body (ch s ) exposed to said gas supply pressure, d. bearing surfaces on said first and second bodies geometricaly located and frictionlessly supported by a gas film to oppose and balance forces frictionlessly transmitted from the floating pads through a gas film (h o ) to the said guide surface on the second body, Said geometric arrangements allowing frictionless movement perpendicular to said forces and in the direction of the bearing surfaces with the floating pad serving to maintain balanced relationship between bearing and guide surfaces and to compensate for limited dimensional variations.