Gas bearing roll shell assembly with preload means

Claim 2

A preloaded gas bearing roll shell assembly comprising: an axle having an enlarged diameter portion and supply passage means having an inlet adjacent a first axial end thereof adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure, internal chamber means in said enlarged diameter portion in fluid communication with said supply passage means for receiving gas under pressure therefrom, and restrictive passage means through said enlarged diameter portion leading from said internal chamber means and onto an external circumferential surface thereof, a rotatable roll shell surrounding said enlarged diameter portion with a small radial clearance whereby said roll shell is adapted to be radially supported on a layer of gas supplied from said internal chamber via said restrictive passage means, said roll shell having an end wall adjacent an axial end thereof in juxtaposition to an axial end of said axle remote from said first axial end, and a thrust ring adjacent an opposite axial end therof in juxtaposition to an annular face of said enlarged diameter portion, exhaust passage means leading from said radial clearance past said thrust ring to ambient, axial preload means for maintaining said thrust ring in close proximity to said annular face comprising a pressure chamber in direct fluid communication with said radial clearance and defined at least in part by an end portion of said rotatable shell including said end wall, said end portion having vent means therethrough which is more flow restrictive than said exhaust passage means leading from said radial clearance past said thrust ring.

Claim 3

A preloaded gas bearing roll shell assembly comprising: an axle having an enlarged diameter portion and supply passage means having an inlet adjacent a first axial end thereof adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure, internal chamber means in said enlarged diameter portion in fluid communication with said supply passage means for receiving gas under pressure therefrom, said enlarged diameter portion comprising a porous sleeve having exposed annular end faces and restrictive passage means therethrough leading from said internal chamber means and onto an exterior circumferential surface thereof, a rotatable roll shell surrounding said porous sleeve with a small radial clearance whereby said roll shell is adapted to be radially supported on a layer of gas supplied from said internal chamber via said restrictive passage means, said roll shell having an end wall adjacent an axial end thereof in juxtaposition to a second axial end of said axle remote from said first axial end, and a thrust ring adjacent an opposite axial end thereof in juxtaposition to an exposed annular end face of said porous sleeve, exhaust passage means leading from said radial clearance past said thrust ring to ambient, axial preload means for maintaining said thrust ring in close proximity to said exposed annular end face comprising a pressure chamber in direct fluid communication with said radial clearance and defined at least in part by an opposite exposed annular end face of said porous sleeve, which is spaced from said second axial end of said axle toward said first axial end, and an end portion of said rotatable shell adjacent said end wall, said end portion having radial vent means therethrough which is more flow restrictive than said exhaust passage means leading from said radial clearance past said thrust ring, said radial vent means being located sufficiently close to said end wall that said opposite exposed annular end face of said porous sleeve is always located on the side of said vent means remote from said end wall.

Claim 4

A preloaded gas bearing roll shell assembly comprising: an axle having an enlarged diameter portion and supply passage means having an inlet adjacent a first axial end thereof adapted for connection to a source of gas under pressure, internal chamber means in said enlarged diameter portion in fluid communication with said supply passage means for receiving gas under pressure therefrom, said enlarged diameter portion comprising a porous sleeve having exposed annular end faces and restrictive passage means therethrough leading from said internal chamber means and onto an exterior circumferential surface thereof, a rotatable roll shell surrounding said porous sleeve with a small radial clearance whereby said roll shell is adapted to be radially supported on a layer of gas supplied from said internal chamber via said restrictive passage means, said roll shell having an end wall adjacent an axial end thereof in juxtaposition to a second axial end of said axle remote from said first axial end, and a thrust ring adjacent an opposite axial end thereof in juxtaposition to an exposed annular end face of said porous sleeve, exhaust passage means leading from said radial clearance past said thrust ring to ambient, axial preload means for maintaining said thrust ring in close proximity to said exposed annular end face comprising a pressure chamber in direct fluid communication with said radial clearance and defined at least in part by an opposite exposed annular end face of said porous sleeve, which is spaced from said second axial end of said axle toward said first axial end, and an end portion of said rotatable shell adjacent said end wall, said end portion having radial vent means therethrough which is more flow restrictive than said exhaust passage means leading from said radial clearance past said thrust ring, said radial vent means being located sufficiently close to said end wall that said opposite exposed annular end face of said porous sleeve is always located on the side of said vent means remote from said end wall.