Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An improved bearing assembly for supporting a rotatable table on a fixed base for rotation about a substantially upright axis, said improved bearing assembly comprising, in combination, a fixed annular bearing member having an upper face and a lower face, said upper face having a surface area greater than said lower face, a rotatable annular bearing member in nesting and rotational relationship with said fixed bearing member, said rotatable bearing member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having a greater surface area than said upper surface, said bearing members being positioned between said base and said rotatable table, and means for applying gaseous pressure between said lower surface of said rotatable hearing member, and said base, said air pressure lifting said rotatable bearing member upwardly for defining a gaseous bearing between said base and said rotatable bearing member, said upper surface of said rotatable bearing member moving upwardly against said rotatable table for simultaneous rotational movement therewith, and said gaseous pressure applying means further applying gaseous pressure between said fixed annular bearing member and said table for defining a gaseous bearing between said table and said fixed annular bearing member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An improved bearing assembly for supporting a rotatable table on a fixed base for rotation about a substantially upright axis, said improved bearing assembly comprising, in combination, a fixed annular bearing member having an upper face and a lower face, said upper face having a surface area greater than said lower face, a rotatable annular bearing member in nesting and rotational relationship with said fixed bearing member, said rotatable bearing member having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having a greater surface area than said upper surface, said bearing members being positioned between said base and said rotatable table, and means for applying gaseous pressure between said lower surface of said rotatable hearing member, and said base, said air pressure lifting said rotatable bearing member upwardly for defining a gaseous bearing between said base and said rotatable bearing member, said upper surface of said rotatable bearing member moving upwardly against said rotatable table for simultaneous rotational movement therewith, and said gaseous pressure applying means further applying gaseous pressure between said fixed annular bearing member and said table for defining a gaseous bearing between said table and said fixed annular bearing member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein said fixed bearing member is located radially inwardly of said rotatable bearing member, and a portion of said fixed bearing member is positioned above a portion of said rotatable bearing member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The bearing assembly of claim 2 wherein said portions of both said bearing members are frusto-conical in shape and a space is defined between said frusto-conical portions when said rotatable bearing member is not rotating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein said gaseous pressure applying means includes conduits defined in said base, and in said fixed bearing member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein said gaseous pressure applying means includes annular groove means defined between said base and said rotatable bearing member and between said table and said fixed bearing member for containing said pressurized gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein said rotatable bearing member is movable in a vertical direction from a rest position against said base to an operative position when said upper surface bears upwardly against said table.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The assembly of claim 1 wherein said gaseous pressure applying means comprises air pressure applying means.