Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A linear motor comprising: a rail; a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on a surface of said rail; a movable member; said movable member including an armature containing magnetically attractable material; bearing means for supporting said movable member in a position spacing a surface of said armature to a surface of said plurality of permanent magnets; said bearing means including an air bearing; said rail including a surface facing said air bearing; said air bearing being effective in normal operation for supporting said movable member with a spacing D1 between said air bearing and said surface; said bearing means including at least one auxiliary bearing; said auxiliary bearing including means for preventing said air bearing from approaching closer than a distance D2 between said air bearing and said surface; distance D2 is less than D1; and distance D2 is greater than zero.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A linear motor comprising: a rail; a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on a surface of said rail; a movable member; said movable member including an armature containing magnetically attractable material; bearing means for supporting said movable member in a position spacing a surface of said armature to a surface of said plurality of permanent magnets; said bearing means including an air bearing; said rail including a surface facing said air bearing; said air bearing being effective in normal operation for supporting said movable member with a spacing D1 between said air bearing and said surface; said bearing means including at least one auxiliary bearing; said auxiliary bearing including means for preventing said air bearing from approaching closer than a distance D2 between said air bearing and said surface; distance D2 is less than D1; and distance D2 is greater than zero.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A linear motor according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary bearing includes a roller bearing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A linear motor according to claim 1 wherein said auxiliary bearing includes a slide bearing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
112 words
A linear motor comprising: a rail; a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on a first surface of said rail; a movable member; said movable member including an armature containing magnetically attractable material; an air bearing affixed to said movable member; an insert in said rail forming a second surface facing said air bearing; said air bearing being effective in normal operation for supporting said movable member with a nominal spacing D1 between said air bearing and said second surface; and said insert being of a material different from a remainder of said rail and of a type permitting easier attainment of flatness of said second surface than said remainder of said rail.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
112 words
A linear motor comprising: a rail; a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on a first surface of said rail; a movable member; said movable member including an armature containing magnetically attractable material; an air bearing affixed to said movable member; an insert in said rail forming a second surface facing said air bearing; said air bearing being effective in normal operation for supporting said movable member with a nominal spacing D1 between said air bearing and said second surface; and said insert being of a material different from a remainder of said rail and of a type permitting easier attainment of flatness of said second surface than said remainder of said rail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A linear motor according to claim 4 wherein, said rail is metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A linear motor according to claim 5 wherein said metal is steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A linear motor according to claim 4 wherein: said rail is non-magnetic; and said first surface includes a metallic plate facing said armature; said plurality of permanent magnets being affixed to said metallic plate; and said metallic plate being of magnetic material, whereby a magnetic return is provided for said plurality of permanent magnets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A linear motor according to claim 7 wherein said rail is a composite material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A linear motor comprising: a rail; a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on a first surface of said rial; a movable member; said movable member including a saddle; an armature containing magnetically attractable material affixed to said saddle; said armature being disposed facing said plurality of permanent magnets; a second surface on said rail; said second surface defining a first supporting plane; a third surface on said rail; said third surface defining a second supporting plane; said first and second supporting planes being non-coplanar; a first air bearing in said saddle; said first air bearing facing said first supporting plane; a second air bearing in said saddle; said second air bearing facing said second supporting plane; and at least said first air bearing being unitary with said saddle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A linear motor comprising: a rail; a plurality of permanent magnets disposed on a first surface of said rial; a movable member; said movable member including a saddle; an armature containing magnetically attractable material affixed to said saddle; said armature being disposed facing said plurality of permanent magnets; a second surface on said rail; said second surface defining a first supporting plane; a third surface on said rail; said third surface defining a second supporting plane; said first and second supporting planes being non-coplanar; a first air bearing in said saddle; said first air bearing facing said first supporting plane; a second air bearing in said saddle; said second air bearing facing said second supporting plane; and at least said first air bearing being unitary with said saddle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A linear motor according to claim 9 wherein said first and second air bearings are unitary with said saddle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A linear motor according to claim 9 wherein said saddle and said first and second air bearings are a composite material.