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AssigneeSunPower Corporation
InventorsWilliam T. Beale, Nicholas R. van der Walt, Reuven Z. Unger
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An improved mechanical transducer of the type having a body reciprocating in a chamber, the body being linked to a housing by a linkage including an axially compliant spring. An anti-friction fluid bearing applies a lateral centering force upon the body and a linkage component of the linkage has a lateral compliance sufficient for the centering forces exerted by the fluid bearing to at least equal the sum of lateral force exerted by the linkage and other lateral forces exerted upon the body. That lateral compliance allows the centering forces of the fluid bearing to be effective in moving the body away from the chamber wall and thereby minimize contact and consequent wear of the interfacing surfaces between the body and the chamber wall.
An improved mechanical transducer a housing including a chamber defined by at least one wall having an axis of geometric symmetry, the chamber con a substantially axially reciprocating, mating body linked to housing by a linkage including an axially compliant spring applying an axial force upon the body, the transducer having an anti-friction bearing for minimizing contact between the chamber wall and the body, wherein the improvement comprises:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.