Motors, and bearings therefor

Abstract

A linear motor comprising a linearly-extensive stator (1) supporting a translator (2), the stator providing in operation a squeezing force across the translator in a direction approximately orthogonal to the line of the stator, and the translator either having along its movement direction a slightly tapered profile or being mounted on the stator by force-transmitting bearings (3) that when so squeezed deform to become slightly tapered, the effect being to produce a resultant force on the translator that is along the line of the stator. The utilisation of a resilient toroidal bearing member (103) fitted inside and co-axially with a tubular passageway (108) in an outer, sleeve-like bearing body (101) through which an inner bearing body (102) is free to slide. The inner body is then fitted through the toroid, all three components thus being co-axially aligned. The resultant bearing can be of extremely low mass, of very low cost, and with strong radial alignment (centering) force, very low resistance to axial motion, almost unlimited movement in the axial direction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.