The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 05, 1988
Filed:
Jun. 12, 1986
Edward E Hart, Jr, Springfield, OH (US);
Joseph G Patten, Troy, OH (US);
Spectra-Physics, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A low friction bearing arrangement includes first and second poles of magnetically permeable material which define first and second pole surfaces which are spaced apart. The first and second poles also define first and second side surfaces, respectively, which are aligned. A quantity of ferrofluid, positioned intermediate the first and second pole surfaces and adjacent the first and second side surfaces, is held by means of a fringing magnetic flux between the first and second side surfaces at a level which extends beyond the side surfaces. A rotatable shaft of nonmagnetic material is supported on the quantity of ferrofluid and is held out of contact with the side surfaces thereby, such that the shaft may be freely rotated.