Air bearing system supports a shaker system slip table with minimum friction. At each corner of a square of grooves made on the table, a hole is drilled through the table and fitted with air connections. Air pressure is simultaneously fed to the four fittings forming an air bearing

Skoff, R. W.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

1/16 Inch Grooves 
Face of Aluminum Slip Tab 
Aluminun 
December 1966	 Briec 66- 1O7O 
S toy
AEC-NASA TECH BRIEF 
US
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs describe innovations resulting from the research and development program 
of the U.S. AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are published by NASA and may be purchased, at 15 cents each, from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Air Bearing Provides Friction-Free Support for Shaker System Slip Table 
Air Hose with Quick 
rrnn,-t.,n	 Shaker 
The problem: 
To develop a bearing system to support a shaker 
system slip table with a minimum of friction. A 
typical vibration testing shaker system utilizes a 
granite base on which an aluminum slip table is 
supported on an oil film. The equipment to be vibra- 
tion tested is rigidly bolted to the slip table, and the 
shaker inducer is also coupled directly to the slip 
table. Lubricant has to be continuously added as it 
flows around the edges of the granite base. In time, 
severe galling and wear is seen on the face of the slip 
table adjacent to the granite base. 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per-
son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any
The solution: 
A series of 1/16-inch grooves on the face of the slip 
table. These grooves form a square traversed by di-
agonals. At each corner of the square, a 1/4-inch hole 
is drilled through the table and fitted with air connec-
tions. Air pressure is simultaneously fed to the four 
fittings forming an air bearing. 
How it's done: 
The face of the aluminum slip table adjacent to the 
granite base is modified as shown. A manifold sup-
plies pneumatic air pressure to the four air holes. The 
(continued overleai( 
liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-
vately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19660000706 2020-03-11T17:43:17+00:00Z
air pressure supplied is proportional to the weight of 	 3 
the equipment package bolted to the slip table. In use, 
the top of the granite base and the face of the alumi-
num slip table are carefully cleaned prior to use. A 
thin film of oil is placed on the granite base. The oil 
film serves to prevent leakage of air pressure. 
Notes: 
1. Aluminum slip tables, 4 feet x 4 feet x 1-1/2 
inches have been successfully modified and oper-
ated with this system. 
2. Air pressure of 14 psi has been found to be suf-
ficient to float a slip table with a 30,000 pound 
equipment package bolted to it.
Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rectedto:
Technology Utilization Officer 
AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion 
Office 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Washington, D.C. 20545 
Reference: B66-10708 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by AEC or 
NASA.
Source: R. W. Skoff

of Westinghouse Astronuclear Laboratory

under contract to

AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office

(NU-0086) 
Brief 66-10708	 Category 05


Air bearing provides friction-free support for shaker system slip table

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