Hydrostatically journalled slide and slide guide

Claim 1

A hydrostatically journaled slide and slide guide combination comprising a slide member having a substantially C-shaped cross section and a slide guide member having a partially T-shaped cross section, said slide member being arranged for cooperative engagement with said slide member when said C-shaped slide is oriented at 90* with respect to the T-shape of the slide guide member, said slide guide member comprising a rigid baseplate, a T-shaped bed having an upright member and a crossmember, said bed being supported on said baseplate, a rectangular shaped longitudinal slot located in the top surface of said bed and a rectangular-shaped longitudinal slot located in each of the side surfaces of said bed being formed between said crossmember and said baseplate, said slide member comprising a plurality of rectangular-shaped longitudinally extending bearing feet projecting into and being received for guiding arrangement by each of the longitudinal slots of said slide guide member, at least a pair of bearing chambers provided on oppositely located surfaces of each of said rectangular bearing feet, and means for supplying hydraulic medium under pressure through a restriction to each of said bearing chambers so as to produce oppositely directed compressive bearing forces on the projecting bearing feet of the slide, whereby said slide member will be bilaterally journaled on said slide guide member in two separate directions oriented at right angles to each other to thereby prevent occurrence of bending moments and permit rigid lightweight construction.