(57) A coolant applicator is described in which a flexible, apertured plate (36) is hydraulically
loaded so the flexible plate is brought close to the surface to be cooled; coolant
is supplied to pass through and form a hydrostatic bearing layer between the plate
and the surface, and the plate being deformed to the shape of the surface by the hydraulic
loading. In one embodiment a hydraulically loaded coolant applying pad comprises a
piston-cylinder assembly (14, 16) is connected to a supply of coolant under pressure,
while the piston (16) is hollow to allow passage of the coolant, and a flexible plate
(36) movably mounted on the piston, has apertures in fluid connection with the cylinder
(14) via the piston (16), and is arranged so that, in use, coolant passing through
the apertures in the plate (36) forms a hydrostatic bearing layer between the plate
(36) and the surface.
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