	US 12,110,921 B2
	Ultra-low profile aerostatic bearing and the method of manufacturing the same
Shien Yang Lee, Singapore (SG)
Assigned to AKRIBIS SYSTEMS PTE LTD, Singapore (SG)
Appl. No. 17/642,047
Filed by AKRIBIS SYSTEMS PTE LTD, Singapore (SG)
PCT Filed Jul. 13, 2020, PCT No. PCT/SG2020/050402 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 10, 2022, PCT Pub. No. WO2021/112759, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 10, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10201911803U (SG), filed on Dec. 7, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0044364 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. F16C 29/02 (2006.01); F16C 32/06 (2006.01); F16C 33/20 (2006.01)

CPC F16C 29/025 (2013.01) [F16C 32/0622 (2013.01); F16C 33/208 (2013.01); F16B 2200/79 (2023.08); F16C 2220/04 (2013.01)]

22 Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an aerostatic bearing comprising the steps of:

i. providing a substrate (20) being a housing for the aerostatic bearing;

ii. preparing a hypodermic tubing and bending the hypodermic tubing to a shape based on a predetermined design;

iii. mounting the hypodermic tubing (20) from step (ii) to the substrate (10), and making alignment of the hypodermic tubing (20) with respect to the substrate (10);

iv. positioning the substrate (10) with the bonded hypodermic tubing (20) with respect to a molding master;

v. injecting an encapsulating substance between the substrate (10) and the molding master;

vi. demolding the substrate (10) from the molding master once the encapsulating substance cures, and the cured encapsulating substance forming a solid layer on the substrate (10) as an encasement layer (70); and

vii. machining a plurality of orifices (22) on the hypodermic tubing (22), thereby the aerostatic bearing is obtained.

15. An aerostatic bearing comprising

a. a substrate (10) having a planar surface;

b. a network of hypodermic tubing (20) with at least one orifice (22) and fixed to the surface of the substrate (10) forming into a gas distribution system which supplies externally pressurized gas from a pressurized gas source (80), wherein one end of the hypodermic tubing (20) is terminated with a gas fitting (72), and the tubing (20) is for fluidic communication; and

c. an encasement layer (70) being formed from an encapsulating substance applied to the planar surface of the substrate (10) such that the encapsulating substance completely encases the hypodermic tubing (20), wherein the encapsulating substance forms an adhesive bond with the network of the hypodermic tubing (20) and the surface of the substrate (10).