# US 12,110,921 B2 · Ultra-low profile aerostatic bearing and the method of manufacturing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,921 B2 - Document ID: US12110921B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/642,047 - Filed: 2020-07-13 - Published: 2024-02-08 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-07 - Assignees: Akribis Systems Pte Ltd - Applicants: Akribis Systems Pte Ltd - Inventors: Shien Yang Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110921B2 ## CPC - F16C 17/02: for radial load only - F16C 29/025: {Hydrostatic or aerostatic (this type of bearing for rotary parts F16C32/06)} - F16B 5/0233: {allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates} - F16C 17/04: for axial load only - F16C 17/10: for both radial and axial load - F16C 17/12: characterised by features not related to the direction of the load - F16C 32/0622: {via nozzles, restrictors} - F16C 33/208: {Methods of manufacture, e.g. shaping, applying coatings} - F16B 2200/79: Friction-reducing coatings - F16C 2220/04: by injection-moulding - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract An ultra-low profile aerostatic bearing and the method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The aerostatic bearing comprises a substrate as a bearing housing, a hypodermic tubing and a plurality of orifices on the tubing. The method of manufacturing the aerostatic bearing includes the steps of forming the bearing housing and the hypodermic tubing and bonding the hypodermic tubing and the substrate together, and applying an encapsulation substance that encases the hypodermic tubing network and covers the substrate surface to obtain geometric accuracy and surface finish of the bearing surface by replicating the geometry and surface finish of a molding master. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the hypodermic tubing (20) is fixed to the surface of the substrate (10) forming into a gas distribution system which supplies externally pressurized gas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as recited in claim 2, wherein a pressurized gas source (80) provides pressurized gas to the hypodermic tubing (20). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the hypodermic tubing (20) is terminated with a gas fitting (72), and the hypodermic tubing (20) is for fluidic communication. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the orifices (22) are made at locations with respect to the aerostatic bearing design. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the orifices (22) is ranging from 1 micro meter to 300 micro meter in diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a wall thickness of the hypodermic tubing (20) is ranging from 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an overall thickness of the encapsulating substance is between 0.1 to 5 mm thick. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the overall thickness of the encapsulating substance is between 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the encapsulating substance has a coverage thickness, which measured from the highest point on the hypodermic tubing (20) to the cured encapsulating substance layer surface, of 0 to 1 mm thick. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an adhesive is employed to bond the hypodermic tubing to the substrate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the hypodermic tubing (20) is made from material comprising stainless steel, glass, ceramic, polymer, or composite material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the hypodermic tubing (20) has a circular, rectangular, or square cross section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a mold releasing agent to the molding master prior to the injection of the encapsulating substance. ### Claim 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). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The aerostatic bearing as recited in claim 15, wherein a diameter of the orifices is ranging from 1 micrometer to 300 micrometer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The aerostatic bearing as recited in claim 15, wherein a wall thickness of the hypodermic tubing (20) is ranging from 0.01 mm to 0.5 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The aerostatic bearing as recited in claim 15, wherein an overall thickness of the encasement layer (70) is between 0.1 to 5 mm. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The aerostatic bearing as recited in claim 15, wherein the overall thickness of the encasement layer (70) is 0.25 mm to 0.5 mm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The aerostatic bearing as recited in claim 15, wherein the encasement layer (70) has a coverage thickness between 0 (tangential contact with the hypodermic tubing (20)) to 1 mm thick. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The aerostatic bearing as recited in claim 20, wherein the coverage thickness is measured from the highest point on the hypodermic tubing (20) to the surface of the encasement layer (70). ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The aerostatic bearing as recited in claim 15, wherein the gas fitting (72) is connected to the pressurized gas source (80).