Fluid bearings and vacuum chucks and methods for producing same
US6390677B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 5, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 5, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53191
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Fluid bearings, vacuum chucks and methods for producing these devices. One example of a method for forming a fluid bearing includes forming a plate having a face surface and a bonding surface, coupling a first side of a body to the bonding surface, placing the face surface of the plate against a predetermined surface, and generating a pressure difference to conform the face surface to the predetermined surface. One example of a fluid bearing of the invention includes a plate support and a flexible bearing plate having a bonding surface which is attached to the plate support with an adhesive which is flexible before hardening. The flexible bearing plate conforms to a predetermined surface during a portion of the time that the adhesive hardens. Examples of vacuum chucks, and methods for forming vacuum chucks, and other aspects of the invention are described.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.