Abstract:
An object stage bearing system can include an object stage, a hollow shaft coupled to the object stage, and an in-vacuum gas bearing assembly coupled to the hollow shaft and the object stage. The in-vacuum gas bearing assembly can include a gas bearing, a scavenging groove, and a vacuum groove. The gas bearing is disposed along an inner wall of the in-vacuum gas bearing assembly and along an external wall of the hollow shaft. The scavenging groove is disposed along the inner wall such that the scavenging groove is isolated from the gas bearing. The vacuum groove is disposed along the inner wall such that the vacuum groove is isolated from the scavenging groove and the gas bearing.
Abstract:
A gas bearing assembly including: a stator, a spindle rotatable about an axis, a first space between the spindle and the stator and arranged to receive a bearing gas at a first pressure, to support rotation of the spindle about the axis, a first annulus, in the stator or the spindle and arranged to vent the bearing gas from a first portion of the first space, a second annulus, in the stator or the spindle, and arranged to transport a barrier gas, at a second pressure, into a second portion of the first space, and a third annulus, in the stator or the spindle, the third annulus disposed between the first and second annuli and arranged to transport the bearing gas and the barrier gas out of a third portion of the space to a create, in the third portion, a third pressure less than the first and second pressures.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for coating and baking and deposition of surfaces on glass substrate or flexible substrate, such as films and thin glass sheets or other similar work pieces as it transitions thru and between small gaps of aero-static or hydro-static porous media bearings and differentially pumped vacuum grooves, in a non-contact manner, in order to process within a vacuum environment. The process is also intended to incorporate simultaneous and immediately sequential ordering of various processes.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a combination bearing (1) for a rotor in rotating machines, provided with a main bearing (6) and an auxiliary bearing (7), wherein the main bearing comprises a combined gas bearing and seal and wherein the auxiliary bearing is adapted to support the rotor during transient periods at start-up, shut-down or accidental operational loads, and wherein the main bearing and the auxiliary bearing are integrated within the same bearing housing (2).
Abstract:
A hydrostatic slider for moving a moving element relatively with a solid element with a hydrostatic fluid layer formed of a pressurized fluid interposed between the solid element and the moving element. The hydrostatic slider comprises a solid element (2) having a dynamic guide surface, and a moving element (3) capable of moving relatively along the dynamic guide surface, a measuring means for directly measuring the distance between the dynamic guide surface and a facing surface at the end of the moving element facing the dynamic guide surface being provided. Preferably, the measuring means includes first conductor layers (25-28) formed on the dynamic guide surface and second conductor layer (31A-34A) formed on the facing surface, the first and the second conductor layers being constituted so as to measure electrostatic capacity between the these conductor layers. The moving element has a moving body (30) and displacing bodies (31-34) displaceable relative to the moving body in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the moving element with their end surfaces constituting the above facing surface, and further has a control means for controlling the positions of the displacing bodies so as to adjust the distance between the dynamic guide surface and the facing surface based on measurement results by the measuring means.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for cleaning, drying, coating, baking etching and deposition of surfaces on glass substrate as it transitions thru and between small gaps between hydro-static porous media bearings. Due to the non-contact nature of the device extremely high pressures can be induced upon the work piece through various fluids without damage to the substrate, allowing the system to utilize the viscous nature of fluids to accomplish the desired cleaning, drying, coating, etching or baking. The process also allows for simultaneous and immediately sequential ordering of processes.
Abstract:
In order to effect a seal; a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use.
Abstract:
In order to effect a seal; a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use.
Abstract:
A static pressure gas bearing, stage device, and optical device, in which a gas layer is provided between relatively movable two members (fixed part and movable part) and maintained at a specified distance; specifically, a static pressure gas bearing, a stage device, and an optical device capable of reducing the size of devices and easily laying out piping, wherein the static pressure gas bearing comprises a fixed part (4) and a movable part (3) installed movably along the fixed part (4) and a space between the fixed part (4) and the movable part (3) is maintained at a specified distance by the gas layer between the fixed part (4) and the movable part (3), the movable part (3) comprises bearing pads (3a) to feed gas into the gas layer between the movable part (3) and the fixed part (4) and discharge grooves (3c) to discharge gas fed by the bearing pads (3a), and the fixed part (4) comprises discharge ports (4a) provided at positions opposite to the discharge grooves (3c).