Foil bearing, method for setting a gap geometry of a foil bearing, and corresponding production method of a foil bearing

A method for setting a gap geometry of a foil bearing, the foil bearing including a bearing back, a foil arrangement, and a setting mechanism, the method comprising:

• determining an operating state and/or a rotational speed of a shaft mounted in a passage opening of the bearing back so as to form a gap geometry between the shaft and the bearing back;
• determining a suitable setting of the gap geometry using the determined operating state and/or the rotational speed;
• and
• positioning the setting mechanism so as to adjust the determined gap geometry,
• wherein the foil arrangement defines a first inner circumference and includes a first segment-shaped foil arranged in the gap geometry adjacent to the bearing back, a second segment-shaped foil arranged in the gap geometry adjacent to the first segment-shaped foil, and a third segment-shaped foil arranged in the gap geometry between the shaft and the second segment-shaped foil.

A method of forming a foil bearing, comprising:

• arranging first, second, and third segment-shaped foils within a cavity defined by a bearing back to form a foil arrangement that defines a first inner circumference, the cavity configured to receive a shaft such that a gap is formed between the shaft and the bearing back, the segment-shaped foils arranged in the gap such that:
• the first segment-shaped foil is adjacent to the bearing back,
• the second segment-shaped foil is adjacent to the first segment-shaped foil, and
• the third segment-shaped foil is between the shaft and the second segment-shaped foil;
• and
• arranging a setting mechanism within the bearing back, the setting mechanism configured to set the first inner circumference.