# US 10,309,451 B2 · Thrust foil bearing

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- Number: US 10,309,451 B2
- Document ID: US10309451B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/770,929
- Filed: 2016-10-13
- Published: 2018-10-25
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-28
- Assignees: Ntn Corporation
- Applicants: Ntn Corporation
- Inventors: Masato Yoshino; Hiroki Fujiwara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309451B2

## CPC

- F16C 17/042: {with flexible leaves to create hydrodynamic wedge, e.g. axial foil bearings}
- F16C 27/02: Sliding-contact bearings
- F16C 17/04: for axial load only
- F16C 2360/23: Gas turbine engines
- F16C 2360/24: Turbochargers
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

A thrust foil bearing (20) includes a foil holder (21) and a plurality of foils (22). Each of the foils (22) includes: a top foil portion (22a); an extending portion (22b); and an underfoil portion (22c). The extending portion (22b) of the each of the foils (22) is arranged behind another of the foils (22) that is adjacent to the each of the foils (22) on the one circumferential side. The underfoil portion (22c) of the each of the foils (22) is arranged between the top foil portion (22a) of the another of the foils (22), which is adjacent to the each of the foils (22) on another circumferential side, and the end surface (21a) of the foil holder (21).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thrust foil bearing, comprising:
a foil holder; and
a plurality of foils fixed to an end surface of the foil holder so as to be arrayed in a circumferential direction of the thrust foil bearing, wherein
the thrust foil bearing is configured to support a shaft, which is to be relatively rotated in one circumferential direction, in thrust directions,
each of the foils comprises:
a top foil portion having a bearing surface;
an extending portion formed on one circumferential side of the top foil portion; and
an underfoil portion formed on another circumferential side of the top foil portion,
the extending portion of each of the foils is arranged at a side of an adjacent one of the foils on the one circumferential side that faces the end surface of the foil holder,
the underfoil portion of each of the foils is arranged between the top foil portion of another adjacent one of the foils on the another circumferential side and the end surface of the foil holder.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thrust foil bearing according to claim 1, wherein the end surface of the foil holder includes a plurality of recessed portions and the extending portion of each of the foils is inserted into one of the recessed portions.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The thrust foil bearing according to claim 1,
wherein each of the foils has an insertion slot formed at a portion between the top foil portion and the underfoil portion in the circumferential direction, and
wherein the extending portion of each of the foils is inserted into the insertion slot of the adjacent one of the foils on the one circumferential side.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The thrust foil bearing according to claim 1, wherein each of the foils comprises a fixing portion fixed to the foil holder.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The thrust foil bearing according to claim 4, wherein the fixing portion of each of the foils extends from the top foil portion toward a radially outer side or a radially inner side of the thrust foil bearing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The thrust foil bearing according to claim 4, wherein the fixing portion of each of the foils is formed in a region of the top foil portion in a circumferential direction, which is not supported by the underfoil portion of an adjacent one of the foils.