Foil bearing and spindle device using the same

Abstract

A foil bearing is provided, which is simple in structure, has a large load capacity and a large damping capability and can therefore allow a rotary shaft having a large unbalance as compared with the conventional bearing to be driven stably at a high speed. A spindle device utilizing such foil bearing is also provided, which is designed to increase the permissible amount of unbalance and also to have a light-weight feature. Each of the foil bearings 504 and 505 includes an elastic member 2 prepared from a wire net formed by braiding wires, and a thin bearing foil 3 supported by the elastic member 2 and defining an elastic bearing surface S. The respective foil bearing 504 and 505 is used at least as a radial bearing 504 in the spindle device including a rotary shaft 4 having a head mount 501a, on which an atomizer head is mounted, and the radial and thrust bearings 504 and 505 for rotatably supporting the rotary shaft 4.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.