# US 2014/0154058 A1 · Rotating assemblies of turbomachinery, foil journal bearing assemblies thereof, and methods for producing journals of the foil journal bearing assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154058 A1 - Document ID: US20140154058A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/691,233 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Honeywell International Inc. - Applicants: Honeywell International Inc. - Inventors: Walter Lee Meacham; Alan Margolis; Yates Wong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154058A1 ## CPC - F16C 33/00: Parts of bearings; Special methods for making bearings or parts thereof - F01D 25/162: {Bearing supports} - F01D 25/166: {Sliding contact bearing (gas bearings F01D25/22)} - F16C 17/024: {with flexible leaves to create hydrodynamic wedge, e.g. radial foil bearings} - F05D 2220/40: in turbochargers - F16C 2240/46: Gap sizes or clearances - F16C 2360/00: Engines or pumps - Y10T 29/49639: Fluid bearing - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A rotating assembly of turbomachinery is provided. The rotating assembly includes a plurality of components mounted on a rotatable shaft within a housing of the turbomachinery and at least one foil journal bearing assembly for mounting the rotatable shaft to the housing. The foil journal bearing assembly includes an annular bearing carrier mounted to the housing. An annular bearing sleeve is disposed within the annular bearing carrier and attached thereto. The annular bearing sleeve is lined with a plurality of foils. A journal is mounted to the rotatable shaft. The journal has an outer surface engaging the foils. The journal is configured to at least one of the following: resist operational deflection thereof and reduce the effects of misalignment. A method for producing the journal of the foil journal bearing assembly is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotating assembly of turbomachinery, the rotating assembly comprising: a plurality of components mounted on a rotatable shaft within a housing of the turbomachinery; and at least one foil journal bearing assembly for mounting the rotatable shaft to the housing, the foil journal bearing assembly comprising: an annular bearing carrier mounted to the housing; an annular bearing sleeve disposed within the annular bearing carrier and attached thereto, the annular bearing sleeve lined with a plurality of foils; and a journal mounted to the rotatable shaft and having an outer surface engaging the foils, wherein the journal is configured to at least one of the following: resist operational deflection thereof and reduce the effects of journal misalignment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, wherein the journal is configured to resist operational deflection thereof to maintain a substantially constant outer diameter along the length thereof during operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rotating assembly of claim 2, wherein the journal is configured to have a thicker cross section in one or more journal portions determined to be subject to operational deflection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rotating assembly of claim 3, wherein the journal is configured to have a thicker cross section in at least one journal end portion determined to be subject to operational deflection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, wherein the journal is configured with a stiffening rib projecting therefrom, the stiffening rib projecting from one or more journal portions determined to be subject to operational deflection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The rotating assembly of claim 5, wherein the stiffening rib comprises at least one circumferential rib disposed in the circumferential direction of the shaft for stiffening the one or more journal portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The rotating assembly of claim 5, wherein the stiffening rib comprises at least one axial rib for stiffening the one or more journal portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, wherein the journal comprises a mid-span supported journal and the mid-span supported journal is configured with a thicker cross section in forward and aft end portions thereof relative to a mid-span portion thereof to resist operational deflection of the forward and aft end portions, reduce the effects of journal misalignment, or resist operational deflection and reduce the effects of misalignment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, wherein the journal comprises a cantilevered journal having a free end portion, wherein the cantilevered journal is configured with a thicker cross section at the free end portion or at least one stiffening rib at the free end portion relative to the rest of the cantilevered journal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The rotating assembly of claim 1, wherein the journal is configured to reduce the effects of journal misalignment, wherein one or more journal end portions are configured with one of the following: a reduced outer diameter, a thicker cross-section, and at least one stiffening rib. ### Claim 11 A foil journal bearing assembly comprising: an annular bearing carrier; an annular bearing sleeve disposed within the annular bearing carrier and attached thereto, the annular bearing sleeve lined with a plurality of foils; a journal having an outer surface that engages the foils, the journal adapted to rotate in close clearance relationship within the annular bearing sleeve for operation over a range of temperatures and speeds; and wherein the journal is configured to at least one of the following: resist operational deflection thereof and reduce the effects of journal misalignment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The foil journal bearing assembly of claim 11, wherein the journal is configured to resist operational deflection thereof to maintain a substantially constant outer diameter along the length thereof, thereby maintaining a substantially uniform operational running clearance with the foils. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The foil journal bearing assembly of claim 12, wherein the journal is configured to have a thicker cross section in one or more journal portions determined to be subject to operational deflection. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The foil journal bearing assembly of claim 13, wherein the journal is configured to have a thicker cross section in at least one journal end portion of the one or more journal portions determined to be subject to operational deflection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The foil journal bearing assembly of claim 12, wherein the journal is configured with a stiffening rib projecting therefrom, the stiffening rib projecting from one or more journal portions determined to be subject to operational deflection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The foil journal bearing assembly of claim 15, wherein the stiffening rib comprises at least one circumferential rib disposed in the circumferential direction of the shaft for stiffening the one or more journal portions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The foil journal bearing assembly of claim 15, wherein the stiffening rib comprises at least one axial rib for stiffening the one or more journal portions. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The foil journal bearing assembly of claim 11, wherein the journal is configured to reduce the effects of journal misalignment, wherein one or more journal end portions are configured with at least one of the following: a reduced outer diameter, a thicker cross-section, and at least one stiffening rib. ### Claim 19 A method for producing a journal of a foil journal bearing assembly for a rotating assembly, the method comprising the steps of: determining expected operational deflection of the journal under predetermined operation conditions; determining whether there is static or expected operational journal misalignment; and at least one of the following: configuring the journal to resist the expected operational deflection and configuring the journal to reduce the effects of journal misalignment. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the journal is determined to be subject to expected operational deflection, the step of configuring the journal to resist the expected operational deflection comprises configuring the journal with a thicker cross section, at least one stiffening rib, or both in one or more portions of the journal that are determined to be subject to the expected operational deflection.