Bearing sleeve for air bearing

A bearing sleeve for an air bearing assembly configured to support a turbomachinery shaft, wherein an inner surface of the bearing sleeve defines:

• a first retention slot configured to engage a first end of a first bearing foil and a first end of a second bearing foil;
• and
• a second retention slot configured to engage a second end of the second bearing foil, wherein the first and second bearing foils are maintained in engagement with the bearing sleeve via engagement of the respective ends with a corresponding one of the first and second retention slots such that the first bearing foil is disposed proximate the inner surface of the bearing sleeve and the second bearing foil is disposed between the first bearing foil and the shaft supported by the bearing sleeve.

A method of manufacturing a bearing sleeve for an air bearing assembly, wherein the air bearing assembly is configured to support a turbomachinery shaft, the method comprising:

• forming a first retention slot in an inner surface of the bearing sleeve, wherein the first retention slot is configured to engage a first end of a first bearing foil and a first end of a second bearing foil;
• and
• forming a second retention slot in the inner surface of the bearing sleeve, wherein the second retention slot is configured to engage a second end of the second bearing foil, wherein the first and second bearing foils are maintained in engagement with the bearing sleeve via engagement of the respective ends with a corresponding one of the first and second retention slots such that the first bearing foil is disposed proximate the inner surface of the bearing sleeve and the second bearing foil is disposed between the first bearing foil and the shaft supported by the bearing sleeve.