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US 4,178,046 AGranted
Foil bearing
AssigneeThe Garrett Corporation
InventorsAlexander Silver, James R. Wenban
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a foil bearing in which the individual compliant foils are mounted intermediate the ends thereof.
Claims60
In combination:
- a pair of members arranged for relative movement with respect to one another;
- and
- a compliant foil bearing operably disposed between said pair of relatively rotatable members, said compliant foil bearing comprising a plurality of overlapping compliant foils and means intermediate the ends of each foil for mounting said foils on one of said pair of members.
In combination:
- a pair of members arranged for relative rotation with respect to one another, one of said pair of members being adapted to rotatively support the other;
- and
- a plurality of compliant, overlapping bearing foils operably disposed between said pair of relatively rotatable members, each of said plurality of foils having a first free end adjacent one of said pair of relatively rotatable members, a second free end extending between said pair of members and overlapping the first free end of an adjacent foil, and means intermediate said first and second ends for mounting each of said foils on said one of said pair of relatively rotatable members.
In combination:
- a bearing support member having an opening to receive a rotatable shaft;
- a rotatable shaft operably disposed within the opening of said bearing support member;
- and
- a compliant foil bearing operably disposed between the rotatable shaft and the bearing support member, said compliant foil bearing comprising a plurality of compliant, overlapping foils having a generally U-shaped channel integrally formed on each foil intermediate the ends thereof for mounting within the rotatable shaft receiving opening in the bearing support member.
1 more element
A method of supporting relative movement between two members, one of which being supportive of the other, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of compliant, overlapping foils between the two members;
- positioning each of said compliant foils with a first free end of each of said plurality of foils extending between said two members and overlapping a second free end of an adjacent one of said plurality of foils;
- and
- mounting each of said compliant foils on one of said members at a position intermediate the ends of each foil.
1 more element
A compliant foil for use in a foil bearing system, said foil comprising a compliant member including mounting means intermediate the ends thereof.
In combination:
- a pair of members arranged for relative rotation with respect to one another, one of said pair of members being adapted to rotatively support the other;
- and a plurality of compliant overlapping bearing foils operably disposed between said pair of relatively rotatable members, each of said plurality of foils comprising means mounting said foil on one of said pair of relatively rotatable members, a stiffener portion extending from said mounting means in one direction between said pair of members, and a foil portion extending from said mounting means in an opposite direction between said pair of members and overlapping the stiffener portion of an adjacent foil.
A hydrodynamic fluid bearing comprising:
- a tubular bushing having an inner surface;
- a plurality of slots in said surface;
- a rotatable member positioned supportively within said bushing;
- a plurality of compliant foils operably disposed between said bushing and said member, each foil having an under foil portion, an over foil portion and mounting means intermediate said over foil and under foil portions for positioning in one of said slots, each of said foils being positioned with a free end of said over foil portion contacting an adjacent under foil portion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.