US 5,634,723 A · Hydrodynamic fluid film bearing

Abstract

A hydrodynamic fluid film bearing has a stationary retaining member (12) having a cylindrical opening (14) to receive for rotation therein a rotatable shaft (16). The inner surface (20) of the opening (14) is lined by a generally cylindrical-shaped foil assembly (18) comprised of a plurality of foil sub-assemblies (24) each comprised of spring foils (26), contact foils (30) and, optionally, inner foils (32). Each foil sub-assembly (24) subtends a rotational segment, less than all, of the inner surface (20), e.g., from about 45 degrees to 120 degrees of rotation. The spring foils (26) and contact foils (30) are affixed to the retaining member (12) in such a way that sliding travel of the spring foils (26) along the inner surface (20) is in the opposite rotational direction of sliding travel of the contact foils (30) along the inner surface (20). The foil sub-assemblies (24) may be affixed to the retaining member (12) by means of keyways (22a-22e) within which the foil sub-assemblies (24) are mounted.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A hydrodynamic fluid film bearing comprising:

a retaining member having an inner surface which defines a shaft opening within which a rotatable shaft is receivable for rotation;
and
a foil assembly affixed to and lining the inner surface and comprising a plurality of foil sub-assemblies, the foil sub-assemblies each subtending a rotational segment, less than all, of the inner surface and comprising (i) compliant flat contact foils sandwiched between (ii) spring foils disposed radially outwardly of their associated contact foils and (iii) compliant flat inner foils disposed radially inwardly of their associated contact foils, the spring foils, the contact foils and the inner foils being affixed to the retaining member with the contact foils disposed along the inner surface in the opposite-facing rotational direction from that in which the spring foils and the inner foils are disposed along the inner surface, whereby sliding travel of the spring foils and the inner foils is in the opposite rotational direction of sliding travel of the contact foils sandwiched therebetween.

A hydrodynamic fluid film bearing comprising:

a retaining member having an inner surface which defines a shaft opening within which a rotatable shaft is receivable for rotation;
and
a foil assembly affixed to and lining the inner surface and comprising a plurality of foil sub-assemblies, the foil sub-assemblies each subtending a rotational segment, less than all, of the inner surface and comprising (i) compliant contact foils sandwiched between (ii) spring foils disposed radially outwardly of their associated contact foils and (iii) compliant inner foils disposed radially inwardly of their associated contact foils, the spring foils and the contact foils being affixed to the retaining member in respective opposite-facing rotational directions along the inner surface whereby sliding travel of the spring foils is in the opposite rotational direction of sliding travel of the contact foils, and wherein the compliant contact foil of one foil sub-assembly is integral with the compliant inner foil of an adjacent foil sub-assembly, thereby constituting a unitary compliant foil, the unitary foil being secured to the retaining member at an intermediate portion thereof;
each unitary compliant foil terminating in respective opposite distal edges each facing in respective opposite directions of rotation.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydrodynamic fluid film bearing

Life of this patent

Hydrodynamic fluid film bearing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19