Auxiliary Resilient Support Patents (Class 384/106)
  • Patent number: 11965520
    Abstract: An airfoil journal bearing including a bearing housing having an inner surface forming a hollow so that a rotation shaft is insertable in the hollow; an airfoil in the hollow so that, when the rotation shaft is inserted in the hollow, the airfoil encloses at least 180 to 360 degrees of a circumference of the rotation shaft; and a ring member enclosing an outer surface of the bearing housing. The bearing housing includes an insert slit formed through the bearing housing from the inner surface of the bearing housing to the outer surface of the bearing housing. The airfoil includes an insert part bent from a circumferential direction of the airfoil to a radial direction of the bearing housing and extending, through the insert slit, to the outer surface of the bearing housing. The airfoil is engaged with an outer surface of the ring member through the insert part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., NEUROS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinwoo Cho, Woong Hwang, Kyeongdong Kim
  • Patent number: 11965545
    Abstract: A foil bearing (10) having at least one foil (16, 18), which is arranged and fixed in place inside a bearing bushing (12). In order to simplify the production, in particular assembly, of the foil bearing (10), the bearing bushing (12) has at least two openings (20, 22, 24) offset from each other in the circumferential direction of the bearing bushing (12) or depressions (120, 122, 124) made in the inner lateral surface of the bearing bushing, into which openings or depressions two opposing circumferential end sections (16 a, 16 b, 18 a, 18 b) of the at least one foil (16, 18) engage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Wiedmann, Jochen Wessner
  • Patent number: 11940005
    Abstract: A radial foil bearing includes a bearing housing which has an insertion hole therein, a top foil which is disposed inside the insertion hole, and a foil structure which is interposed between the top foil and the bearing housing, the foil structure has a folded protruding portion that is bent outward in a radial direction of the insertion hole and is bent back inward in the radial direction, and the folded protruding portion is fitted to a fitting groove formed in an end surface of the bearing housing in an axial direction, the axial direction being a direction in which the insertion hole extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 11898599
    Abstract: A foil bearing (10) having at least one foil (16, 18) which is arranged and fixed in place inside a bearing bore (14) of a bearing support (12). The bearing support (12) is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and the surface of the bearing bore (14) is provided at least in one contact region (20) of the at least one foil (16, 18) with a hard material layer (26). The bearing support (12) can be produced in a simple and cost-effective manner, has a low weight and a good thermal conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Felix Wiedmann, Felix Foerster
  • Patent number: 11867226
    Abstract: A base plate of a thrust foil bearing is provided with a plurality of protrusions and a plurality of recesses formed alternately in a first direction in a striped manner, and either one of top surfaces of the plurality of protrusions and bottom surfaces of the plurality of recesses gradually lower toward one side in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 11859629
    Abstract: A turbo fluid machine includes a rotary shaft configured to rotate in one rotational direction, and a thrust foil bearing that includes: a plurality of bump foils each having a corrugated shape and a plurality of top foils each having a bearing surface that faces a thrust collar. Each bump foil is divided into an outer peripheral foil and an inner peripheral foil in a radial direction of the rotary shaft. Ridges on the outer peripheral foil are inclined in the other rotational direction of the rotary shaft while extending from an edge of the outer peripheral foil adjacent to an inner peripheral side toward an outer peripheral side, and the ridges on the inner peripheral foil are inclined in the other rotational direction while extending from an edge of the inner peripheral foil adjacent to the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Fumiya Shinoda, Fumihiro Suzuki, Ryo Umeyama
  • Patent number: 11859659
    Abstract: A compliant foil thrust bearing subassembly comprising: a fluid plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of fluid foil elements disposed radially inwardly from the fluid plate mating ring; a force transfer plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of force transfer elements disposed radially inwardly from the force transfer plate mating ring; and a spring plate comprising an annular mating ring and a plurality of deflection elements disposed radially inwardly from the spring plate mating ring, wherein: the fluid plate, the force transfer plate and the spring plate are stackable such that each fluid foil element is axially supported by a corresponding pair of overlapping force transfer elements and deflection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Bladon Jets Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Pye, Vasudeva Nimma, Phillip Heward
  • Patent number: 11852153
    Abstract: A bearing system includes a bearing housing and a foil bearing assembly. The bearing housing includes a sleeve defining a cylindrical bore, and a mounting structure for connecting the bearing system to a compressor housing. The foil bearing assembly is positioned within the cylindrical bore and includes an outer foil assembly, an inner foil assembly, and a bump foil assembly positioned between the outer and inner foil assemblies. The bump foil assembly includes a plurality of bump foils disposed circumferentially about the inner foil assembly. Each bump foil is coupled to the outer foil assembly at a respective land and spaced circumferentially from an adjacent bump foil to define a gap therebetween. The inner foil assembly includes a cylindrical inner surface defining a plurality of openings extending radially therethrough. Each opening is radially aligned with one of the lands or one of the gaps between adjacent bump foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Copeland LP
    Inventors: Patrick Shawn O'Meara, Michael M. Perevozchikov, Zheji Liu
  • Patent number: 11808299
    Abstract: A compliant foil radial bearing (100) comprising: a bushing (110) comprising a bore defined therethrough; a spring foil (120, 130) arranged to conform to a radially inner surface of the bushing; a fluid foil (140, 150) arranged to conform to a radially inner surface of the spring foil for rotatably receiving a rotor, wherein: the radially inner surface of the bore comprises a plurality of axially oriented pads arranged around the circumference thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: BLADON JETS HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Phillip Heward, Vasudeva Nimma, Stephen Pye
  • Patent number: 11795996
    Abstract: A thrust foil bearing includes a base plate including an insertion hole through which a rotating shaft is inserted and a support surface disposed around the insertion hole on one side of the insertion hole in an axial direction, and a back foil disposed on the support surface, in which the support surface has a plurality of inclined surfaces of which inclination angles inclined toward the other side of the base plate in the axial direction become shallower in order toward an outside of the insertion hole in a radial direction, and the back foil is divided into a plurality of divided regions in the radial direction by a slit, and the plurality of divided regions are supported by the plurality of inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 11686341
    Abstract: A bearing system includes a bearing housing and a foil bearing assembly. The bearing housing includes a sleeve that defines a cylindrical bore and includes at least one bearing assembly locking feature, and a mounting structure. The foil bearing assembly includes an outer foil assembly, an inner foil assembly, and a bump foil assembly positioned between the outer foil assembly and the inner foil assembly. The outer foil assembly includes at least one outer foil pad that extends circumferentially from a first end including a bearing retention feature to a second end. The bearing retention feature is cooperatively engaged with the at least one bearing assembly locking feature. The inner foil assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced inner foil pads. Each inner foil pad extends circumferentially from a tab to a free end. At least one inner foil pad is welded to the outer foil assembly along the tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zheji Liu, Michael M. Perevozchikov
  • Patent number: 11598221
    Abstract: A turbo fluid machine includes a rotary shaft configured to rotate in one rotational direction, and a radial foil bearing. The radial foil bearing includes: a bump foil formed of an elastic thin plate having a corrugated shape. The bump foil is divided into first and second foil portions located respectively on one side and on the other side in an axial direction of the rotary shaft. Ridges on the first foil portion are inclined in the other rotational direction of the rotary shaft while extending from an edge of the first foil portion adjacent to the other side toward the one side in the axial direction. The ridges on the second foil portion are inclined in the other rotational direction of the rotary shaft while extending from an edge of the second foil portion adjacent to the one side toward the other side in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Fumiya Shinoda, Fumihiro Suzuki, Ryo Umeyama
  • Patent number: 11585374
    Abstract: A journal foil bearing system includes a retainer arrangement with an internal groove extending in a depth direction from the bore of the housing. The internal groove has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends further in the depth direction than the second portion and includes a seat surface of the internal groove. The retainer arrangement additionally includes a first top foil end and a second top foil end of the top foil member. The first top foil end is configured to abut the second top foil end to arch-bind the at least one top foil within the bearing system. The first top foil end is received in the first portion of the internal groove and is configured to seat against the seat surface to limit rotation of the first top foil end about the axis. The second top foil end is received in the second portion of the internal groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: GARRETT TRANSPORTATION I INC
    Inventors: Luca Tabacchi, Scott Aguilar
  • Patent number: 11560922
    Abstract: A journal foil bearing system includes a journal member with a bore and an internal groove. The system includes a shaft received within the bore and supported for rotation relative to the journal member about an axis. The groove extends substantially along the axis. The system also includes at least one biasing foil and a top foil member with at least one arch-bound top foil. The top foil member has a top foil first end and a top foil second end. Additionally, the system includes a foil support insert member that is received within the groove. The foil support insert member includes a spacer member that is disposed between the top foil first and second ends. The spacer member maintains the top foil first and second ends separated, at least, at a distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: GARRETT TRANSPORTATION I INC.
    Inventors: Scott Aguilar, Luca Tabacchi
  • Patent number: 11306772
    Abstract: A radial foil bearing includes a bearing housing that has an insertion hole into which a shaft is inserted, a back foil that is disposed on an inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole, a top foil that is supported by the back foil, and a protrusion portion that protrudes toward an inner side in a radial direction of the insertion hole from the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole and is configured to allow supporting of the top foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 10975911
    Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing is provided which may include foot part supporting a load-carrying unit, a head part, and body part forming a lower chamber and an upper chamber. A lower member is supported by the load-carrying unit and arranged inside the lower chamber. An upper member is controllable by a pressurizing fluid and arranged inside the upper chamber. The lower member is controllably moveable along a central axis of the hydrostatic bearing between a retracted state, where the lower member is distanced from the upper member, and an extended state, where the lower member is also in contact with the upper member. The hydrostatic bearing acts both as a conventional slave bearing and a conventional master bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Joakim Hermansson
  • Patent number: 10487870
    Abstract: The present invention provides a foil bearing (10), including: a top foil portion (Tf); and a back foil portion (Bf), which is arranged on a back of the top foil portion (Tf), and is configured to elastically support the top foil portion (Tf), wherein the back foil portion (Bf) includes: an intermediate portion (23) being flat; first projecting portions (21) projecting on a front side of the intermediate portion (23); and second projecting portions (22) projecting on a back side of the intermediate portion (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Yoshino, Hiroki Fujiwara, Mitsuo Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10473154
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to tilting pad bearing assemblies, bearing apparatuses including the tilting pad bearing assemblies, and methods of using the bearing apparatuses. The tilting pad bearing assemblies disclosed herein include a plurality of tilting pads. At least some of the superhard tables exhibit a thickness that is at least about 0.120 inch and/or at least two layers having different wear and/or thermal characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jair J. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 10221885
    Abstract: A thrust bearing is a thrust bearing disposed facing a thrust collar provided on a rotary shaft and includes a top foil, a back foil and a base plate. The back foil includes a plurality of back foil pieces. The top foil includes a plurality of top foil pieces. In addition, a leading side of the top foil piece in the rotation direction of the rotary shaft is provided with a fixed part fixed to the base plate, an inner circumferential edge side of the top foil piece is provided with an inner circumferential edge-side thin part in which a part is removed from the surface of the top foil piece facing the back foil piece, and the inner circumferential edge-side thin part is formed to be thinner than an outer circumferential edge side of the top foil piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 10161444
    Abstract: An air foil thrust bearing includes a base plate and a bump foil structure attached to the base plate. The bump foil structure has two or more bump foils and one or more first rings connecting the two or more bump foils. and the air foil thrust bearing includes a top foil structure attached to the base plate. The top foil structure has two or more top foils and one or more second rings connecting the two or more top foils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Chang Ha Lee
  • Patent number: 10012109
    Abstract: A foil bearing includes: a tubular foil holder (31); and a plurality of foils (32) having a radial bearing surface (S1) and being arrayed on an inner peripheral surface (31a) of the foil holder (31) in a circumferential direction. Both circumferential ends (projecting portions (32e) and projecting portion (32c)) of each of the foils (32) are held on the foil holder (31). The foil bearing is configured to support a shaft (6) inserted along an inner periphery thereof in a freely rotatable manner. The plurality of foils (32) are held on the foil holder (31) under a circumferentially movable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Yoshino, Hiroki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9976595
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a hybrid foil bearing includes a bearing sleeve, multiple inner foils provided within the sleeve, the foils having gas outlets from which pressurized gas can be injected into an interior of the bearing, and integrated gas flow paths that radially extend through the bearing sleeve and deliver the gas to the gas outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventor: Daejong Kim
  • Patent number: 9695868
    Abstract: A bearing arrangement (28) having at least one radial air bearing (1) and/or having an axial air bearing (15?). The radial air bearing (1) has an inner annular bearing plate (7) and a spring plate (10) which surrounds the bearing plate (7) at the outside. The bearing plate and spring plate being formed as a single-piece component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventors: Dietmar Metz, Martin Mueller
  • Patent number: 9689277
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine including a compressor, a turbine and a static structure is disclosed herein. The gas turbine engine further includes a foil bearing system operative to transmit rotor loads from at least one of the compressor and the turbine to the static structure. The foil bearing system includes a foil bearing and a self-aligning foil bearing mount to align the foil bearing with an axis of rotation of the compressor and the turbine. A snubber operative to transmit rotor loads to the static structure in parallel with the foil bearing is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven A. Klusman
  • Patent number: 9366286
    Abstract: A radial foil bearing (3) that supports a rotating shaft (1). This radial foil bearing (3) is provided with a top foil (10), a back foil (11), and a bearing housing (12) that houses them. A through-slot (13) is formed in the inner circumferential surface of the bearing housing (12), and engagement slots (20) are formed in the through-slot (13) by a fixing tool (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 9360042
    Abstract: An air bearing assembly is provided that includes a bearing sleeve that has two slots side-by-side having rectangular profiles for engaging the ends of first and second bearing foils for supporting a shaft of a dual-stage compressor. The first rectangular-profile slot, which may be made using a broaching process, is designed to receive first ends of the first bearing foil and the second bearing foil. The second rectangular-profile slot, which may also be made using a broaching process, is designed to receive a second end of the second bearing foil. This dual-slot design replaces the complex “L” shaped single slot design of conventional bearing sleeves, allowing for high-volume, low-cost manufacturing of the bearing sleeves. The dual-slot design also provides for robust engagement of the bearing foils with the bearing sleeves, while allowing easy assembly and installation of the air bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Glenn F. Thompson, Mark Mackey, John Sontag, John Mason, Rick Johnson, Mike Guidry, Patrick Beresewicz, Keith Alan Hurley, Marshall Saville
  • Patent number: 9028149
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bearing sleeve for supporting a shaft of an air cycle machine. The bearing sleeve includes an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The outer diameter is within a range of 3.222 and 3.224 inches. Further included is a foil retaining cavity provided in the inner diameter of the sleeve. The foil retaining cavity includes a slot and first and second openings located at opposing axial ends of the slot. Each of the first and second openings include a small portion and a large portion having different axial lengths. A ratio of the combined axial lengths of the large portions to an axial length of the foil retaining cavity is within a range of 0.19:1 and 0.22:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Seth E. Rosen, Ronald M. Struziak
  • Patent number: 9011008
    Abstract: The radial foil bearing (3, 20) includes, a cylindrical top foil (10, 21), a back foil (11) disposed on a radially outer side of the top foil (10, 21), and a cylindrical bearing housing (12, 25) accommodating the top foil (10, 21) and the back foil (11). The top foil (10, 21) is formed by winding a rectangular metal foil around a rotary shaft (1) in a circumferential direction thereof. The metal foil includes a first uneven portion (17a, 23a) which has a first projecting portion (15a, 22a) and a first depressed portion (16a, 23a) on a first side thereof, and a second uneven portion (17b, 24b) which has a second projecting portion (15b, 22b) and a second depressed portion (16b, 23b) on a second side opposite to the first side. The metal foil is wound in a cylindrical shape so that the first uneven portion (17a, 23a) and the second uneven portion (17b, 24b) overlap with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 8998493
    Abstract: A split combo bearing including a damper body that has a through-hole through which a rotor shaft passes, a cover that covers both axial sides of the damper body and a predetermined area of the outer circumference of the damper body, a thrust bump that is fixed to the side of the cover, which is in contact with the impeller on a rotor shaft, and is arranged circumferentially around the through-hole, a thrust top foil that is axially fixed to the outermost side of the thrust bump, and a radial top foil that is formed to cover the rotor shaft, and is disposed between the outer side of the rotor shaft and the inner side of the through-hole of the damper body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials
    Inventors: Cheol-hoon Park, Sang-Kyu Choi, Sung Hwi Lee, Sang-Yong Ham, Doo Euy Hong, Tae Gwang Yoon
  • Publication number: 20150086141
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air-foil bearing including a damper body, a front welding plate, and a front top foil for increasing durability, and which has a first bending mode. The damper body includes a front body portion, a rear body portion, and a front protruded portion protruded upward from the front body portion to have a flat protruded surface, and the front welding plate includes a front first contact portion in surface contact with a top surface of the front protruded portion and a front second contact portion which is a portion that is bent from the front first contact portion in surface contact with the front welding plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Cheol-hoon PARK, Sang-Kyu Choi, Doo Euy Hong, Tae Gwang Yoon, Sung Hwi Lee, Sang-Yong Ham
  • Patent number: 8944687
    Abstract: The radial foil bearing (3) for supporting a rotary shaft (1) includes a cylindrical top foil (10) disposed to face the rotary shaft (1), a back foil (11) disposed on a radially outer side of the top foil (10), and a cylindrical bearing housing (12) accommodating the top foil (10) and the back foil (11). The back foil (11) is formed in a cylindrical shape using at least one back foil piece (11a). The back foil piece (11a) includes peak portions (11c) and valley portions (11b) which are alternately formed in a circumferential direction of the top foil (10) and is fixed to the bearing housing (12) at an intermediate portion between both end portions in a circumferential direction of the back foil piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 8944688
    Abstract: This relates to a radial foil bearing (3) that supports a rotating shaft (1). The radial foil bearing (3) is provided with a top foil (10), a back foil (11), and a bearing housing (12) that houses them. An engagement notch (15) that extends from the inner circumferential edge to the outer circumferential edge of the bearing housing (12) is formed at both sides of the bearing housing (12). An engagement protruding piece (30) that engages with each engagement notch (15) is provided at both side end portions of the back foil (11) on one side in the circumferential direction of the bearing housing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Naomichi Omori, Tohru Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150030270
    Abstract: A foil journal bearing applicable to high speed machining and grinding machines for machining microscopic features. A single foil is secured to and supported by a hollow, generally cylindrical, housing. The foil has a length substantially equal to twice the interior circumference of the housing and a mounting feature, extending across its width, for engagement with a feature of complementary shape in the housing. One portion of the foil has a length approximately equal to one half of the foil length, and comprises a bump foil and a plurality of regions comprising groups of generally uniformly-spaced ridges and flats, the regions being separated by extended flat regions. The other portion of the foil has a length approximately equal to one half of the foil length, and comprises the top foil and is generally flat and overlies the bump foil which overlies the interior of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Mohawk Innovative Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hooshang Heshmat
  • Patent number: 8845193
    Abstract: The radial foil bearing includes a top foil, a back foil, and a bearing housing accommodating the top and back foils, and supports a rotary shaft. Engagement grooves are formed on both side surfaces of the bearing housing to extend from the outer circumferential edge to the inner circumferential edge of the side surface. Notches are formed in circumferential edges on both sides of the back foil. A locking member is locked into the engagement grooves of the bearing housing and the notches of the back foil, and includes a pair of engagement legs engaging with the engagement grooves and the notches, and a connection portion connecting the engagement legs together to be disposed near one ends of the engagement legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Publication number: 20140241653
    Abstract: The radial foil bearing for surrounding and supporting a rotary shaft includes a cylindrical top foil disposed so as to face the rotary shaft, a back foil disposed at a radially outer side of the top foil, and a cylindrical bearing housing accommodating the top foil and the back foil. Engagement-projecting portions are provided on both ends of an inner circumferential surface of the bearing housing. Engagement notches engaging with the engagement-projecting portions are formed on both ends of the back foil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Naomichi OMORI
  • Patent number: 8801290
    Abstract: A foil journal bearing applicable to high speed machining and grinding machines for machining microscopic features. A single foil is secured to and supported by a hollow, generally cylindrical, housing. The foil has a length substantially equal to twice the interior circumference of the housing and a mounting feature, extending across its width, for engagement with a feature of complementary shape in the housing. One portion of the foil has a length approximately equal to one half of the foil length, and comprises a bump foil and a plurality of regions comprising groups of generally uniformly-spaced ridges and flats, the regions being separated by extended flat regions. The other portion of the foil has a length approximately equal to one half of the foil length, and comprises the top foil and is generally flat and overlies the bump foil which overlies the interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Mohawk Innovative Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hooshang Heshmat
  • Publication number: 20140219590
    Abstract: This relates to a radial foil bearing (3) that supports a rotating shaft (1). The radial foil bearing (3) is provided with a top foil (10), a back foil (11), and a bearing housing (12) that houses them. An engagement notch (15) that extends from the inner circumferential edge to the outer circumferential edge of the bearing housing (12) is formed at both sides of the bearing housing (12). An engagement protruding piece (30) that engages with each engagement notch (15) is provided at both side end portions of the back foil (11) on one side in the circumferential direction of the bearing housing (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventors: Naomichi OMORI, Tohru TANAKA
  • Publication number: 20140169708
    Abstract: The radial foil bearing (3) for supporting a rotary shaft (1) includes a cylindrical top foil (10) disposed to face the rotary shaft (1), a back foil (11) disposed on a radially outer side of the top foil (10), and a cylindrical bearing housing (12) accommodating the top foil (10) and the back foil (11). The back foil (11) is formed in a cylindrical shape using at least one back foil piece (11a). The back foil piece (11a) includes peak portions (11c) and valley portions (11b) which are alternately formed in a circumferential direction of the top foil (10) and is fixed to the bearing housing (12) at an intermediate portion between both end portions in a circumferential direction of the back foil piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Publication number: 20140154058
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Walter Lee Meacham, Alan Margolis, Yates Wong
  • Publication number: 20140153850
    Abstract: The radial foil bearing (3, 20) includes, a cylindrical top foil (10, 21), a back foil (11) disposed on a radially outer side of the top foil (10, 21), and a cylindrical bearing housing (12, 25) accommodating the top foil (10, 21) and the back foil (11). The top foil (10, 21) is formed by winding a rectangular metal foil around a rotary shaft (1) in a circumferential direction thereof. The metal foil includes a first uneven portion (17a, 23a) which has a first projecting portion (15a, 22a) and a first depressed portion (16a, 23a) on a first side thereof, and a second uneven portion (17b, 24b) which has a second projecting portion (15b, 22b) and a second depressed portion (16b, 23b) on a second side opposite to the first side. The metal foil is wound in a cylindrical shape so that the first uneven portion (17a, 23a) and the second uneven portion (17b, 24b) overlap with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 8672549
    Abstract: An improved air foil bearing assembly is disclosed. The air foil bearing assembly includes a bearing housing having an axially extending bore therein and a shaft arranged within the bore for relative coaxial rotation with respect to the bearing housing. The shaft cooperates with the bearing housing to define an annular gap therebetween. A foil assembly is disposed in the annular gap, including at least one foil having at least one laterally extending tab. The tab is adapted to be received in and extend axially from the annular gap and is further adapted to be bent into frictional contact with an outer surface of the bearing housing to militate against axial movement of the foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Flora, Steven L. Clark, Jon R. Sienkowski, Stephan M. Ruchenewitz
  • Patent number: 8602653
    Abstract: A foil thrust bearing applicable to high speed machining and grinding machines for machining microscopic features. Top foil segments are circumferentially spaced relative to a rotating runner for engagement by the runner when the bearing is mounted to bearingly support runner rotation. Bump foil segments underlie and support and engage the top foil segments respectively. A thrust plate supports and engages the bump foil segments. Each top foil segment and each bump foil segment is secured only along an edge portion which is trailing relative to the runner rotation leaving an edge which is leading relative to runner rotation and a pair of side edges unsecured. Each bump foil segment includes tabs separated by slots extending from the leading edge at least partially to the secured edge portion. Each bump foil tab has substantially parallel ridges separated by flats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Mohawk Innovative Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hooshang Heshmat
  • Patent number: 8500331
    Abstract: An air foil bearing includes a top foil, one or more orifice tubes and two or more bump foil strips disposed within a housing. The top foil is forms a substantially circular shape having one or more sets of top foil orifice holes. Each set of top foil orifice holes has at least three top foil orifice holes along a circumference of the top foil. An orifice tube is provided for each set of top foil orifice holes. The orifice tube includes a flat side having a set of tube orifice holes connected to an outer surface of the top foil. The bump foil strip is attached to the outer surface of the top foil adjacent to each side of each orifice tube. Another embodiment uses a housing with an inner surface having a curved polygonal cross-sectional shape with an odd number of curved sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials
    Inventors: Daejong Kim, An Sung Lee, Young-Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 8475048
    Abstract: A dynamic foil gas bearing includes a foil group comprising a corrugated-sheet-like bump foil, a flat-sheet-like middle foil, and a flat-sheet-like top foil which are arranged successively toward the center axis of a bearing case. The top foil includes a second linkage surface joined to a second fixed surface fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the bearing case and also joined to a second rotatable shaft holding surface. The second linkage surface is provided by a curved portion of the top foil which is convex toward the center axis of the bearing case. The middle foil includes a first linkage surface joined to a first fixed surface fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the bearing case and also joined to a first rotatable shaft holding surface. The first linkage surface is provided by a bent straight portion of the middle foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Kume, Noriyuki Mizojiri
  • Patent number: 8419283
    Abstract: An example journal air bearing for a rotatable shaft of an air cycle machine includes a top foil configured to receive a rotatable shaft, and an intermediate foil radially outboard the top foil. A journal sleeve is radially outboard the intermediate foil. The top foil and the intermediate foil establish apertures configured to communicate fluid between a first position radially inboard the top foil and a second position radially outboard the intermediate foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher McAuliffe, Ronald M. Struziak
  • Patent number: 8414191
    Abstract: An improved air foil bearing assembly is disclosed. The air foil bearing assembly includes a bearing housing having an axially extending bore therein and a shaft arranged within the bore for relative coaxial rotation with respect to the bearing housing. The shaft cooperates with the bearing housing to define an annular gap therebetween. A foil assembly is disposed in the annular gap, including at least one foil having at least one laterally extending tab. The tab is adapted to be received in and extend axially from the annular gap and is further adapted to be bent into frictional contact with an outer surface of the bearing housing to militate against axial movement of the foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Brian S. Flora, Steven L. Clark, Jon R. Sienkowski, Stephan M. Ruchenewitz
  • Patent number: 8360645
    Abstract: A foil bearing supports a cylindrical rotary shaft 2, the foil bearing including: a hollow cylindrical outer ring 4 which is supported by a stationary member, and surrounds the rotary shaft with a predetermined gap therebetween; a thin-film-shaped top foil 3a which surrounds the outer surface of the rotary shaft, and of which one circumferential end is fixed to the inner surface of the outer ring; and a back foil 3b which is formed by a thin film sandwiched between the top foil and the inner surface of the outer ring and elastically supporting the top foil. The back foil 3b includes a support portion which comes into contact with the inner surface of the outer ring and is immovable in the circumferential direction, and an elastic portion which is supported by the support portion and is elastically bent in the radial direction by surface pressure from the top foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: IHI Corporation
    Inventor: Naomichi Omori
  • Patent number: 8353631
    Abstract: A journal foil air bearing 5000 according to the present invention is provided with one top foil 300 along an inner periphery of a hole 18 of a bearing housing 10. Bump foils 20c and 20d are installed at the inner periphery of the hole 18 of the bearing housing 10 where they are distanced from each other. Both ends of the top foil 300 form bent portions 308a and 308b and the bent portions 308a and 308b are mounted in a slot 414 of a slot body 40 mounted in a slot 140 provided in the inner periphery of the hole 18 in the bearing housing 10 and the top foil 300 is elastically movable therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Neuros Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyeong Su Kim
  • Publication number: 20120281937
    Abstract: A foil journal bearing applicable to high speed machining and grinding machines for machining microscopic features. A single foil is secured to and supported by a hollow, generally cylindrical, housing. The foil has a length substantially equal to twice the interior circumference of the housing and a mounting feature, extending across its width, for engagement with a feature of complementary shape in the housing. One portion of the foil has a length approximately equal to one half of the foil length, and comprises a bump foil and a plurality of regions comprising groups of generally uniformly-spaced ridges and flats, the regions being separated by extended flat regions. The other portion of the foil has a length approximately equal to one half of the foil length, and comprises the top foil and is generally flat and overlies the bump foil which overlies the interior of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Hooshang Heshmat, Michael J. Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: RE48269
    Abstract: A thrust foil bearing includes a thrust member, and a foil member mounted to an end surface of the thrust member and having a thrust bearing surface that forms a thrust bearing gap. The foil member includes a foil that integrally includes a plurality of leaves each having a free end on one side in a circumferential direction and the thrust bearing surface, and a coupling portion for coupling the plurality of leaves to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masato Yoshino