Patent ID: 6582125
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
A smart foil journal bearing, which is provided at an interior surface of its bearing housing with a plurality of foils or a top foil for supporting a rotating shaft, comprising:a plurality of piezoelectric actuators embedded in an inside portion of the bearing housing while coming into contact with and supporting the foils or the foil to increase stiffness and damping coefficient of the bearing, wherein each of said piezoelectric actuator are comprised of a piezoelectric actuator inserted into one of dimples formed on the interior surface of the bearing housing and provided with at least a piezoelectric actuating element and an elastic spring interposed between a bottom of the piezoelectric actuator and a bottom of the dimple, so as to increase stiffness and damping coefficient of the bearing by application of voltage to said piezoelectric actuator.