Patent ID: 9151322
Filing Date: 2015-10-06
Classification: F16C

Abstract:
1. A foil journal bearing comprising a plurality of top foils overlying a like number of bump foils, supported by a hollow, generally cylindrical housing with a length and a cylinder axis and an interior circumference, the bump foils comprising a plurality of ridges and flats oriented generally parallel to the cylinder axis; the top foils each having a length, a width generally equal to the length of the housing and two ends, the ends being unsecured, each top foil having a mounting feature, extending across its width, for engagement with one of a plurality of features of complementary shape in the housing; the number of complementary-shaped features in the housing being equal to the number of top foils; the complementary-shaped features being spaced-apart and uniformly distributed around the interior circumference of the housing; the mounting feature of each top foil being located between the ends of the top foil to divide the length of the top foil into a leading segment and a trailing segment; the lengths of the top foils being constructed to ensure that a portion of the leading segment of a first top foil positioned in a first complementary feature overlaps the trailing segment of a second top foil positioned in a second complementary feature immediately adjacent to the first complementary feature; with each bump foil having width generally equal to the width of the top foil and a length generally equal to the length of the leading segment and being positioned under the leading segment and secured to the housing across its width at a single location; wherein the bearing housing is split along a plane containing the cylinder axis of the housing.