Patent ID: 7413346

Claim:
A foil bearing, comprising: a stationary mount member surrounding an outer circumferential surface of a journal of a rotating member via an annular gap; a plurality of centripetal force producing foils arranged in a circumferential direction in the annular gap, where each of the centripetal force producing foils has one end fixed to the stationary mount member, wherein portions of the stationary mount member located between fixed ends of adjoining ones of the centripetal force producing foils are formed with an axially extending slit which radially extends through a portion of the stationary mount members; and a top foil positioned in the annular gap between the outer surface of the journal and the plurality of centripetal force producing foils; wherein the stationary mount member comprises a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion, wherein the first and second axial end portions have a radial thickness which is thinner relative to a radial thickness of an axial middle portion of the stationary mount member between the first and second axial end portions.