Adjustable tension foil bearing

• US 4,815,864 A
• Filed: 05/31/1988
• Issued: 03/28/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Williams International Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Williams International Company LLC
• Inventors: Jones, Allen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US07/200,249
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 384/100-124, 384/247, 384/253, 384/261, 384/263
• US Class Current: 384/103
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/024 with flexible leaves to create hydrodynamic wedge, e.g. radial foil bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2300/02 General use or purpose, i.e. no use, purpose, special adaptation or modification indicated or a wide variety of uses mentioned
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 25/02 Sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 43/02 Assembling sliding-contact bearings

Abstract

An adjustable tension foil bearing for a rotatable shaft comprises a bearing housing for the support of a plurality of foil carriers which carry a like plurality of foil elements. The foil carriers are rotatable to effect tensioning of the foil elements.

Claims

1. An adjustable tension foil bearing for a rotatable shaft comprising

a bearing housing,

a plurality of foil carriers mounted on said housing for rotation about axes extending parallel to the axis of said rotatable shaft, and

a plurality of foil elements disposed about the periphery of said shaft, opposite ends of each of said foil elements being secured to adjacent foil carriers whereby rotations thereof effects tensioning of said foil elements.

2. A bearing in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said foil carriers is mounted for rotation on a pivot axle and carries a circumferentially spaced tension axle, opposite ends of each foil element being secured to the pivot axle of one foil carrier and the tension axle of an adjacent foil carrier.