Foil bearing stiffener

Claim 2

A hydrodynamic fluid bearing comprising: first and second bearing elements movable with respect to each other and spaced apart to form a fluid gap therebetween; at least one bearing foil attached to one of said bearing elements, said foil loosely conforming to the shape of said bearing elements; foil stiffening means operatively associated with one of said bearing members and contacting said bearing foil at least at one point for increasing the effective stiffness of said bearing foil, said foil stiffening means having a first operative configuration for providing damping by bending and a second operative configuration for providing damping by compression.

Claim 3

A hydrodynamic fluid bearing as in claim 1 wherein said foil stiffening means comprises a resilient foil member having alternating raised portions on inner and outer surfaces thereof.

Claim 4

A hydrodynamic fluid bearing as in claim 1 wherein said foil stiffening element comprises: a compliant foil element having inner and outer surfaces; alternating ridge and groove means along the inner surface; and alternating ridge and groove means along the outer surface, each outer surface ridge means positionally corresponding to an inner surface groove means.

Claim 5

A hydrodynamic fluid bearing as in claim 1 wherein said bearing foil comprises: mounting means; a compliant foil element extending from said mounting means in one direction; and said foil stiffening means extending from said mounting means in another direction.

Claim 6

A hydrodynamic fluid bearing as in claim 4 wherein said foil stiffening element comprises: a compliant foil element extending from said mounting means in said other direction, and having inner and outer surfaces; ridge and groove means along the inner surface; and ridge and groove means along the outer surface positionally alternating with said inner surface ridge and groove means.

Claim 7

In combination: a pair of members arranged for relative rotation with respect to one another, one of said pair of members adapted to rotatively support the other; a compliant foil bearing operably disposed between said pair of relatively rotatable members, said compliant foil bearing comprising a plurality of overlapping compliant foils and means for mounting said foils on one of said pair of members; and foil stiffening means mounted on said one of said pair of members for increasing the effective stiffness of said foils and having a first operative configuration for providing damping by bending and a second operative configuration for providing damping by compression.

Claim 8

In combination: a pair of members arranged for relative rotation with respect to one another, one of said pair of members adapted to rotatively support the other; a compliant foil bearing operably disposed between said pair of relatively rotatable members, said compliant foil bearing comprising a plurality of overlapping compliant foils and means for mounting said foils on one of said pair of members; and foil stiffening means mounted on said one of said pair of members for increasing the effective stiffness of said foils and having a first operative configuration for providing damping by bending and a second operative configuration for providing damping by compression.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 6 wherein said foil stiffening means comprises a foil stiffening member operably associated with each of said foils and comprising: a compliant foil element having inner and outer surfaces; a plurality of protrusions along said inner surface; and a plurality of protrusions along said outer surface alternating positionally with said plurality of inner surface protrusions.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 including an elongated mounting portion for mounting on said one of said pair of members, and wherein said protrusions are aligned generally parallel with said mounting portion.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 6 wherein said foil stiffening means comprises a foil stiffening member operably associated with each of said foils and comprising: a compliant foil element having inner and outer surfaces; a plurality of depressions along said inner surface; and a plurality of depressions along said outer surface alternating positionally with said plurality of inner surface depressions.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 including an elongated mounting portion for mounting on said one of said pair of members, and wherein said depressions are aligned generally parallel with said mounting portion.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 6 wherein said foil bearing comprises a journal bearing.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 6 wherein said foil bearing comprises a conical bearing.

Claim 15

A foil stiffening element for use in a foil bearing system, said foil stiffening element comprising: a compliant foil element having inner and outer surfaces; a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves along the inner surface; and alternating ridges and grooves along the outer surface, each outer surface ridge positionally corresponding to an inner surface groove.

Claim 16

A foil stiffening element for use in a foil bearing system, said foil stiffening element comprising: a compliant foil element having inner and outer surfaces; a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves along the inner surface; and alternating ridges and grooves along the outer surface, each outer surface ridge positionally corresponding to an inner surface groove.

Claim 17

A foil stiffening element as in claim 13 wherein each of said ridges is flat topped.

Claim 18

A foil stiffening element as in claim 13 wherein said compliant foil element is generally arcuate.

Claim 19

A foil stiffening element as in claim 13 wherein said foil element extends from mounting means in one direction and said ridges and grooves are generally parallel to said mounting means.

Claim 20

A foil stiffening element as in claim 16 wherein an additional compliant foil element extends in another direction from said mounting means.

Claim 21

A foil stiffening element for use in a foil bearing system, said foil stiffening element comprising: a compliant foil element having first and second surfaces; ridge and groove means along said first surface; and ridge and groove means along said second surface alternating with said first surface ridge and groove means.

Claim 22

A foil stiffening element for use in a foil bearing system, said foil stiffening element comprising: a compliant foil element having first and second surfaces; ridge and groove means along said first surface; and ridge and groove means along said second surface alternating with said first surface ridge and groove means.

Claim 23

A foil stiffening element as in claim 18 having mounting means intermediate the ends thereof and wherein said ridge and groove means are positioned toward one of said ends from said mounting means.

Claim 24

A foil stiffening element comprising: a compliant foil element, a first surface on said foil element having protrusions; and a second surface on said foil element having protrusions positionally alternating with said first surface protrusions.

Claim 25

A foil stiffening element comprising: a compliant foil element, a first surface on said foil element having protrusions; and a second surface on said foil element having protrusions positionally alternating with said first surface protrusions.

Claim 26

A foil stiffening element as in claim 20 wherein said protrusions have generally planar outer surfaces.

Claim 27

A foil stiffening element comprising: a compliant foil element; a first surface on said foil element having depressions; and a second surface on said foil element having depressions positionally alternating with said first surface depressions.

Claim 28

A foil stiffening element comprising: a compliant foil element; a first surface on said foil element having depressions; and a second surface on said foil element having depressions positionally alternating with said first surface depressions.

Claim 29

In a foil stiffening element for use in a fluid bearing system having a plurality of bearing foils, the improvement comprising: means for providing a first operative configuration of said foil stiffening element for providing damping by bending and a second operative configuration of said foil stiffening element for providing damping by compression.

Claim 30

In a foil stiffening element for use in a fluid bearing system having a plurality of bearing foils, the improvement comprising: means for providing a first operative configuration of said foil stiffening element for providing damping by bending and a second operative configuration of said foil stiffening element for providing damping by compression.

Claim 31

A foil stiffening element for use in a fluid bearing system having a plurality of bearing foils, said element having a first operative configuration for providing damping by bending and a second operative configuration for providing damping by compression.

Claim 32

A foil stiffening element for use in a fluid bearing system having a plurality of bearing foils, said element having a first operative configuration for providing damping by bending and a second operative configuration for providing damping by compression.

Claim 33

In a compliant foil for use in a foil bearing system and comprising a generally arcuate-shaped, compliant member including mounting means, the improvement comprising: a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves along an inner surface of said foil element extending in one direction from said mounting mean; and alternating ridges and grooves along an outer surface extending in said one direction from said mounting means, each outer surface ridge positionally corresponding to an inner surface groove.

Claim 34

In a compliant foil for use in a foil bearing system and comprising a generally arcuate-shaped, compliant member including mounting means, the improvement comprising: a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves along an inner surface of said foil element extending in one direction from said mounting mean; and alternating ridges and grooves along an outer surface extending in said one direction from said mounting means, each outer surface ridge positionally corresponding to an inner surface groove.

Claim 35

A compliant foil as in claim 25 wherein said mounting means is intermediate the ends thereof, all of said ridges and grooves being positioned toward one of said ends from said mounting means.