Provided is an air foil thrust bearing including a bump foil plate in which a plurality of bump foils are formed and an arrest ring protrudes in a thickness direction; and a top foil plate in which a plurality of top foils are formed, a through-hole penetrating through both sides of a second plate is formed in a position corresponding to the arrest ring, the top foil plate being stacked on the bump foil plate, wherein the arrest ring is inserted into and penetrates through the through-hole, the arrest ring is bent toward the top foil plate so that the second plate is caught in the arrest ring, and a time for a thrust runner to rise from the top foil at an early stage of starting a rotor as the arrest ring is spaced apart from the second plate.

An apparatus and method for assembling a split sleeve onto a shaft. The split sleeve apparatus provides a first and second arcuate portion with each having a partial cylindrical configuration. The first and second arcuate portions have at least one finger extending circumferentially outward from their opposing ends. The at least one finger from each of the first and second arcuate portions complementarily engage one another to form a continuous cylinder. At least one aperture extends longitudinally through the at least one finger of the first and second arcuate portions. A dowel rod extends through the at least one aperture for connecting the first and second arcuate portions to form the cylinder. The first and second arcuate portions are fabricated from a material having heat expansion characteristics that allow the material to expand when heated during assembly and to contract when cooled creating an interference fit with the shaft.

An apparatus and method for assembling a split sleeve onto a shaft. The split sleeve apparatus provides a first and second arcuate portion with each having a partial cylindrical configuration. The first and second arcuate portions have at least one finger extending circumferentially outward from their opposing ends. The at least one finger from each of the first and second arcuate portions complementarily engage one another to form a continuous cylinder. At least one aperture extends longitudinally through the at least one finger of the first and second arcuate portions. A dowel rod extends through the at least one aperture for connecting the first and second arcuate portions to form the cylinder. The first and second arcuate portions are fabricated from a material having heat expansion characteristics that allow the material to expand when heated during assembly and to contract when cooled creating an interference fit with the shaft.

A bearing system includes a bearing housing and a foil bearing assembly. The bearing housing includes a sleeve that defines a cylindrical bore and includes at least one bearing assembly locking feature, and a mounting structure. The foil bearing assembly includes an outer foil assembly, an inner foil assembly, and a bump foil assembly positioned between the outer foil assembly and the inner foil assembly. The outer foil assembly includes at least one outer foil pad that extends circumferentially from a first end including a bearing retention feature to a second end. The bearing retention feature is cooperatively engaged with the at least one bearing assembly locking feature. The inner foil assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced inner foil pads. Each inner foil pad extends circumferentially from a tab to a free end. At least one inner foil pad is welded to the outer foil assembly along the tab.

A bearing system includes a bearing housing and a foil bearing assembly. The bearing housing includes a sleeve that defines a cylindrical bore and includes at least one bearing assembly locking feature, and a mounting structure. The foil bearing assembly includes an outer foil assembly, an inner foil assembly, and a bump foil assembly positioned between the outer foil assembly and the inner foil assembly. The outer foil assembly includes at least one outer foil pad that extends circumferentially from a first end including a bearing retention feature to a second end. The bearing retention feature is cooperatively engaged with the at least one bearing assembly locking feature. The inner foil assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced inner foil pads. Each inner foil pad extends circumferentially from a tab to a free end. At least one inner foil pad is welded to the outer foil assembly along the tab.

A spherical bearing includes an inner member that has an exterior surface extending a first width between axial ends thereof and having a first central plane located equidistant between the axial ends. The spherical bearing includes an outer member with a inner surface having a maximum inside diameter at an apex plane and extending a second width between opposing ends thereof and having second central plane located equidistant between the ends thereof. The inner member is disposed in an interior area of the outer member. The first central plane is coplanar with the apex plane and is axially offset from the second central plane. One of the opposing axial ends of the inner member is located entirely in the interior area and axially inward from ends of the outer member when the inner member is angularly misaligned relative to the outer member at non-zero angles up to 7 degrees.

A thrust disc for an aircraft and methods of making and using the thrust disc are provided. The thrust disc includes a planar body, and a region unitarily formed from a portion of the body, wherein the region has a plurality of sides defining the region on the planar body, wherein the region has a textured feature, and wherein a subset of the plurality of sides are cut and at least one of the plurality of sides is integrally connected to the body.

A thrust disc for an aircraft and methods of making and using the thrust disc are provided. The thrust disc includes a planar body, and a region unitarily formed from a portion of the body, wherein the region has a plurality of sides defining the region on the planar body, wherein the region has a textured feature, and wherein a subset of the plurality of sides are cut and at least one of the plurality of sides is integrally connected to the body.

A foil segment bearing comprises a bearing backing with a through opening. A shaft is arranged in the through opening such that a gap exists between the shaft and the bearing backing. The foil segment bearing also has at least one first bearing segment and one second bearing segment with respective inner surfaces. Each of the respective inner surfaces defines a bearing surface with an adjustable circumference. The bearing segments are arranged in the bearing backing at a distance from the shaft such that a gap exists between the shaft and the bearing segments. The foil segment bearing also has a foil arrangement arranged in the gap between the inner surfaces of the bearing segments and the shaft. The foil segment bearing also has an adjustment mechanism configured to set a geometry of the gap.

A foil segment bearing comprises a bearing backing with a through opening. A shaft is arranged in the through opening such that a gap exists between the shaft and the bearing backing. The foil segment bearing also has at least one first bearing segment and one second bearing segment with respective inner surfaces. Each of the respective inner surfaces defines a bearing surface with an adjustable circumference. The bearing segments are arranged in the bearing backing at a distance from the shaft such that a gap exists between the shaft and the bearing segments. The foil segment bearing also has a foil arrangement arranged in the gap between the inner surfaces of the bearing segments and the shaft. The foil segment bearing also has an adjustment mechanism configured to set a geometry of the gap.