Foil Segment Bearing, Method for Setting a Gap Geometry of a Foil Segment Bearing and Corresponding Production Method

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A foil segment bearing, comprising: a bearing back with a passage opening, the passage opening configured to receive a shaft arranged therein such that there is a gap between the shaft and the bearing back; at least one first bearing segment and one second bearing segment, each of the bearing segments having a respective inner surface defining a bearing surface with an adjustable circumference, each of the bearing segments configured to be arranged in the bearing back in a manner spaced apart from the shaft such that there is a gap between the shaft and each of the bearing segments; a foil arrangement arranged in the gap between the inner surfaces of the bearing segments and the shaft; and at least one setting mechanism configured to set a geometry of the gap via a radial positioning of the bearing segments.

2. The foil segment bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the at least one setting mechanism includes a spring and a pin, the spring is configured to be positioned in an axial direction by the pin, and the spring has a dynamic spring hardness.

3. The foil segment bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the at least one setting mechanism is a plurality of setting mechanisms; each of the bearing segments is assigned one of the plurality setting mechanisms, and each of the setting mechanisms is at least partially arranged in the bearing back.

4. The foil segment bearing as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the at least one setting mechanism is a plurality of setting mechanisms, and the pin of each of the setting mechanisms is connected to a respective bearing segment.

5. The foil segment bearing as claimed in claim 4, wherein: each of the bearing segments has a recess configured in a manner corresponding to a head portion of each of the pins, and each head portion is arranged in the recess of the respective bearing segment.

6. The foil segment bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the foil segment bearing has at least three bearing segments.

7. The foil segment bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the bearing segments are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction by an angle, and the angle between two adjacent bearing segment edges is set between 5° and 20°.

8. The foil segment bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the foil arrangement has a first substantially annular foil and a second substantially annular foil, and each of the foils is fastened on one bearing segment.

9. A method for setting a gap geometry of a foil segment bearing comprising: providing the foil segment bearing, including: a bearing back with a passage opening configured to receive a shaft such that there is a gap between the shaft and the bearing gap; at least one first bearing segment and one second bearing segment, each of the bearing segments having a respective inner surface defining a bearing surface with an adjustable circumference, each of the bearing segments configured to be arrange din the bearing back in a manner spaced apart from the shaft such that there is a gap between the shaft and each of the bearing segments; a foil arrangement arranged in the gap between the inner surfaces of the bearing segments and the shaft; and at least one setting mechanism configured to set a geometry of the gap via a radial positioning of the bearing segments; determining an operating state, which is to be set and/or prevails, and/or a rotational speed, which is to be set and/or prevails, of the shaft mounted in the foil segment bearing; determining a suitable gap geometry using the determined operating state; and positioning the at least one setting mechanism using the determined, suitable gap geometry.

10. A production method for a foil segment bearing comprising: providing a bearing back with a passage opening, the passage opening configured to receive a shaft arranged therein such that there is a gap between the shaft and the bearing back; providing a first bearing segment and a second bearing segment, each of the bearing segments having a respective inner surface defining a bearing surface with an adjustable circumference, each of the bearing segments configured to be arranged in the bearing back in a manner spaced apart from the shaft such that there is a gap between the shaft and each of the bearing segments; providing a foil arrangement; providing the at least one setting mechanism configured to set a geometry of the gap via a radial positioning of the bearing segments; arranging the first and second bearing segments in the passage opening; arranging the setting mechanism within the bearing back; connecting the first and the second bearing segments with the setting mechanism; and arranging the foil arrangement in the gap between the inner surfaces of the first and second bearing segments and the shaft.

11. The foil segment bearing as claimed in claim 7, wherein the angle between two adjacent bearing segment edges is set between 10° and 15°.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further features and advantages of the present invention are explained below using embodiments with reference to the figures.

[0024] In the figures:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a foil segment bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a setting mechanism with a bearing segment according to an embodiment of the present invention according to FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a perspective schematic view of a foil segment bearing according to FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a foil bearing; and

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a foil bearing.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The same reference signs denote identical or functionally identical elements in the figures.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a foil segment bearing 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the foil segment bearing 100 has a bearing back 101, a setting mechanism 110, a foil arrangement 107 and bearing segments 105a-105c.

[0032] The foil bearing 100 is bounded in this case by a bearing back 101. The setting mechanism 110 is arranged within the bearing back 101 and is designed as a pin 113 which is positioned in the axial direction by a spring 111. The spring 111 can have a dynamic spring hardness. The setting mechanism 110 is arranged for the most part within the bearing back 101. To connect a pin 113 to a bearing segment, the pin 113 has a head portion 117. The position of a pin is stiff to a greater or lesser extent depending on the spring hardness which is set. In order to fix the pin 113 in its position, the setting mechanism also has a stop 115. The bearing segments 105a-105c are arranged within the bearing back and have a recess 119 corresponding to the head portion 117 of the pin 113. The bearing segments 105a-105c are connected to the pin by the head portion 117 of the pin 113, which head portion is inserted in the recess 119.

[0033] The foil arrangement 107 comprises two foils, a first foil 107a and a second foil 107b. The first foil 107a is designed here as a supporting foil and the second foil 107b as the top foil.

[0034] In this embodiment, the foils 107a,b are designed in the shape of segments of a cylinder. However, it should be noted that the foils 107a,b can also be of another shape without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. The foils 107a,b are fastened at a respective first end 108a to the bearing segment 105a. A second end 108b of the foils 107a,b is spaced apart from the first end 108a of the foils by a small angle W of approximately 20° and is not fastened to any bearing segment. The width of the gap S of the foil bearing 100 according to the invention can vary by approx. 100 μm-400 μm by means of the setting mechanism.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a setting mechanism 110 with a bearing segment 105a according to an embodiment of the present invention according to FIG. 1.

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates the setting mechanism 110 which is formed by the spring 111, the pin 113 and the stop 115 and is connected to a bearing segment 105a. At a first shaft-side end of the pin 113, the pin is inserted into the bearing segment 105a. The pin 113 has an integral stop 114 which can be subjected to a spring force. A further stop 115 which is designed as a nut is arranged on a bearing-back-side end of the pin 113. The spring 111 which is designed as a spiral spring is tensioned between the two stops 114 and 115. Depending on the position of the stop element 115, the spring 111 exerts a force which, in the fitted state, is directed toward the shaft 103. The spring force is transferred by the pin 113 to the bearing segment 105a, as a result of which the bearing segment 105a is positioned in the axial direction.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a perspective schematic view of a foil segment bearing according to FIG. 1.

[0038] Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted thereto. In particular, the materials and topologies mentioned are merely by way of example and are not restricted to the explanatory examples.

[0039] The design of the foil segment bearing is not restricted to the above-described embodiments, but rather can be adapted as desired to the particular application. For example, the number of springs and pins of a setting mechanism can be adapted to the prevailing conditions. Furthermore, the shape of the foil segment bearing, of the bearing back, of the foil arrangement and of the shaft is not restricted to the cylinder shape illustrated.

[0040] The invention can be used in all foil segment bearings, the construction of which already includes what is referred to as a “bump foil” and what is referred to as a “top foil”.