Foil Bearings
Foil bearings offer levels of performance and efficiency unmatched by conventional bearings for high-speed machinery. Ideally suited for use in hostile environments or oil-free systems, these bearings are more resilient and tolerant to misalignment than solid-pad gas bearings. MSI's hydrodynamic (self-acting) compliant foil bearing generates its own load-carrying film from the rotation of the shaft it supports. A smooth top foil forms the bearing surface, and a flexible "bump" foil provides this surface with controlled, resilient support. This proprietary design ensures a "self-adjusting" bearing with inherent internal damping. It adapts to shaft misalignment, variations due to tolerance buildups, centrifugal and thermal shaft growth, and differential thermal expansion. Air-cycle machines, high-speed motors, and oil-free cryogenic compressors are among the many types of machinery that can benefit from foil bearings.
Recent applications include:
- Radial and thrust bearings for a variety of high speed motor driven fans, blowers, and compressors.
- A combination of radial foil bearings and an active magnetic thrust bearing for a direct-drive compressor.
- Preloaded bearings for a vertical cryogenic helium compressor.
- Prototype radial and thrust bearings for a miniature gas turbine engine used as an ultra-high-speed propulsion system for small ordnance.
- High-temperature (1,200ºF) foil bearings with life appropriate to man-rated and expendable engine applications.
- A foil gas bearing-rotor system for commercial cryogenic turboexpanders used for gas separation.
- Air-lubricated, compliant foil bearings for an automotive gas turbine engine.
Foil Bearing Designs
Large or small, our foil bearings can provide the performance you need for specialized high-speed or extreme-temperature machinery. Radial foil bearing for large motor driven fan during assembly (note bump foils beneath partially installed smooth top foil) |
 Miniature radial foil bearing for cryogenic helium compressor |
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 Combined radial and thrust bearings for 160,000 rpm miniature gas turbine |
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 Large foil bearing style damper designed for high-temperature (1,000°F) application |
 Reverse (partially assembled) and forward thrust bearings for a motor driven compressor |
For further information, contact Tom Walter at 973-326-9920 x-118.