Foil bearing and bearing block for receiving foil bearing

Abstract

The invention relates to a foil bearing (1, 1 ') having a bearing sleeve (2, 2') with a central recess (4) having a bearing surface (8) for rotatably supporting a shaft (6, 6 '); at least one rotatably mounted shaft (6, 6 ') extending along a longitudinal axis (L) of the recess (4); and at least one bearing foil (16, 16 ') provided for arrangement in a gap (14) between the bearing surface (8) of the bearing sleeve (2, 2') and the active surface (12) of the shaft (6, 6 '). The bearing sleeve has a guide surface (18, 18 ') on at least one side in the region of the recess (4) thereof and / or on the shaft section (10) of the shaft (6, 6'), said guide surface having an inclined course with respect to a bearing surface (8) on the recess (4) and / or an active surface (12) on the shaft (6, 6 ').

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a foil bearing, comprising: a bearing sleeve having a central recess, wherein the recess has a bearing surface for accommodating a shaft in a manner that allows rotation about a longitudinal axis, and at least one bearing foil arranged in the recess, the bearing foil being designed to form a gap between it and the effective surface of the shaft. In addition, the invention also relates to a bearing seat for accommodating a foil bearing, the bearing seat having a through-portion that is stepped in diameter, the through-portion being designed to accommodate the bearing sleeve, and the through-portion having a section for introducing a shaft to be inserted into the bearing sleeve. Background Art

[0002] Such foil bearings are known in the prior art and are usually used to support rapidly rotating shafts. Such foil bearings, also called hydrodynamic bearings, have the characteristic that when the shaft is stationary and at relatively low rotational speeds, the shaft rotating in the bearing sleeve and the bearing foil arranged between the support surface of the bearing sleeve and the active surface of the shaft are in contact in at least one contact area. As a result, friction occurs between the shaft and the bearing foil when the shaft rotates. In addition, the bearing foil can be used to hold the shaft with its active surface spaced apart from the support surface of the bearing sleeve in order to minimize the friction that occurs.

[0003] As the speed increases, pressure builds up between the shaft and the bearing foil resting on the active surface of the shaft, which presses the bearing foil against the contact surface of the bearing sleeve. When the lifting speed of the shaft is exceeded, hydrodynamic forces are generated in the contact area between the bearing foil and the shaft, which cause the shaft to lift from the inside of the bearing foil. The lubricating wedge formed in the foil bearing is filled with a gas, usually air, as a "lubricant".

[0004] In order to ensure that a lubrication gap is produced between the bearing foil and the shaft, these foil bearings require a high degree of dimensional accuracy of the components to be joined together. When installing these foil bearings, in particular when the shaft is introduced into a recess of the bearing sleeve that is precisely matched to the outer diameter of the shaft, the shaft may tilt in the recess at the beginning of the introduction movement, which makes installation difficult or even leads to damage to the surface. In particular, when the bearing is to be assembled and mounted not by hand but by machine, it is necessary to ensure error-free installation for the foil bearings to operate without problems thereafter. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to specify a foil bearing of the type mentioned above, a bearing seat for accommodating a bearing sleeve and a bearing arrangement, by means of which the installation of such a foil bearing is simplified and damage to the foil bearing, in particular when it is installed by machine, is avoided.

[0006] According to a first aspect, the invention achieves this object by a foil bearing of the aforementioned type having the features of the subject matter of claim 1. The invention is characterized in particular in that the bearing sleeve has, on at least one side in the region of its recess, an introduction surface with a course that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis and / or is designed to accommodate a shaft section of a shaft that has an introduction surface with a course that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis.

[0007] The present invention is based on the knowledge that an introduction surface with an inclined direction is provided or constructed at at least one component of a foil bearing, i.e. at a bearing sleeve or a shaft or at a bearing sleeve and a shaft, by means of which the installation of the bearing sleeve and the shaft, in particular the combination of the bearing sleeve and the shaft, is simplified. In particular, the introduction surface at the bearing sleeve and / or at the shaft should be used to resist the tilting of the inner side of the bearing foil arranged on the supporting surface of the bearing sleeve when the shaft is moved into the recess of the bearing sleeve. The introduction surface at the bearing sleeve is preferably constructed in the end area of ​​the recess on one side. By means of the inclined direction of the introduction surface (wherein, at present, "inclined" means extending not parallel to the longitudinal axis), a guide section for the shaft is facilitated, by means of which the radial offset of the longitudinal axis and the recess of the shaft and the bearing sleeve can be compensated at the same time. The introduction surface at the shaft to be inserted into the recess is preferably constructed at the end of the axial limiting action surface of the shaft section. In one possible embodiment of the foil bearing, an introduction surface is provided at at least one end section of the recess of the bearing sleeve or at the end of the shaft section of the shaft, wherein the introduction surfaces on the bearing sleeve and the shaft slide relative to each other without tilting when the shaft is inserted into the recess on the bearing sleeve. An “oblique” extending introduction surface on the shaft means that this introduction surface does not extend parallel to the longitudinal axis, about which the shaft is particularly rotated.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one insertion surface is formed on both sides of the bearing sleeve and / or along two shaft sections arranged at a distance from each other. The two-sided design of the insertion surface on the bearing sleeve and / or the shaft simplifies installation in that the shaft can be inserted with any of its ends into a corresponding recess of the bearing sleeve of the foil bearing. With the two-sided design of the insertion surface on the bearing sleeve, the shaft can preferably be inserted from both sides into a recess formed on the bearing sleeve and accommodating the shaft.

[0009] In the case of a two-sided design of the introduction surface on the bearing sleeve, the introduction surface is respectively formed in the end region of a recess on the bearing sleeve that receives the shaft. In the case of a two-sided design of the introduction surface on the shaft, the shaft preferably has an introduction surface at both ends of its active surface corresponding to the recess. By providing the introduction surface on one side of the bearing sleeve and / or the shaft, they already have a shortened design of the bearing surface and / or active surface. In the case of a two-sided design of the introduction surface on the bearing sleeve and / or the shaft, the introduction surface has an inclined course with mutually opposite angles.

[0010] In one possible embodiment, the introduction surface is designed as a circumferential bevel and extends between the end face on the bearing sleeve and the support surface on the bearing sleeve or between the end face on the shaft and the effective surface on the shaft. The provision of a bevel makes it possible to constructively simplify the design of the introduction surface with an inclined profile. Such a bevel, which has an inherently flat profile in the extension direction, can be produced relatively simply by means of cutting methods both on the bearing sleeve and on the shaft. In particular, a wedge-shaped introduction section is produced by means of a bevel that is circumferentially configured on at least one side of the bearing sleeve and / or the shaft.

[0011] Preferably, the introduction surface has an inclined course with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bearing sleeve at an angle α of less than 45°, preferably about 30°. The preferred acute angle between the introduction surface and the longitudinal axis of the bearing sleeve and / or the shaft having the introduction surface further simplifies the assembly of the foil bearing according to the invention. The cone angle of the introduction surface, which is provided in a preferred embodiment of about 60°, supports the introduction of the shaft into the recess of the bearing sleeve without distortion.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the foil bearing according to the invention, the introduction surface is convexly curved. Instead of a bevel having a flat course in the extension direction, the introduction surface, which is also circumferentially configured at the corresponding end region of the recess on the bearing sleeve or at the effective surface of the shaft, can be designed similarly to a rounded edge. A convexly curved introduction surface refers to a bulge in the direction of the surface normal, which is located on the introduction surface. In other words, the rounding of the physical edge between the support surface or effective surface and the end face of the bearing sleeve or the rotor can be understood as a convex introduction surface.

[0013] The convex design of the introduction surface can facilitate a non-deflected transition from the introduction surface to the bearing surface of the bearing sleeve or the effective surface of the shaft, thereby further supporting the non-skewed introduction of the shaft into the recess at the bearing sleeve. The convexly curved introduction surface preferably has an inclined course with a changing slope in the extension direction. A preferred embodiment provides that the slope at the introduction surface decreases as the spacing from the end face at the bearing sleeve and / or the shaft increases. In a preferred design, it is sufficient for the convexly curved introduction surface to have an edge in the transition region to the bearing surface or the effective surface, so that the axial length of the introduction surface is reduced.

[0014] Preferably, by providing the lead-in surface on the bearing sleeve and on the shaft, the length of the lead-in surface in the direction of the longitudinal axis can be reduced to half the length of a lead-in surface formed on only one component of the foil bearing according to the invention. Thus, the same radial offset can be compensated, wherein the width of the contact surface of the bearing sleeve and the width of the active surface of the shaft are increased while the overall length remains unchanged.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the foil bearing according to the invention, it is provided that the bearing foil has a widthwise dimension corresponding to the width of the contact surface of the bearing sleeve. The bearing foil arranged on the inner side of the recess terminates with its side edge directly with the corresponding end of the active surface of the bearing sleeve. In particular, with the design of the introduction surface along the shaft section of the shaft, in particular at one end of the active surface, deviations in the transition from the introduction surface at the bearing sleeve to the active surface along the moving shaft generated by the radially resilient bearing foil can be compensated in a simple manner.

[0016] In an extended scheme of the foil bearing according to the present invention, the bearing foil has a shortened widthwise dimension compared to the widthwise dimension of the bearing surface of the bearing sleeve. Therefore, when transitioning from the introduction surface to the bearing surface of the bearing sleeve, the inwardly protruding shoulder caused by the side edge of the bearing foil abutting against the effective surface of the bearing sleeve and the sudden reduction in the free diameter of the recess associated therewith are directly avoided. In particular, when the shaft end is introduced along the introduction surface, a collision with the end face of the shaft to be moved into the recess is avoided, thereby further simplifying the introduction of the shaft into the bearing sleeve. Preferably, the side edge of the bearing foil has a spacing of about 0.5 mm to 2 mm from the end of the bearing surface constructed at the bearing sleeve. A shortened design scheme of the bearing foil relative to the bearing surface of the bearing sleeve is provided at least on the side of the bearing sleeve that is provided for introducing the shaft.

[0017] According to a preferred extension, the bearing foil is shortened relative to the bearing surface at at least one end side of the bearing sleeve, so that the side edge defining the width dimension of the bearing foil is aligned with the inclined direction of the introduction surface. The introduction of the shaft into the bearing sleeve is further simplified by arranging the side edge of the support surface aligned with the introduction surface. The side edge of the bearing foil arranged at a distance from the end of the support surface on the bearing sleeve forms a wedge extending the introduction surface. Preferably, the spacing between the side edge of the bearing foil and the respectively assigned end of the support surface of the bearing sleeve changes depending on the selected angle α of the introduction surface or the angle of the slope of the introduction surface that changes when it transitions to the support surface.

[0018] Preferably, a plurality of bearing foils are arranged one above the other in the gap between the support surface of the bearing sleeve and the effective surface of the shaft. By arranging a plurality of bearing foils in the gap between the bearing sleeve and the shaft, different functions can be preferably realized by different bearing foils. The bearing foils arranged on the outside are preferably configured as spring foils. These spring foils load the effective surface of the shaft with spring force in particular in the radial direction, so that the shaft is held in the recess at a spacing as uniform as possible from the support surface of the bearing sleeve. Preferably, the friction between the working foil and the bearing foil is kept as small as possible when the shaft starts to run by using another working foil arranged between the spring foil and the effective surface of the shaft.

[0019] Preferably, when two or more foils are used at least on the side provided for introducing the shaft into the bearing sleeve, the side edges of all bearing foils are designed to be shortened relative to the respectively assigned ends of the bearing surface of the bearing sleeve. Preferably, the bearing foil directly in contact with the bearing surface of the bearing sleeve is shortened by 0.5 mm to 2 mm relative to the width of the bearing surface of the bearing sleeve on at least one side. Another bearing foil, for example, configured as a working foil, is shortened by 0.5 mm to 2 mm compared to the width of the bearing foil on the corresponding side of the bearing sleeve. The side edges of multiple bearing foils are therefore stepped relative to each other.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the foil bearing, the inner bearing foil has an inner width dimension B Mi , which is compared to the outer width dimension B of the bearing foil arranged on the outside Ma The side edges of the two bearing foils and at least one end region of the bearing sleeve are preferably arranged flush with the introduction surface. With this arrangement according to the invention of the side edges of the bearing surface, an introduction region for the shaft to be accommodated in the bearing sleeve that is extended by the introduction surface is achieved. The side edges of the plurality of bearing foils in particular form a wedge that is matched to the angle of the introduction surface and is used to simplify the insertion of the shaft into the recess of the bearing sleeve. In particular, the rotor shaft can be introduced into the bearing sleeve by machine without clamping during the introduction process.

[0021] According to an advantageous extension of the foil bearing of the present invention, an axially protruding locking element is arranged at the end face of the bearing sleeve. With the aid of the directly visible locking element, the end of the bearing sleeve provided for introducing the shaft can be marked. This avoids the bearing sleeve provided for accommodating the shaft being placed with its wrong end into, for example, a bearing seat at the housing. Whether for manual installation or for placing the shaft into the bearing sleeve by machine, the placement of the shaft into the bearing sleeve provided for this purpose is further simplified by providing a locking element preferably configured as a stop pin. In addition, the locking element protruding at the end side of the bearing sleeve also causes the bearing sleeve to be locked in the bearing seat in the rotational direction of the shaft. Therefore, when the shaft guided in the bearing sleeve is driven, the bearing sleeve is resisted from rotating with it.

[0022] Another aspect of the invention relates to a bearing seat for accommodating a foil bearing, in particular a foil bearing according to any of the preceding claims, which has a stepped through-portion in diameter, which is set up to accommodate a bearing sleeve and has a section for introducing a shaft to be inserted into the bearing sleeve. The bearing seat is, for example, a part of a housing that accommodates the bearing sleeve. The bearing seat is therefore not necessarily a component that is constructed separately from other components of the device that accommodates the bearing seat. However, the bearing seat can also be a separately constructed component at the device or equipment. In addition, the bearing sleeve can be a fixed component of the bearing seat, so that the bearing seat itself is part of the foil bearing according to the invention. The bearing seat then preferably has at least one introduction surface at its through-portion, into which the rotor / shaft is inserted.

[0023] The bearing seat according to the invention solves the task based on the foil bearing in such a way that the section of the through-hole provided for the introduction of the shaft is matched in diameter to the introduction surface on the bearing sleeve accommodated in the bearing seat. The through-hole formed at the bearing seat for accommodating the shaft thus has a section with a diameter that is at least as large as the maximum dimension of the introduction surface formed at one end of the bearing sleeve to be inserted into the bearing seat. In particular, the diameter of the through-hole provided for the passage of the shaft at the bearing seat is selected depending on the length of the through-hole. Preferably, the longer this section at the bearing seat is, the larger the diameter of the section arranged adjacent to the recess in the bearing sleeve for the passage of the shaft.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the bearing seat according to the invention, a recess extending in the axial direction and operatively connectable to a locking element of a bearing sleeve is provided in the through-portion. The recess inside the through-portion makes it possible to establish a positive locking connection for locking the bearing sleeve in the rotational direction of the shaft. In particular, the recess is formed on a wall of the bearing seat extending in the radial direction, which wall is in particular formed as a contact surface for a bearing sleeve to be inserted into the bearing seat in the axial direction.

[0025] Preferably, a recess extending in the peripheral direction for a corresponding retaining element, in particular an inner retaining ring, is formed on the bearing seat for axially retaining the bearing sleeve in the through-hole. During operation of the device aligned with such a bearing sleeve, the axial movement of the bearing sleeve out of the bearing seat is counteracted by providing the recess on the side of the through-hole, which is in particular a cylindrical structure. The retaining element, which can be an inner retaining ring, engages in a circumferential groove formed on the side of the through-hole. Such an inner retaining ring is mounted on the bearing seat, in particular after the bearing sleeve has been inserted in the through-hole. The retaining ring preferably cooperates with the recess on the through-hole of the bearing seat in a form-fitting manner.

[0026] In another aspect, the invention relates to a bearing arrangement comprising a foil bearing and a shaft supported in the foil bearing so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis, wherein the foil bearing comprises a bearing sleeve with a central recess, wherein the recess comprises a bearing surface for supporting the shaft so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis, and the foil bearing comprises at least one bearing foil arranged in the recess, the bearing foil being designed to form a gap between the bearing foil and an effective surface of the shaft, wherein the bearing sleeve has an introduction surface inclined relative to the direction of the longitudinal axis in the region of its recess on at least one side, and / or the shaft has a shaft section arranged in the bearing sleeve, which has an introduction surface inclined relative to the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0027] The preferred embodiments or developments described for the foil bearing according to the invention are also preferred embodiments of the bearing seat according to the invention and of the bearing arrangement according to the invention. The preferred embodiments or developments described for the bearing seat according to the invention and relating to the foil bearing or the bearing arrangement are also preferred embodiments of the foil bearing or the bearing arrangement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings using preferred embodiments. The features of the invention disclosed in the description, drawings and claims are essential to the development of the invention, whether individually or in any combination with one another, provided that they are not technically contradictory.

[0029] in:

[0030] Figure 1 A view showing a rotor-stator arrangement as an application example of a foil bearing according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 The cross section shows Figure 1 A view of a first embodiment of a foil bearing according to the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3A view showing a second embodiment of a foil bearing according to the invention;

[0033] Figure 4 Another view showing an embodiment of a foil bearing according to the present invention;

[0034] Figure 5 a view showing in section a fourth embodiment of a foil bearing according to the invention; and

[0035] Figure 6 A further view of a bearing arrangement according to the invention is shown before the foil bearing is inserted into the bearing seat. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Figure 1 A rotor-stator arrangement 100 is shown as a possible application example of the foil bearing 1 according to the invention. Figure 2-Figure 5 ). The rotor-stator arrangement 100 comprises a stator 102 and a rotor 104 which is accommodated so as to be rotationally movable relative to the stator 102. The rotor 104 comprises a shaft 6 extending through the stator and in which at least one magnet 106 cooperating with the stator 102 is arranged. The rotor-stator arrangement 100 in the present case constitutes an electric machine for generating a rotational movement of the rotor 104.

[0037] The rotor 104 is supported on both sides of the stator 102 by means of foil bearings 1, 1'. The foil bearing 1 is designed as a radial bearing and forms a two-piece or two-part foil bearing for the rotor 104. The foil bearing 1 also has at least one bearing foil 16 for supporting the rotor 104, in particular in the radial direction relative to its longitudinal axis L.

[0038] A compressor wheel 108 is arranged at at least one end of the shaft 6 of the rotor 102, which is set in rotation by means of the rotor-stator arrangement 100. In the embodiment shown here, a compressor wheel 108 is arranged at each end of the shaft 6 of the rotor 104. Preferably, a two-stage compressor or a compressor-expander arrangement is formed by means of the rotor-stator arrangement 100 shown here.

[0039] Furthermore, the rotor-stator arrangement 100 preferably has at least one air thrust bearing (not shown in detail), such as a foil bearing or a spiral groove bearing, by means of which the rotor 104 is supported in an axial position relative to the stator 102 of the arrangement 100 without contact and against axial forces.

[0040] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1The invention discloses a foil bearing 1 of a rotor-stator arrangement 100, which has a bearing sleeve 2 with a central recess 4 and a rotatably supported shaft 6 extending along a longitudinal axis L of the recess 4. The bearing sleeve 2 has a bearing surface 8 which delimits the recess 4 on the bearing sleeve 2.

[0041] The shaft 6 has a shaft section 10 which is received in the recess 4 of the bearing sleeve 2 and has an effective surface 12. Between the support surface 8 of the bearing sleeve 2 and the effective surface 12 of the shaft 6, a gap 14 is formed in which at least one bearing foil 16, 16' is arranged. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, in particular two bearing foils 16 , 16 ′ are arranged in the gap 14 between the shaft 6 and the bearing sleeve 2 .

[0042] In order to simplify the introduction of the shaft section 10 of the shaft 6 into the recess 4 of the bearing sleeve 12, in the present embodiment at least the bearing sleeve 2 has an introduction surface 18 at each of the two ends, which has an inclined course relative to the contact surface 8 on the recess 4. In the present case, "inclined" is understood to be different from parallel to the longitudinal axis L.

[0043] In one possible embodiment, the shaft 6 optionally has at least one introduction surface 18' along its shaft section 10, which has a course that is inclined relative to the effective surface 12 on the shaft 6. Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, an introduction surface is provided at each end of the effective surface 12 of the shaft 6. The shaft 6 can thus be operatively connected to the other components of the foil bearing 1 from both sides, just like the bearing sleeve 2.

[0044] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, in particular two bearing foils 16, 16' are arranged in the gap 14 between the shaft 6 and the bearing sleeve 2. In the present embodiment, the two bearing foils 16, 16' preferably have an inner widthwise dimension B of Mi Or the outer width dimension B Ma , which respectively correspond to the width B of the support surface 8 of the bearing sleeve 2.

[0045] The introduction surface 18' on the shaft 6 is particularly convexly curved. This makes it possible to counteract the approximately equal widths of the bearing foils 16, 16' and the contact surface 8 of the recess 4 in this embodiment. When the shaft 6 is introduced into the recess 4 of the bearing sleeve 2, the shaft end can simply slide over the shoulder generated by the side edges 22, 22' of the bearing foils 16, 16' due to the curvature at the introduction surface 18' of the shaft 6.

[0046] Figure 3 Another embodiment of a foil bearing 1 according to the present invention is shown. The foil bearing comprises Figure 2The introduction surface 18 on the bearing sleeve 2 is designed as a circumferential chamfer and extends between the contact surface 8 and an end surface 20 which respectively defines an end of the bearing sleeve 2 .

[0047] The introduction surface 18 has a course which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis L of the bearing sleeve 2 , with an angle α of less than 45°, preferably of approximately 30°.

[0048] In the Figure 3 The bearing foils 16, 16' in the gap 14 between the shaft 6' and the bearing sleeve 2 are shown to have an inner widthwise dimension B of Mi Or the outer width dimension B Ma , which are each reduced compared to the width B of the bearing surface 8 on the bearing sleeve 2. Preferably, the inner bearing foil 16', which is in contact with the active surface 12 of the shaft 6', has an inner widthwise dimension B of Mi , which is the widthwise dimension B of the outer portion of the outer bearing foil 16 in contact with the bearing surface 8 of the bearing sleeve 2 Ma Reduce again.

[0049] The bearing foils 16, 16' are used as reference dimensions to a certain extent, using their widthwise dimension B Mi , B Ma The width B of the bearing surface 8 and the angle α of the guide surface 18 with respect to the longitudinal axis L are adapted so that the bearing foils 16, 16' define with their respective widthwise dimensions B Mi , B Ma The side edge 22 of the bearing sleeve 2 is aligned with the inclined course of the introduction surface 18 on the bearing sleeve 2 .

[0050] Preferably, the shortened bearing foils 16, 16' form wedges with their side edges 22, 22' which extend the direction of the introduction surface 18 at the bearing sleeve 2. Thus, the shaft 6' accommodated in the bearing sleeve 2 can be omitted as in Figure 2 The design of such an introduction surface 18 ′ is shown in FIG.

[0051] Instead of two bearing foils 16, 16' arranged in the gap 14 between the shaft 6 and the bearing sleeve 2, in other preferred embodiments only one bearing foil 16 is arranged. The bearing foil 16 may have a widthwise dimension B M , which corresponds to the width B of the contact surface 8 of the bearing sleeve 2 or, in an alternative embodiment, is also designed to be shortened relative to the contact surface 8 on the bearing sleeve 2 .

[0052] Figure 4A third possible embodiment of a foil bearing 1' is shown with a bearing sleeve 2' which, instead of one introduction surface at each of the two ends of the bearing sleeve, has such an introduction surface 18 only on one side of the bearing sleeve 2'. On the opposite side, the usual design of the bearing sleeve 2 provides a bearing surface 8 directly adjoining the end face 20. The one-sided design of the introduction surface 18 firmly defines the introduction area for the shaft 6 accommodated therein.

[0053] with Figure 2 Similarly, the two bearing foils 16, 16' have a widthwise dimension B Mi , B Ma , which each correspond to the width B of the contact surface 8. Instead of the two bearing foils shown, only one bearing foil or also more than two bearing foils can be arranged in the gap 14.

[0054] The introduction surface 18 formed on only one side of the bearing sleeve 2' is in turn formed as a circumferential bevel, which extends at an angle of preferably 30° to the longitudinal axis L of the bearing sleeve 2'. The introduction surface 18 on the bearing sleeve 2' has a flat course in the axial cross section in its extension direction, i.e., has a constant chamfer. The shaft 6 accommodated in the bearing sleeve 2' has an introduction surface 18' with a convexly curved bevel in the axial cross section at least at one, in particular both ends of the shaft section 10.

[0055] Arranged on the end face 20 provided with the introduction face 18 is a locking element 24 which protrudes axially on the end face 20 of the bearing sleeve 2. The locking element 24, in the present case a pin, is used to lock the bearing sleeve 2' in a bearing seat 30 accommodating the bearing sleeve 2' ( Figure 6 ), thereby preventing the bearing sleeve 2 ′ from moving together with the shaft 6 that rotates in the bearing sleeve 2.

[0056] exist Figure 5 Another embodiment of a foil bearing 1' is shown in FIG. 1 , which has a bearing sleeve 2' and a shaft 6'. Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the bearing foils 16, 16' are arranged similarly. The bearing foils 16, 16' are designed to be shortened relative to the contact surface 8 bounded by the introduction surface 18 at least on the side of the bearing sleeve 2' which is designed as a one-sided introduction area. The bearing foil 16 arranged on the outside is shortened relative to the width B of the contact surface 8 of the bearing sleeve 2' and the bearing foil 16' arranged on the inside is shortened again compared to the bearing foil 16. The side edges 22, 22' of the bearing foils 16, 16' have a stepped design.

[0057] Preferably, the bearing foils 16, 16' have a widthwise dimension B M, so that the side edges 22, 22' are flush with the end face 20 at the end of the bearing sleeve 2' opposite the introduction region and the side edges 22, 22' are aligned with the inclined course of the introduction surface 18 formed on the bearing sleeve 2' in the introduction region for the shaft 6'.

[0058] In the introduction region for the shaft 6', a wedge is formed by the introduction surface 18 and the side edges of the bearing foils 16, 16' arranged offset from one another, which are arranged one above the other, for simplifying the introduction of the shaft 6' into the recess 4 on the bearing sleeve 2'. The shaft 6' accommodated in the bearing sleeve 2' does not require an introduction surface 18'.

[0059] Figure 6 Another bearing device 130 according to the present invention is shown, which has at least one bearing seat 30 for accommodating a bearing Figures 2 to 5 The foil bearing 1 , 1 ′ shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4 , consists of a bearing sleeve 2 , 2 ′ and a shaft 6 , 6 ′ rotatably mounted in the bearing sleeve.

[0060] The bearing seat 30 has a stepped-diameter aperture 32 in which the bearing sleeve 2, 2' is arranged. The bearing seat 30 is also provided for passing through the shaft 6, 6' to be inserted into the bearing sleeve 2, 2'. The bearing seat 30 has a section 34 at the aperture 32 provided for passing through the shaft 6, 6', which section is adapted in terms of its diameter to the dimensions of the introduction surface 18 formed on the bearing sleeve 2.

[0061] In the through-hole 32, in particular on the wall surface 36 extending in the radial direction, a recess 38 extending in the axial direction and capable of being effectively connected to the locking element 24 arranged on the bearing sleeve 2' is provided. As the bearing sleeve 2' is introduced into the through-hole 32 on the bearing seat 30, the locking element 24 is moved into the recess 38 and forms a positive connection with the recess. Thus, the bearing sleeve 2, 2' and the shaft 6, 6' accommodated in the bearing sleeve that is in rotational motion are prevented from rotating together.

[0062] In a possible embodiment of the bearing device 130 , the bearing seat 30 has a recess 40 extending in the circumferential direction and configured to receive a locking element (not shown in detail), thereby locking the bearing sleeve 2 ′ in the passage 32 in the axial direction.

[0063] The introduction surfaces 18 , 18 ′ on the bearing sleeve 2 , 2 ′ and the shaft 6 , 6 ′ are shown in an oversized manner compared to the remaining parts / regions on the bearing sleeve and the shaft in order to better illustrate the underlying inventive idea.

[0064] As especially in Figure 6As can be seen in FIG. 3 , the bearing seat 30 is shown on a smaller scale than the bearing sleeve 2 ′ which is accommodated in the passage 32 on the bearing seat 30 .

[0065] The same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0066] List of reference numerals (part of the description)

[0067] 1. 1' foil bearing

[0068] 2. 2' bearing sleeve

[0069] 4 recesses

[0070] 6. 6' shaft

[0071] 8 Support surface

[0072] 10-axis segment

[0073] 12 Action surface

[0074] 14 Gap

[0075] 16 External bearing foil

[0076] 16' internal bearing foil

[0077] 18, 18' lead-in surface

[0078] 20 end face

[0079] 22, 22' side edge

[0080] 24 locking elements

[0081] 30 bearing seat

[0082] 32 through part

[0083] 34 sectors

[0084] 36 wall

[0085] 38 concavity

[0086] 40 Depression

[0087] 100 rotor-stator device

[0088] 102 stator

[0089] 104 rotor

[0090] 106 Magnets

[0091] 108 compressor impeller

[0092] 130 bearing device

[0093] B Width of the bearing surface

[0094] B M Width dimension of bearing foil

[0095] B Mi Internal width dimension

[0096] B Ma External width dimension

[0097] L longitudinal axis

[0098] α angle

Claims

1. A foil bearing (1, 1'), comprising: A bearing sleeve (2, 2') with a central recess (4), wherein: The recess (4) has a bearing surface (8) for supporting the shaft (6, 6') in a rotatable manner about a longitudinal axis (L), and at least one bearing foil (16, 16') arranged in the recess, the bearing foil being designed to form a gap (14) between the bearing foil and an effective surface (12) of the shaft (6, 6'), The invention is characterized in that the bearing sleeve has an introduction surface (18) on at least one side in the region of its recess (4), the introduction surface having a course inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (L), and / or the bearing sleeve is designed to accommodate a shaft section (10) of the shaft (6, 6'), the shaft section having an introduction surface (18'), the introduction surface having a course inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (L).

2. The foil bearing according to claim 1, characterized in that At least one introduction surface (18, 18') is respectively formed on both sides of the bearing sleeve (2, 2') and / or along two shaft sections (10) of the shaft (6, 6') arranged at a distance from one another.

3. The foil bearing according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The introduction surface (18, 18') is designed as a circumferential chamfer and extends between an end surface (20) of the bearing sleeve (2, 2') or of the shaft (6, 6') and a contact surface (8) on the bearing sleeve (2, 2') or an effective surface (12) on the shaft.

4. The foil bearing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The introduction surface (18, 18') has an inclined course with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) of the bearing sleeve (2, 2') or the shaft (6, 6') at an angle α of less than 45°, preferably approximately 30°.

5. A foil bearing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The introduction surface (18, 18') is convexly curved.

6. A foil bearing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The bearing foil (16, 16') has a widthwise dimension (B) corresponding to the width of the bearing surface (8) of the bearing sleeve (2, 2'). M , B Mi , B Ma ).

7. A foil bearing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The bearing foil (16, 16') has a widthwise dimension (B) which is shortened compared to the width (B) of the contact surface (8) of the bearing sleeve (2, 2'). M , B Mi , B Ma ).

8. A foil bearing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that The bearing foil (16, 16') is shortened relative to the bearing surface (8) at at least one end side (20) of the bearing sleeve (2, 2') so that the width dimension (B M , B Mi , B Ma ) is aligned with the inclined course of the introduction surface (18, 18').

9. A foil bearing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that A plurality of bearing foils (16, 16') are arranged one above the other in a gap (14) between a support surface (8) of the bearing sleeve (2, 2') and an effective surface (12) of the shaft (6, 6').

10. The foil bearing according to claim 9, characterized in that The inner bearing foil (16') has an inner width dimension (B Mi ), the widthwise dimension of the inner portion is equal to the widthwise dimension of the outer portion of the bearing foil (16, 16') arranged on the outer side (B Ma ), wherein the side edges (22, 22') of the two bearing foils (16, 16') are preferably aligned with the course of the introduction surface (18, 18') in at least one end region.

11. A foil bearing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that An axially protruding locking element (24) is arranged on the end face (20) of the bearing sleeve (2, 2').

12. A rotor-stator arrangement (100) or a bearing arrangement (130) comprising a foil bearing (1, 1'), and A shaft (6, 6') is mounted in the foil bearing so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis (L), wherein: The foil bearing (1, 1') comprises: a bearing sleeve (2, 2') with a central recess (4), wherein the recess (4) has a bearing surface (8) for supporting the shaft (6, 6') in a rotatable manner about the longitudinal axis (L), and at least one bearing foil (16, 16') arranged in the recess, the bearing foil being designed to form a gap (14) between it and an effective surface (12) of the shaft (6, 6'), Characterized in that the bearing sleeve (2, 2') has, on at least one side in the region of its recess (4), an introduction surface (18) with a course inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (L), and / or The shaft (6, 6') has a shaft section (10) arranged in the bearing sleeve and having an introduction surface (18') with a course that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (L).

13. The bearing device according to claim 12, wherein: A foil bearing according to any one of claims 2 to 11 is configured.

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