Capstone Turbine Corporation

Daniel Lubell

Dennis H Weissert

Jonathan Wade

A compliant foil fluid film bearing or seal apparatus includes a bushing having a plurality of peripherally separate bushing segments. The bushing has a bore defined therethrough, with a peripheral portion of the bore being defined on each bushing segment. A plurality of compliant foils is carried by the bushing, with at least one of the compliant foils being disposed on each bushing segment. A plurality of foil undersprings is disposed beneath the plurality of compliant foils.

Compliant foil fluid film radial bearing or seal

A rotor and bearing system for a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a drive shaft, an impeller positioned on the drive shaft, and a turbine positioned on the drive shaft proximate to the impeller. The bearing system comprises one gas journal bearing supporting the drive shaft between the impeller and the turbine. The area between the impeller and the turbine is an area of increased heat along the drive shaft in comparison to other locations along the drive shaft. The section of the drive shaft positioned between impeller and the turbine is also a section of the drive shaft that experiences increased stressed and load in the turbomachine. The inventive bearing machine system positions only one radial bearing in this area of increased stress and load.

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Northridge, CA, United States of America

Daniel Lubell