Foil air bearing design and installation guide
Foil Thrust Air Bearing
OAV Foil Thrust Air Bearings have four pin-slots along the outer perimeter. The base plate of the bearing housing is where the OAV Foil Thrust Air Bearing will be mounted on with precision dowel pins.
The base plate, bearing housing, and the OAV Foil Thrust Air Bearing and all related components should be cleaned using only isopropyl alcohol to remove impurities and dust particles.
The OAV Foil Thrust Air Bearing is then light press-fitted on the dowel pins of the base plate to firmly mount the bearing at its position.
The shaft should easily pass through the inner diameter of the OAV Foil Thrust Air Bearing. However, there should be an axial clearance of 7.5-12.5 microns between the top foil of the thrust bearing and the Runner (thrust disc).
Design & Installation Guides
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-Foil AIR BEARINGS
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To avoid thrust reversal, it is recommended to use two foil thrust bearings (1 CW + 1 CCW) on each side of the Runner (thrust disc) if possible.
CW and CWW directions shown below.
Foil Thrust Air Bearing Flow Dynamics
Figure 1: Flow dynamics depicting circulating effect of air in/out of the bearing, crucial to its operation. Quantification of circulation, influenced by ambient pressure, is evident, showcasing the bearing's responsiveness to varying environmental conditions. Calculations based on ambient pressure of 1 atm reveal a proportional relationship between pressure and load-carrying capacity. Advanced aerodynamic design eliminates the need for external pressurization, streamlining functionality.
Foil Journal Air Bearing
OAV Foil Journal Air Bearings have precision outer diameter and should be transition fitted into the housing as needed. If the base plate must be used, use either dowel pins, threaded screws, or both as shown in the figure below to secure the bearings with a light press-fit.
The base plate, bearing housing, and the OAV Foil Journal Air Bearing and all related components should be cleaned using only isopropyl alcohol to remove impurities and dust particles.
The OAV Foil Journal Air Bearing is then light press-fitted on the dowel pins of the base plate, as shown below, to firmly mount the bearing at its position.
Threaded screws may also be used to fix the bearing at its position inside the bearing housing, as shown in the figure below.
The OAV Foil Journal Air Bearing may also be mounted to the bearing housing maintaining a H7g6 transition fit between the two components.
OAV Foil Journal Air Bearings and all related components should be cleaned using only isopropyl alcohol to remove impurities and dust particles.The OAV Foil Journal Air Bearing should easily slide through the rotor, as shown in the figure below. The recommended radial clearance to be maintained between the rotor and the top foil surface is between 7.5-12.5 microns.
CW and CWW orientation shown below.
Foil Journal Air Bearing Flow Dynamics
