Appeal No. 2001-0090 Page 6
Application No. 08/893,890
shape of a thin cylindrical sleeve is mounted at the radially
outward ends of the fins 14, bearing runner 16 being axially
concentric with the ceramic shaft 12. Figure 2 shows a cross
sectional view of a turbomachine 20 which includes the ceramic
shaft 12, fins 14, and bearing runner 16 as an integral member
therein. The turbomachine 20 includes a turbine 22 and a
compressor 24 attached to opposite ends of the ceramic shaft
12, mounted within a housing 26 which includes a central body
28, a turbine scroll 30, and a compressor scroll 32. The
central body 28 contains a fluid bearing 34 mounted therein
and positioned radially outward from the bearing runner 16.
Annular cavities 36, 38 are defined within the central body at
opposite axial ends of the bearing runner 16.
Bescoby's turbomachine 20 operates on a flow of high
pressure fluid which is directed upon the turbine 22 which
extracts useful work therefrom. The turbine 22 in turn
drives the compressor 24 which pressurizes a fluid from a
first low pressure source to a higher pressure. Within the
central body 28 the fluid bearing 34 utilizes the rotation of
the shaft 12 and bearing runner 16 to produce a hydrodynamic
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Last modified: November 3, 2007