Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for the removal of a direct drive unit (DDU) housed in an enclosure, such as a direct drive turbine (DDT) connected to a gearbox for driving a driveshaft connected to a pump for use in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Abstract: A center bearing assembly for use in a motor vehicle. The center bearing assembly includes a cushion portion having an axially extending bearing aperture therein having a size and shape to receive and/or retain at least a portion of a bearing assembly therein. The cushion portion of the center bearing assembly has one or more first retention portions that are selectively engagable with one or more second retention portions of a bracket portion. When the one or more first retention portions of the cushion portion are engaged with the one or more second retention portions of the bracket portion, the cushion portion is prevented from being rotated relative to the bracket portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing assembly (1) for a rotatable shaft (2). The bearing assembly comprises a bearing housing (10); a bearing (20) located within the bearing housing (10) and arranged in use to receive a rotatable shaft (2); and an elongate member (14) that couples the bearing (20) to the bearing housing (10) for damping vibrations of the rotatable shaft (2). The elongate member (14) comprises a piezoelectric element (40) which may be actuated so as to exert a force on the elongate member. This arrangement allows the bearing assembly to damp vibrations of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: A method for suppressing vibrations, the method having the steps of providing a first device having a first rotating shaft, and a second device having a second rotating shaft. The orbits of the first rotating shaft are measured are analyzed, and the misalignment and unbalance is determined. The first rotating shaft and the bearings are then displaced to eliminate vibrations.

Abstract: Electric motors and generators, in which a non-contact ultrasonic suspension of the rotor of the electric motor, are provided. The non-contact ultrasonic suspension is achieved by the formation of an elevated-pressure gaseous microfilm between conjugated surfaces of saddle-resonators and trunnions of a bearing system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bearing assembly (1) for a rotatable shaft (2). The bearing assembly comprises a bearing housing (10); a bearing (20) located within the bearing housing (10) and arranged in use to receive a rotatable shaft (2); and an elongate member (14) that couples the bearing (20) to the bearing housing (10) for damping vibrations of the rotatable shaft (2). The elongate member (14) comprises a piezoelectric element (40) which may be actuated so as to exert a force on the elongate member. This arrangement allows the bearing assembly to damp vibrations of the rotatable shaft.

Abstract: An ultrastiff precision sonic bearing assembly and method thereof for controlling an effective coefficient of friction between two elements in slidable contact configured along an interface under a force sufficient to maintain contact and having static friction therebetween, by inducing a repetitive motion in one of the elements parallel to the interface thereby altering the effective coefficient of friction therebetween. The bearing assembly also provides for additional and independent electronic control over the average thickness thereof and senses the force thereon to allow the bearing assembly stiffness to be altered.

Abstract: This bearing for a motor fuel pump is made of a graphite dispersion type Cu-based sintered alloy with a composition consisting essentially of 20 to 40% by weight of Ni, 0.1 to 0.9% by weight of P and 1 to 8% by weight of C, and the balance of Cu and inevitable impurities, the graphite dispersion type Cu-based sintered alloy having a porosity of 5 to 25%.

Abstract: A device has a first object and a second object each with an at least partially parallel surface facing the other. The device also has an oscillator for creating an oscillation of a medium between the first and second objects to generate an air bearing between the first and second objects. Relative movement between the first and second objects is permitted via this configuration. A method for creating an air bearing between two at least partially parallel surfaces facing each other is also provided.

Abstract: One or more piezo-based devices are mounted on a center bearing assembly of a drive train assembly for reducing the amount of vibrations that are generated therein during operation. The piezo-based device is used to dampen these vibrations by converting the physical vibratory motion of the driveshaft tube into an electrical current that is dissipated through a resistive element as heat. By varying the magnitude of the resistive element, the center damping frequency of the piezo-based device can be varied as needed for center bearing assembly and drive train. If desired, an inductive element may be provided with the resistive element to dissipate the electrical current. The magnitude of the resistive element may be varied by a controller in response to the magnitude and/or frequency of the vibrations sensed by a sensor.

Abstract: A device for measuring and adjusting pre-loading on bearings, measuring and adjusting both the mounting and operating loads, wherein elements for applying a preloading and return elements are positioned to constitute a single actuator organ, comprising two ring elements for distributing the preloading, whereof at least one is destined to act against the outer race of a bearing and containing interposed between them a kinematic chain imparting thereon a thrust determined by the action of two or more piezoelectric or magnetostrictive element for applying the preloading and return elements; to the actuator organ being associated an annular loading cell connected in an external feedback control system for measuring and adjusting the preloading.

Abstract: A bearing assembly having a shaft member having a bearing race and a piezoelectric member opposing the bearing race is situated so that when a voltage is applied to it, it expands against the bearing race so that a preload of the bearing is varied. The assembly includes a rotor having two outer bearing races opposing the shaft's inner bearing races. The contact angle for the upper bearing races is different than for the lower bearing races. In one embodiment of the present system, the piezoelectric member is disposed between the shaft member and the bearing race for varying the radial position of the bearing race. In another embodiment, the piezoelectric member is disposed for varying the axial position of the bearing race. In one embodiment, the system includes a hydrodynamic bearing assembly having a stator member having a hydrodynamic surface and a rotor member having a surface facing the stator member hydrodynamic surface.

Abstract: An ultrastiff precision sonic bearing assembly and method thereof for controlling an effective coefficient of friction between two elements in slidable contact configured along an interface under a force sufficient to maintain contact and having static friction therebetween, by inducing a repetitive motion in one of the elements parallel to the interface thereby altering the effective coefficient of friction therebetween. The bearing assembly also provides for additional and independent electronic control over the average thickness thereof and senses the force thereon to allow the bearing assembly stiffness to be altered.

Abstract: An active piezoelectric spindle bearing preload adjustment mechanism includes a preload adjustment assembly located between an inner ring and an outer ring of two bearings, and an internal generator mounted at a selected location in a spindle. The preload adjustment assembly includes a spacer ring set and a piezoelectric actuator located in the spacer ring set. The rotation speed of the spindle is changeable to enable the internal generator generating selected amount of power and voltage for controlling extension or contraction length of the piezoelectric actuator whereby to change slide distance between the inner and outer ring for controlling bearing preload value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a video decoding apparatus which exerts a control so as not to display unnatural pixel values when a stream having no pixel value but only shape values is decoded. A decoder Dec1 decodes a video stream Str. When the video stream Str includes only the shape, object non-display information Boly indicates “non display”. Otherwise, the object non-display information Boly indicates “display”. When the object non-display information Boly indicates “non display”, a switch SW0 selects a shape value which does not display the color, obtained from the shape value generator GEN1, i.e., a shape value Aval indicating that this pixel is transparent and other videos are displayed as they are at the composition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detuning the natural frequency of a rotatable part, which is rotatably disposed in the shaft bearing, and in the case of which the axis of rotation of the rotatable part is arranged axially identically with the axis of rotation of the shaft bearing, as well as to a correspondingly tunable rotatable part. For compensating an axial play and/or a disturbing sound effect, the clamping conditions are changed by a reversible change of the axial course and/or of the axial contact pressure of an axial adjusting unit onto the rotatable part, the axial adjusting unit being manufactured of a piezoelectrically active material.

Abstract: A method for changing the clamping conditions between a shaft bearing and a rotatable part, which is rotatably disposed in the shaft bearing, and in the case of which the axis of rotation of the rotatable part is arranged axially identically with the axis of rotation of the shaft bearing, as well as to a corresponding shaft bearing. The shaft bearing has a radial adjusting unit in which the clamping conditions of the rotatable part can be changed in the shaft bearing. This change takes place by a reversible change of the radial course of the radial adjusting unit and/or by a reversible change of the contact pressure onto the rotatable part.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a piston rod of a linearly reciprocating piston type engine having a cylinder (11), a piston (12) movable axially in cylinder (11), at least one piston rod (13) secured to and projecting axially from one side of the piston to be received in a respective bearing assembly (17) mounted in a cover assembly at one end of the cylinder and which guides the movement of the piston/piston rod assembly, said bearing assembly comprising: an inner annular array of balls (18) which roll on the cylindrical outer surface of the piston rod (13) during its reciprocation, and housed in an annular space defined between the cylindrical outer surface of rod (13) and a sleeve (19); bearings (20) which rotatably mount sleeve (19); and means for rotating the sleeve (19) about the axis of the piston rod (13) so as to apply continuous rotation to the balls during each cycle of reciprocation of the piston rod and thereby enable a hydrodynamic lubrication of the bearing assembly.

Abstract: A system for obtaining information from a plurality of computer users (7 to 12), comprising a processing apparatus (2) including an input mechanism (3 and 4) via which a survey author may input data, and a survey authoring mechanism (FIG. 2) enabling construction of a survey questionnaire document including at least one question formulated from data input by the survey author, transmission mechanism (6) for transmitting the survey questionnaire document to a plurality of respondent users (7 to 12); and a processing apparatus (2) including a collating mechanism arranged to receive transmissions from the transmission mechanism, to identify response documents which include responses to the at least one question from the plurality of respondent users and to load a database in accordance with the responses.

Abstract: First and second radial actuating clamps provide selective radial engagement with a housing for preloaded bearings. An axial actuator, retained between the first and second radial actuating clamps, provides selective expansion and contraction of the axial distance between the first and second radial actuator clamps. A method for adjusting the preload of preloaded bearings mounted within a housing is also disclosed. The method includes alternate clamping and unclamping of two radial actuating clamps against the housing while an axial actuator expands and contracts the axial distance between the radial actuating clamps.

Abstract: A mechanical bearing, the major advantage inherent in magnetic and other non-contact bearing designs, i.e., being active. The specific bearing disclosed is a tilt pad bearing having a structure which changes shape in a controlled manner in response to a control signal, which structure is made up of a piezoceramic smart material and a backing housing. A controller is also provided for developing a control signal in response to feedback information.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing the self-excited vibration of a static pressure bearing device includes a movable bed and a porous pad. The movable bed is noncontactly supported by the static pressure of pressurized fluid spouted from the porous pad toward the surface of a fixed bed. The porous pad is designed such that the natural frequency of a vibration system including the movable bed is regulated so that among the fluctuation components of the static pressure when the dimension of a bearing gap varies periodically, a periodic fluctuation component having a phase delay of 90.degree. relative to a decrease in the dimension of the bearing gap may be positive and of a frequency equal to the aforementioned natural frequency.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing is provided with a moving side bearing member and a fixed side bearing member so as to support a rotor for rotation by generating a fluid dynamic pressure between the moving side bearing member and the fixed side bearing member. The dynamic pressure bearing includes a high-frequency exciting device for applying a high-frequency vibration to the fixed side bearing member at the time of at least one of start-up and shutdown of the rotor. In this way, both bearing members are kept almost free from contact with each other and a frictional resistance at start-up and/or shutdown is minimized.

Abstract: Adjustable gap hydrostatic bearings and adjustable gap seals wherein the adjustable gaps are useful to compensate for wear, thermal expansion, journal speed, and radial deflection of the journal. A housing 10 is adjacent to a journal 2. The housing contains an annular electrodeformable material 5 which will expand or contract radially with the application of voltage and thus adjust the gap between the liner material 3 and the journal.

Abstract: A measuring element which senses the running of the solid of rotation is connected to the actual value input of a controller whose output signal is connected to a control element which acts upon a bearing which is adjustable perpendicularly to the axis.

Abstract: Described herein is a rotational bearing system incorporating a ball bearing to support a shaft or housing in freely rotatable state through rolling contact with the ball bearing, the rotational bearing system comprising: vibratory elements adapted to excite in resonant vibration a fixed shaft or a fixed housing in rolling contact with the ball bearings thereby to lower the frictional resistance of the ball bearing.

Abstract: A rotational bearing system incorporates a ball bearing to support a freely rotatable shaft or housing through rolling contact with the ball bearing, the rotational bearing system comprises: vibratory elements adapted to excite in resonant vibration a fixed shaft or a fixed housing in rolling contact with the ball bearings to lower the frictional resistance of the ball bearing.

Abstract: A slider for guiding a movable article along a guide has an elastic guide member and a movable member which is movable along the guide and is in contact at least on a face with the guide. A standing surface elastic wave is generated on the face of the guide contacting the movable member for supporting the movable member on the peaks of the standing elastic wave.

Abstract: To center optic lenses in a mechanical mounting, in particular during edge cutting and bevelling, the invention includes a device with a housing (10), in which a motor drive (M, R) acts through a torque part (50), drive shafts (14, 14') and drive elements (16, 16') onto aligned centering spindles (18, 18'). These are arranged in guide bearings (22, 22') on projecting parts of the C-shaped housing (10) and are constructed as air bearings. In this manner, it is possible to hold the clamping angle (.alpha.) on the lens (L) in the range below 2.times.8.degree., preferably below 2.times.6.degree.. In particular the lower centering spindle (18) is smoothly axially adjustable in the air bearing (22), for which purpose axially parallel and/or partial-ring-shaped grooves (90) are provided at the ends of a thin-wall guide sleeve (76), between which ends peripheral air-cushion fields build up when pressurized air is being supplied.

Abstract: For centering optic lenses in a mechanical mounting, in particular during edge cutting and bevelling, a device with a housing (10) is provided, in which housing a split drive shaft (14, 14') with a torque divider (50) is supported. Two centering spindles (18, 18') are aligned in an axial direction (A) and are in this manner driven by a motor. The ends of the mutually adjacent ends of the centering spindles carry clamping cups (20, 20') between which a lens (L) can be aligned and clamped. An air bearing is provided at least for the lower clamping spindle. The air bearing can be pressure loaded by paraxial and/or graduated-ring-shaped channels (90) with control openings (A, B). In particular, two diametrically opposed air-cushion fields can be loaded with pressure. The clamping spindle (18) can then be smoothly axially moved by a membrane piston (32) permitting thereby a very finely dosable feed movement (FIG. 3).

Abstract: A variable stiffness bearing utilizing piezoelectric means for applying a variable preload force to the bearing. The preferred embodiment employs piezoelectric wafers having alternating power and ground connections to the wafers to allow the wafers to distort in direct proportion to the potentials applied. Increased potentials result in greater distortion, more preload force, and a stiffer bearing.

Abstract: A compass dither device for use with a magnetic compass heading sensor unit for marine seismic streamers and the like having interrogating circuitry associated with the heading sensor to periodically provide a trigger pulse for interrogating a compass heading sensing components in the heading sensory unit and provide compass heading signals indicative of the heading of the compass the the time of interrogation, the compass dither device including a housing for the magnetic compass heading sensor unit having a dither coil encircling the portion where the headings sensory unit is positioned.

Abstract: An oscillating pneumatodynamic bearing takes the form of a laminated transducer disk cooperating with a flat surface or a tubular transducer cooperating with a rod or an enclosing tube. Such bearings are also known as squeeze bearings. At least one piezoelectric, magnetostrictive or electrostrictive material is laminated with another material to provide oscillation of the transducer portion of the bearing so that the transducer portion is able to fly above a bearing surface on a fluid which is usually ambient air compressed by the mechanical oscillation of the transducer portion at an ultrasonic frequency. The disk or the tube is connected mechanically to supports and to its electrical sources of energy or signals at points along the loci of zero oscillation or minimal oscillation. With a laminated disk, a nodal circle is the locus of zero oscillation.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for use with a spindle and featuring a rotatable preload actuator having differential thread portions in mesh with threaded sections of a selected race adjustment member to selectively vary the loading of the bearing. Drive means is provided for rotating the preload actuator to control actual bearing load.

Abstract: An improved squeeze bearing apparatus exhibits torsional stiffness or rotational restraint since its rod-like bearing member (22) and its sleeve-like bearing member (28) comprise non-circular perimeters (26,32).

Abstract: Tubular, pneumatic, vibratory transducer bearings incorporate a pair of colinear nested tubes with differing radii joined together at their inner and outer radii respectively. The mode of oscillation of the structure is designed to produce minimal vibration of the load carried on points of low vibration on the surface of the inner tube. The inner tube is far longer than the outer tube which is piezoelectrically excited at the correct frequency to produce the mode of oscillation desired for low vibration, automatically or self-pressurized bearing arrangement. The tubes are cylindrical and the inner tube rides on a cylindrical rod. The mounting points are at saddle points on the surface of the inner tube. The shortness of the outer tube of the transducer reduces the weight of the transducer.