Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing in the form of a flex pad bearing includes configurations structured to change a bearing characteristic. One form of the bearing includes a nonlinear back wall that includes a circular arc and a transition, where the back wall extends radially outward of a ligament. The bearing can include an opening for the deposit of a weighted mass, wherein the opening can threadingly receive a threaded weighted mass. In one form a sidewall that includes the back wall segment can have an average outer radius which determines a thickness of the flex pads.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing components of a tilting-pad bearing (10; 10a), wherein: the tilting-pad bearing (10; 10a) has an outer ring (12; 12a) and multiple tilting pads (18; 18a) preferably arranged at regular angular intervals about a longitudinal axis (3; 46) of the outer ring (12; 12a); the tilting pads (18; 8a) are pivotably mounted with an outer surface (20; 20a) about a pitch line (26; 26a) on an inner surface (16; 16a) of the outer ring (12; 12a); and a blank (30; 30a) in the form a cylinder portion (14) having a constant wall thickness is used to produce the tilting pads (18) from a tilting pad ring (42) or to produce the outer ring (12a).

Abstract: A tapered roller bearing includes: an inner ring; an outer ring provided on an outer peripheral surface of the inner ring via an annular space so as to be disposed on the same center line as the inner ring; a plurality of tapered rollers rollably disposed in the annular space; and a cage retaining the plurality of tapered rollers. The tapered roller bearing is configured such that: liquid lubricant flows through the annular space; and among the inner ring, the outer ring, the tapered rollers, and the cage, at least one rotating component configured to rotate at the time of bearing rotation is provided with a vaporization promotion mechanism configured to decrease a pressure of the lubricant at the time of bearing rotation so that the pressure of the lubricant reaches a saturation vapor pressure at which the lubricant changes from a liquid phase to a vapor phase.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to bearing assemblies configured to effectively provide heat distribution from and/or heat dissipation for bearing element, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and methods of operating such bearing assemblies and apparatuses. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed about an axis. Each superhard bearing element of the plurality of superhard bearing elements has a superhard material including a superhard surface. Additionally, a support ring structure that includes a support ring that supports the plurality of superhard bearing elements and a thermally-conductive structure in thermal communication with the superhard table of each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements. The thermally-conductive structure has a higher thermal conductivity than the support ring of the support ring structure.

Abstract: To recover the axial forces transmitted by a rotating shaft, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of distributed bearing units. Each bearing unit comprises: a stationary base; a resilient member having a stationary portion and a portion that is completely movable in a main direction of the forces to be supported; and a bearing surface that defines, together with the shaft, a water film. The bearing surface is connected to the movable portion. The minimum radius of the bearing surface is between 1 m and 3 m. The resilient member and the base define at least one water chamber. A plurality of ducts are arranged so as to connect the chambers together, thereby defining a closed circuit.

Abstract: A sliding bearing and a service method of performing a service of a sliding bearing are provided. The sliding bearing includes a first bearing shell and a second bearing shell and a plurality of bearing pads arranged between the first bearing shell and the second bearing shell. In addition, the bearing includes an opening in the first bearing shell, wherein the opening is arranged such that the bearing pads are visible through the opening.

Abstract: A damper film bearing assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft includes a bearing housing having a longitudinal opening passing therethrough for receiving the rotatable shaft. The bearing housing also has at least one radial recess formed in an outer surface thereof. At least one resilient element is disposed within the recess in the bearing housing above the floor of the recess, the resilient element biasing the support piston away from the axis of the rotatable shaft. The resilient element in accordance with the disclosure may be a bridge spring or a rod spring as appropriate.

Abstract: A bearing assembly and method of construction that provides a bearing having a plurality of individual flat bearing disc inserts, such as carbide inserts, supported directly upon a flat insert support surface. The method of construction utilizes a mold for simultaneously brazing the inserts to the bearing surface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention relate to bearing assemblies, apparatuses and motor assemblies that include geometric features configured to impart a selected amount of heat transfer and/or hydrodynamic film formation. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing pads distributed circumferentially about an axis. At least some of the plurality of superhard bearing pads may include a plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements defining a bearing surface. At least some of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements may be spaced from one another by one or more voids to impart a selected amount of heat transfer and hydrodynamic film formation thereon during operation. The bearing assembly may also include a support ring that carries the plurality of superhard bearing pads. In addition, at least a portion of the sub-superhard bearing elements may extend beyond the support ring.

Abstract: The invention relates to an end profile on slide bearing complementary elements having a pin (22) and at least one bearing sleeve (24, 24?) for receiving the pin (22), said pin (22) absorbing an eccentric force (F) which acts perpendicularly with respect to the pin/bearing sleeve unit (20), and the at least one bearing sleeve (24, 24?) being of cylindrical configuration and the pin (22) being of tapering configuration in a manner which extends from predefined positions in each case toward the axial end. In addition, a geometrically opposed geometry of the pin and the bearing sleeve is claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an end profile on slide bearing complementary elements having a pin (22) and at least one bearing sleeve (24, 24?) for receiving the pin (22), said pin (22) absorbing an eccentric force (F) which acts perpendicularly with respect to the pin/bearing sleeve unit (20), and the at least one bearing sleeve (24, 24?) being of cylindrical configuration and the pin (22) being of tapering configuration in a manner which extends from predefined positions in each case toward the axial end. In addition, a geometrically opposed geometry of the pin and the bearing sleeve is claimed.

Abstract: A bearing for supporting a shaft submerged in molten zinc, has a bearing surface comprising a steel cylindrical liner having slots retaining ceramic shaft-engaging bearing elements.

Abstract: A bearing outer shell encases a self-lubricating polymeric bearing pad material concentrically therein. A helical spring applies a force through from the outer shell, through the bearing pad material, and onto a shaft when the bearing is installed on a shaft. An elastomeric base material may be interposed between the outer shell and the bearing pad to provide additional resiliency. The shaft may be sized to create an interference fit, causing a radial preload that can be designed to exceed the expected external vibration or shock forces. Proper selection of the elastomeric base material affords damping of these environments. The bearing provides the necessary guidance with minimal loss in power consumption. Therefore, not only is the useful life of the shaft and housing extended, but the life of the associated gears, bearings, and components that require proper alignment to minimize wear the load concentrations is further extended.

Abstract: A bearing with one or more layers of lubricated spacers for dynamically brace-supporting first and second slide surfaces independently movable relative to each other. The spacers are positioned between the first and second slide surfaces, and each spacer has a pair of opposing spacer slide surfaces which are adapted to slide in surface-to-surface contact relative to an adjacent slide surface. Lubricants are used to facilitate low friction relative sliding motion between the slide surfaces, which can be either bonded to the spacers, or separately deposited between the slide surfaces.

Abstract: A bearing for an imaging apparatus includes a first bearing flank including a first bearing surface having a shape in cross-section defined by a first arc having a first radius extending from a first surface axis. The bearing further includes a second bearing flank including a second bearing surface having a shape in cross-section defined by a second arc having a second radius extending from a second surface axis. The first bearing flank and the second bearing flank are structured and adapted such that the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface together in cross-section form a concave shape, and such that the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface are non-concentric. Alternatively, the first and second bearing flanks can be replaced by roller bearings.

Abstract: A cast element comprises an elongated cast body having an axial opening in a direction of its axis thereof, and first and second friction bearings at ends of the axial opening. The friction bearings are formed as a single piece with the cast body, and each friction bearing consists of several slide elements with a space between them. Each of the slide elements has a cross section shaped like a cylindrical ring segment, and the slide elements of the first bearing are circumferentially alternate with the slide elements of the second bearing.

Abstract: A bearing which includes a series of spaced bearing surfaces so as to distribute load amongst a series of spaced bearing surfaces thereby increasing the load carrying capacity of the assembly. The bearing surfaces are formed of a high PV material. The bearing assembly can be either a radial bearing for supporting radial loads or a thrust bearing for supporting thrust loads.

Abstract: A sliding type bushing including an inner sleeve having an axially intermediate large-diameter portion, a race disposed radially outwardly of the inner sleeve, and radially spaced from the large-diameter portion, and a sliding sleeve formed of a fiber reinforced resin material between the large-diameter portion and the race. The sliding sleeve has an outer surface fixed to the race, and an inner surface which faces an outer surface of the large-diameter portion with a predetermined clearance therebetween, such that the sliding and inner sleeves are freely slidable relative to each other about the axis of the bushing.

Abstract: Rapid wear in a gear pump construction due to shaft deflection during pump operation and of the sort including a housing having an interior wall defining a pumping chamber, opposed inlet and outlet ports meshed gears within the chamber, a pair of shafts mounting the gears and bushings journalling the shafts is avoided by providing at least some of the bushings near their ends remote from the gears and on their sides remote from the outlet with radially outwardly opening slots extending generally transverse to the shafts.

Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly is provided which reduces initial axial loading on a shaft's thrust bearing in order to correspondingly reduce the required torque for rotational start-up. The shaft's bearing runner is forced in a direction away from its associated thrust bearing during initial start-up procedures by a suitable means for imparting a force on the bearing runner in a direction away from the thrust bearing. The force is provided by a piston and cylinder combination, in the preferred embodiment, which provides an axial force in a direction opposing the initial shaft loading force. An anti-friction guide bearing is used to transfer this force from the piston to the shaft and, in turn, to the bearing runner.

Abstract: A pivoted segmental bearing in which leaf springs are disposed angularly equidistant between the outer surface of the annular shoe support member and the overlying inner surface of the outer support casing, and wherein the springs are immersed in the lubricating oil for the bearing. The annular shoe support member is also resiliently pressed axially against a wall of the outer support casing by helical springs.

Abstract: Discloses a rotary bit bearing system for each cutter cone of a bit including ball bearings rotatably supporting the cone around a leg journal, a lateral sleeve bearing rotatably supporting the cone including a freely rotatably cylindrical composite sleeve bearing mounted between an inner bearing face and an outer bearing face. The composite sleeve comprises a first cylindrical sleeve member, a second cylindrical sleeve member, and a spacer disc thrust member mounted in freely rotatable relation between the first and second sleeve members. Also includes a disc thrust bearing rotatably supporting the cone to withstand axial forces including an external disc bearing, an internal disc bearing, and an intermediate disc bearing mounted in freely rotatable relationship between the external and the internal disc bearing with the intermediate disc bearing means including radial guide means to radially guide the internal and the external disc bearing.

Abstract: Thrust bearing assembly comprising an outer shell (1) and an inner shaft (2) rotatable with respect to each other and having respective inner (3) and outer (4) surfaces defining therebetween an annular space in which is disposed a plurality of rollers, preferably under square, whose arcuate, outer end faces (10) have an overall curvature corresponding to the curvature of the inner surface (3) of the shell (1). In a preferred embodiment, each roller (5') has a bevelled, inner end face such that the rollers (5') form a continuous ring around the shaft (2') with bevels of adjacent rollers (5') in abutment. Also, the inner end face (11, 11') of each roller (5, 5') is preferably tangential to the outer surface (4, 4') of the shaft (2, 2'). The outer end faces (10,10') of the rollers (5,5') provide (i) increased resistance-to-wear characteristics, (ii) reduced scoring of the working surfaces of the shell and shaft, (iii) reduced working temperatures, and (iv) improved internal lubrication.