Abstract: A bearing stave for use in a water lubricated bearing having a discontinuous surface with a plurality of discrete, separated contact locations for contacting the shaft, the discontinuous surface being made of slippery polymer alloy.

Abstract: A temperature control system for melting a solid cooking medium in a deep fat fryer comprising a chamber for containing a cooking medium; a heating surface within the chamber for heating the cooking medium; a heating device for heating the heating surface; a temperature sensor in the vicinity of the heating surface for sensing the temperature of the medium; and a temperature controller for controlling the heating device to control the amount of heat provided to the cooking medium, wherein the temperature controller includes: a system causing the heating device to generate uniform pulses of heat at a fixed duty cycle for a predetermined period of time, and a system for interrupting the operation of the heating device the predetermined period if the temperature of the cooking medium exceeds a first predetermined temperature.