Abstract: A thrust bearing 11 for use with a shaft 13 having a collar 15 mounted the shaft 13 and rotatable therewith has a base ring 17, a series of shoes 19 positioned on the base ring 17, and a compressible resilient spacing member 29 positioned between the base ring 17 and a housing 31 for the thrust bearing 11. The spacing member 29 supports the thrust bearing 11 when the shaft 13 is rotating during no-load operating conditions, as well as dampens the forces placed on the thrust bearing 11 by the shaft 13 when the shaft 13 is rotating during no-load conditions. The spacing member 29 is sufficiently stiff that it supports the thrust bearing 11 when the shaft 13 is rotating under no-load conditions, but is sufficiently compressible to be compressed to the extent that the gap 33 between the base ring 17 and the housing 31 is eliminated due to the forces placed on the thrust bearing 11 by the shaft 13 bringing the base ring 17 into contact with the housing 31 during normal load operating conditions.

Abstract: A journal bearing having a working surface for contacting a shaft, and channels provided on the working surface and being configured to collect lubricant and redirect lubricant across the bearing working surface. A method for lubricating a bearing assembly is provided where lubricant is delivered to the working surface of the bearing, the lubricant is collected on the surface and directed to areas of the bearing surface which are in need of lubricant to provide an even coverage of lubrication across a bearing working surface.

Abstract: A thrust bearing for use with a shaft having a collar mounted thereon, comprises a base ring, a series of thrust bearing shoes positioned on the base ring, each shoe having a leading edge connected to a trailing edge by an inner diameter edge and an outer diameter edge, each thrust bearing shoe having a working face with a bearing liner on its surface, a shoe pivot member on each shoe allowing the shoe to pivot in any direction, an oil distribution groove formed in the working face of each shoe near the leading edge of each shoe and extending radially for substantially the entire distance between the inner and outer diameter edges of each shoe, each oil distribution groove having an inner end and an outer end connected by a leading edge and a trailing edge, an oil feed line leading to each oil distribution groove for feeding oil to each oil distribution groove, and a recess formed in the working face of each shoe commencing at the trailing edge of the oil distribution groove and extending rearwardly therefrom