Abstract: Hydrostatic journal bearing assemblies are described which include a housing member having a generally circular bore therethrough, a journal bearing member having a bore therethrough for the support of a shaft, the journal bearing member being located within the bore of the housing wherein the journal bearing member comprises at least one generally annular sleeve portion, an increased diameter flange portion at the axially inner end of the journal bearing member, the journal bearing member being sealed against the ingress of pressurized fluid into a space between the bore of the housing member and the outer surface of the annular sleeve portion, the annular sleeve portion being pivotally supported intermediate the axially outer end of the journal bearing member and the flange portion and the bearing member having means for access of a source of pressurized fluid between the bore of the journal member and the shaft to be supported.

Abstract: For cooling the working face of mechanical working elements, such as bearings, rotary seals and friction devices, the cooling fluid flows through a passage which is located behind the working face and contains a porous thermally-conductive mass having interconnecting pores. The conductive material of the porous mass is in intimate thermal contact with the wall behind the working face and acts as a heat exchanger having an extended heat transfer surface. The porous mass preferably comprises a sintered highly-conductive material.

Abstract: A flow control means has two opposed co-operating faces between which fluid is introduced at an inlet zone so as to flow radially towards at least one downstream zone, one face being loaded or loadable towards the other face and comprising a pressure-deflectable elastic or elastically loaded element which is deflectable to provide a clearance between the co-operating faces which is convergent towards the or each downstream zone.

Abstract: A positive clearance radial face seal characterized in that at least one of its two opposed sealing faces comprises a pressure-deflectable elastic or elastically loaded element which deflects, in steady state operating conditions, to provide a clearance between the sealing faces which converges in the radial direction towards the downstream zone of the seal, the deflection changing with variations in the operating conditions in a manner tending to restore the steady state clearance.