Abstract: A homogenizer is disclosed, which can produce an emulsion with a grain diameter as extremely fine as approximately 1 ?m without using large-scale equipment such as a high-pressure pump, and in which a grain diameter distribution of the produced emulsion exhibits sharp characteristics in the vicinity of a target grain diameter. A fixed portion and a disc-shaped agitation rotor are arranged in an opposing manner through a predetermined clearance to constitute a thrust hydrodynamic bearing, and while supporting a rotation of the agitation rotor with respect to the fixed portion by the thrust hydrodynamic bearing, a plurality of mutually incompatible raw liquids A and B are introduced into the bearing clearance to be mixed and agitated in the bearing clearance in accordance with the rotation of the agitation rotor.

Abstract: A homogenizer is disclosed, which can produce an emulsion with a grain diameter as extremely fine as approximately 1 um without using large-scale equipment such as a high-pressure pump, and in which a grain diameter distribution of the produced emulsion exhibits sharp characteristics in the vicinity of a target grain diameter. A fixed portion and a disc-shaped agitation rotor are arranged in an opposing manner through a predetermined clearance to constitute a thrust hydrodynamic bearing, and while supporting a rotation of the agitation rotor with respect to the fixed portion by the thrust hydrodynamic bearing, a plurality of mutually incompatible raw liquids A and B are introduced into the bearing clearance to be mixed and agitated in the bearing clearance in accordance with the rotation of the agitation rotor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor/stator type homogenizer which allows the gap between the rotor and the stator to be set to a very small dimension and which does not involve generation of abrasion particles or the like even if the rotor is rotated at high speed, making it possible to efficiently homogenize a plurality of liquids having no mutual compatibility. The inner peripheral surface of the stator and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor are opposed to each other through a predetermined gap and a portion of the solutions is introduced into the gap to form a hydrodynamic bearing, thereby supporting rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spindle device endowed with a sufficient load capacity for bending moment and capable of reducing power loss and heat generation of the main shaft attributable to the radial dynamic pressure bearing. In this spindle device, the rotation of the spindle rotor is supported by a pair of radial dynamic pressure bearing portions, between which there is provided a first cooling chamber so as to circumferentially surround the spindle rotor, atmosphere outside the housing being introduced into the first cooling chamber.

Abstract: A homogenizer is disclosed, which can produce an emulsion with a grain diameter as extremely fine as approximately 1 &mgr;m without using large-scale equipment such as a high-pressure pump, and in which a grain diameter distribution of the produced emulsion exhibits sharp characteristics in the vicinity of a target grain diameter. A fixed portion and a disc-shaped agitation rotor are arranged in an opposing manner through a predetermined clearance to constitute a thrust hydrodynamic bearing, and while supporting a rotation of the agitation rotor with respect to the fixed portion by the thrust hydrodynamic bearing, a plurality of mutually incompatible raw liquids A and B are introduced into the bearing clearance to be mixed and agitated in the bearing clearance in accordance with the rotation of the agitation rotor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a dynamic pressure seal device and a rotary joint device using the same which are applicable to a rotary body to be rotated at high speed and which are capable of effecting delivery of a target fluid between a rotary side member and a stationary side member without involving any leakage for a long period of time even when used for delivery of a high pressure fluid. The dynamic pressure seal device includes: a stationary side member mounted to a stationary portion and a rotary side member mounted to a rotary body, wherein the stationary side member and the rotary side member are opposed to each other through the intermediation of a predetermined bearing gap, a lubricant fluid being introduced into the gap to form a dynamic pressure bearing, the gap between the stationary portion and the rotary body being hermetically sealed by this dynamic pressure bearing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a spindle device endowed with a sufficient load capacity for bending moment and capable of reducing power loss and heat generation of the main shaft attributable to the radial dynamic pressure bearing. In this spindle device, the rotation of the spindle rotor is supported by a pair of radial dynamic pressure bearing portions, between which there is provided a first cooling chamber so as to circumferentially surround the spindle rotor, atmosphere outside the housing being introduced into the first cooling chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotor/stator type homogenizer which allows the gap between the rotor and the stator to be set to a very small dimension and which does not involve generation of abrasion particles or the like even if the rotor is rotated at high speed, making it possible to efficiently homogenize a plurality of liquids having no mutual compatibility. The inner peripheral surface of the stator and the outer peripheral surface of the rotor are opposed to each other through a predetermined gap and a portion of the solutions is introduced into the gap to form a hydrodynamic bearing, thereby supporting rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator.

Abstract: Disclosed are a dynamic pressure seal device and a rotary joint device using the same which are applicable to a rotary body to be rotated at high speed and which are capable of effecting delivery of a target fluid between a rotary side member and a stationary side member without involving any leakage for a long period of time even when used for delivery of a high pressure fluid. The dynamic pressure seal device includes: a stationary side member mounted to a stationary portion and a rotary side member mounted to a rotary body, wherein the stationary side member and the rotary side member are opposed to each other through the intermediation of a predetermined bearing gap, a lubricant fluid being introduced into the gap to form a dynamic pressure bearing, the gap between the stationary portion and the rotary body being hermetically sealed by this dynamic pressure bearing.

Abstract: A thrust bearing having a spiral element and a flat element is provided wherein bothy elements are arranged so as to be rotatable relative to each other and the spiral element is made of ceramic having a pattern of spiral grooves on the surface thereof opposing the flat element. The spiral grooves are formed by a shot-blasting process applied through a resin mask having a spiral pattern, the depth of the grooves being kept within the range between 3 .mu.m and 50 .mu.m.

Abstract: An electrically powered apparatus is disclosed in which an axial end surface of a rotor and an axis end surface of a stator are arranged to be sliding surfaces for effecting relative sliding motion therebetween, one of the sliding surfaces being provided with grooves adapted to generate fluid dynamic pressure upon relative rotation of said surfaces.

Abstract: A pump including an impeller having a magnet or a second conductor therein, the impeller being adapted to be directly rotated by virtue of magnetic fields of stator coils. The impeller is rotated within a casing in close proximity thereto via ceramic bearing members, one bearing member having spiral grooves on its slide surface. The ceramic bearing members constitute a dynamic pressure bearing means.

Abstract: A thrust bearing contructed to comprise a pair of disc elements one of which is arranged to rotate and the other of which is kept stationary, the surface of the rotating side opposing the stationary element being provided with a pattern of spiral grooves which are non-reflective while the remaining lands of the pattern are reflective so that a pulsed light beam is reflected from the pattern when a light beam is directed onto the rotating pattern through a hole provided in the stationary element, the reflected light pulses being utilized for determining the rotational speed of the element under rotation.

Abstract: A magnet coupling, in which a ceramic isolating plate 5 is provided between a driven magnet 4 and a drive-side magnet 3 and ceramic bearing members 13, 14 are placed between the respective sides of the isolating plate 5 and the driven magnet 4 and the drive-side magnet 3, whereby the gap between the drive-side and load-side is minimized.

Abstract: A thrust bearing adapted to be rotated reversibly in the normal and opposite directions comprises two flat disc elements disposed in face-to-face contact, one of the elements being provided with spiral grooves on its opposite side surfaces, one of which is reverse to the other with respect to the spiral directions, both elements having a dent formed centrally on their opposing surfaces, respectively, to form a small space in combination in which a core member of sphere is installed with a small clearance between the surfaces of the small space and the core member.

Abstract: A novel combination of sliding members operable both under dry (without lubrication) and wet (with lubrication) states, which comprises a first member made of a ceramic and a second member made of hard metal containing at least 75% by weight cemented carbide. This combination is useful as a bearing means in a pump of a vertical or inclined shaft type so as to permit actuation of the motor in the dry state and thereafter to continue operation of the pump with lubrication being provided by part of the liquid being pumped. In certain aspects, the ceramic member may be divided into a plurality of segments.

Abstract: A novel thrust bearing is provided in which a spiral element having a disc shape is loosely interposed between a pair of flat elements one of which is rotatable and the other of which is stationary, the spiral element having a spiral groove pattern on each of the opposite surfaces of the disc with the patterns on the respective surfaces reverse in relation to each other in their spiral direction.

Abstract: A thrust bearing having a spiral element and a flat element is provided wherein both elements are arranged so as to be rotatable relative to each other and the spiral element is made completely of ceramics in a disk form having a pattern of spiral grooves on the surface thereof that opposes the flat element. The spiral grooves are formed by a shot-blasting process applied through a resin mask having a spiral pattern, the depth of the grooves being kept within a range of between 3 .mu.m and 50 .mu.m and the ratio of the outer diameter of the spiral element to the thickness of the spiral element being arranged to be aout 10: at least 0.4 or over.