Abstract: A spherical hydrostatic bearing having a ball mounted in a split socket for substantially friction free movement relative thereto and a linear hydrostatic bearing extending through the ball and having a longitudinal axis coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the ball for permitting substantially friction free sliding movement of a rod. Also, apparatus is provided for at least limiting rotational movement of the ball around the longitudinal axis of the split socket.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises at least one spherically segmented bearing assembly arranged about the periphery of the device so as to maintain the center of rotation of the device within the assembly coincident with the center of mass of the device. A fluid source provides fluid to the spherically segmented bearing assemblies.

Abstract: A bearing is mounted for rotation on a shaft, the bearing having a projected area in both the axial and radial directions. A fixed bearing support housing is mounted adjacent to and spaced from the bearing and forms an annular space for a fluid flow path extending both radially and axially around the bearing to provide a hydrostatic film barrier which centers the shaft during steady state operation. A plurality of reversing fluid jets in the bearing support housing communicate with such annular space. A pair of non-rotating split rings are located forward and aft of the bearing, the split rings each having a taper angle on its inner circumferential surface. A garter spring is mounted in a recess in the outer circumference of each ring and forces the outer edge of the tapered surface into contact with a hardened surface area on the shaft or on a sleeve mounted on the shaft, to support and center the shaft in the transient state and during start-up and shut-down operations.

Abstract: A rotary machining system is presented which uses a housing, a combined spindle and cutting disk, a source of high pressure fluid, a hydraulic line, a needle valve, a carbide ball and a carbide socket to machine superalloys and other difficult-to-machine materials and alloys at high speeds. The hydraulic lines and fluid source provide high pressure fluid through an aperture of the carbide socket into the housing to float the spindle. This fluid acts as a hydrostatic thrust bearing as it separates the spindle from the walls of the housing. Since the spindle and cutting disk are a single unit which are not physically attached to a roller bearing mechanism, they may be quickly and easily inserted and removed to minimize the "down time"0 of the system when the cutting disk needs to be replaced or ground to a sharp edge.

Abstract: A bearing device of a rotary cylinder for a magnetic head includes a fixed shaft and a sleeve rotatably supported about the fixed shaft through a radial bearing. A thrust receiver secured to one axial end of the sleeve has a convex spherical surface at the side confronting the fixed shaft, and a concave spherical surface is formed on an end surface of the fixed shaft confronting the convex spherical surface. A radius of curvature of the concave spherical surface is larger than a radius of curvature of the convex spherical surface of the thrust receiver.

Abstract: An automatic transmission having a reduction shaft disposed in a lower part within a transmission case is equipped with a govenor shaft having a governor shaft gear engaging with a governor drive gear formed in the reduction gear. The governor shaft extends substantially vertically from a lower end to an upper end. The lower end of the governor shaft is rotatably supported by a bottom of a governor case which is integral with the transmission case. The bottom of the governor case is located below a level of a lubricating oil in the transmission case, and formed with an opening for allowing the oil to flow into a clearance between the lower end of the governor shaft and the governor case.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure type fluid bearing device in which a housing and a shaft rotatable relative to each other are opposed to each other to provide inner and outer bearing surfaces for radial load. One of these bearing surfaces is formed with a groove for generating dynamic pressure and the housing and the shaft are opposed to each other in a first and a second bearing surface for thrust load. A circulation path for circulating lubricant is formed in at least one of the housing and the shaft and opens in the first and/or second bearing surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to canned pumps which form a unit with a spherical electric motor (hereinafter referred to as "spherical pumps"). A rotating unit, made up of the rotor and the impeller is supported by a spherical bearing. This spherical bearing has a self-cleaning property, preventing accumulation of dirt particles within the lubricating film.

Abstract: A gas bearing designed for instantaneous 5-10 micro inch separation at startup due to regulated entry and activation of rarefield molecular gas particles. This bearing has two opposing bearing faces with carefully matched geometries. One surface having grooves with lands formed between the grooves that are designed for hydrodynamic operation. The other surface being smooth such as an optically flat plane. The lift-off occurs at startup through the friction-energized gas molecules increasing their volume, and forcing the slowly rotating bearing faces apart.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure type fluid bearing comprises a housing provided with a cylindrical hole having a cylindrically shaped inner bearing surface for radial load and a bottom bearing surface for thrust load, and a shaft disposed in the cylindrical hole and having a cylindrically shaped outer bearing surface for radial load opposed to and cooperative with the inner bearing surface and an end bearing surface for thrust load opposed to and cooperative with the bottom bearing surface. At least one of the inner bearing surface and the outer bearing surface is provided with grooves for generating a dynamic pressure. A communication hole is provided in the bottom bearing surface and opens to the outside of the housing. The bottom bearing surface has around the communication hole an annular contact bearing surface which contacts the end bearing surface when the bearing is stationary.

Abstract: An air bearing for use with flight simulators or spin stabilized projecti having a primary axis of rotation. The device includes a fixedly mounted frame. In the frame is a hemispherical first stator defining an interior spherical space having a center on the primary axis of rotation of the projectile. A hemispherical first rotor is positioned about the center in said spherical space and is uniformly separated from the first stator by a first air gap. A cylindrical second stator is mounted on the first rotor and defines an interior cylindrical space having an axis co-existent with the primary axis. A cylindrical second rotor is positioned about the primary axis in said cylindrical space and is separated from the second stator by a second air gap. An air supply means is positioned to supply air to the first air gap in an amount sufficient to support said first rotor in said first stator and to supply air to said second air gap in an amount sufficient to support said second rotor in said second stator.