Abstract: In one embodiment, a gas foil thrust bearing includes multiple arcuate bearing pads, each bearing pad including a top foil and a compliant support element, each top foil having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a top surface that extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, the top surface having a taper-flat-recess configuration in which the top surface includes a taper region located near the leading edge, a flat land region located near the trailing edge, and a pocket recess defined by a base, opposed side walls, and an end wall.

Abstract: A vehicle air compressor including a shaft provided with an impeller disposed at one side thereof and a runner disposed at the other side thereof, a motor configured to rotate the shaft, a trust bearing which supports the shaft in a longitudinal direction of the shaft and of which a surface is disposed adjacent to a surface of the runner, wherein a cooling hole for cooling air between the trust bearing and the runner is disposed in the trust bearing.

Abstract: A blade tip clearance control apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a rotor, a hydraulic clearance control device, and a cylinder locking device. The rotor includes a thrust collar, a pair of thrust bearings axially supporting the thrust collar, and a plurality of radially extending blades. The hydraulic clearance control device includes a first hydraulic cylinder moving any one of the pair of thrust bearings in a forward axial direction and a second hydraulic cylinder moving the other thrust bearing in the reverse axial direction. The cylinder locking device includes a first locking device restricting a forward moving distance of the first hydraulic cylinder and a second locking device restricting a reverse moving distance of the second hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A vehicle thrust bearing that can reduce the number of assembly parts used in assembling a suspension of a vehicle to a body and reduce the thickness of parts to simplify the assembling work includes an upper case that is attached to a body of a vehicle having a suspension, and a lower case that is arranged under the upper case so as to be rotatable with respect to the upper case, wherein the upper case includes in a top area thereof a mounting portion for being attached to the body of the vehicle.

Abstract: An assembled half shell-shaped flanged bearing shell for a crankshaft bearing point in an internal combustion engine, having a half shell-shaped radial bearing part and having a disk-shaped axial bearing part that is fastenable in the area of an axial end-face side of the radial bearing part. The axial bearing part is formed from at least three segments that adjoin one another in the circumferential direction and that are nonreleasably joined together via a weld seam between every two segments, wherein the respective weld seam does not include the radial bearing part.

Abstract: A thrust washer for an internal combustion engine may include a body. The body may have a slip surface and a planar contact surface associated with an engine block. The slip surface may have a surface profile the may include at least one ramp section, at least one flat horizontal section, and at least one oil channel. The at least one ramp section and the at least one flat horizontal section may be connected via an asymptotic curve. The at least one ramp section may extend asymptotically toward the at least one flat horizontal section. The at least one ramp section may have an angular length of 45° or less, the at least one flat horizontal section may have an angular length of 45° or less, and the at least one oil channel may have an angular length of 20° or less.

Abstract: A thrust washer for an internal combustion engine may include a metal base having a contact surface and a slip surface. The contact surface may be in operative communication with an engine block. The slip surface may define at least one ramp section, at least one flat horizontal section, and at least one oil channel. The ramp section and the flat horizontal section may be connected via an asymptotic curved surface. The ramp section may be positioned asymptotically towards the flat horizontal section.

Abstract: Air foil bearing capable of adjusting stiffness of single bumps by varying widths of the single bumps. Since the bumps have the same height in an initial stage, a wedging effect is implemented only when a load is applied thereto by an oil film. Therefore, the air foil bearing is advantageous in terms of height management thereof. In addition, it is possible to stably dampen shocks applied in the direction of rotation of a rotor, to improve a support capability, and to reduce shocks due to damping. Therefore, it is possible to enhance durability of the air foil bearing.

Abstract: A synthetic resin-made sliding bearing 1 include a synthetic resin-made upper casing 2, a synthetic resin-made lower casing 3, and a thrust sliding bearing piece 4 serving as a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing interposed between the lower casing 3 and the upper casing 2 fitted over the lower casing 3.

Abstract: A thrust disc for an aircraft and methods of making and using the thrust disc are provided. The thrust disc includes a planar body, and a region unitarily formed from a portion of the body, wherein the region has a plurality of sides defining the region on the planar body, wherein the region has a textured feature, and wherein a subset of the plurality of sides are cut and at least one of the plurality of sides is integrally connected to the body.

Abstract: A gas bearing within a cylinder includes an anti-rotation tab sitting within a key way of the cylinder and a first foil forming an inner loop and an intermediary loop. The inner loop extends in a first direction from a first end to an intermediary portion. The intermediary loop extends from the intermediary to the anti-rotation tab.

Abstract: A synthetic resin-made sliding bearing 1 includes a synthetic resin-made upper casing 2 which is fixed to a mounting member on a vehicle body side; a reinforced synthetic resin-made lower casing 3 which is superposed on the upper casing 2 so as to be rotatable about an axis O in a circumferential direction R relative to the upper casing 2; a metallic reinforcing member 4; and a synthetic resin-made sliding bearing piece 5 disposed in a space S between the upper casing 2 and the lower casing 3.

Abstract: A dry gas thrust bearing is provided for use in rotating equipment and more particularly, this thrust bearing is designed to support compressor/turbine thrust loads in an improved arrangement which does not require oil lubrication and which is designed to support necessary shaft thrust loading by the utilization of a dry gas film. The bearing includes a shaft rotor between two axially movable stators and relies on a dry gas film to separate the rotor and stators. The stators are axially loaded by a double spring package arranged in series wherein a lightly loaded spring engages the stator during zero thrust applications, and as the shaft begins to rotate and encounter axial thrust, a heavier stiffer spring, greater than the thrust load, quickly engages.

Abstract: A split combo bearing including a damper body that has a through-hole through which a rotor shaft passes, a cover that covers both axial sides of the damper body and a predetermined area of the outer circumference of the damper body, a thrust bump that is fixed to the side of the cover, which is in contact with the impeller on a rotor shaft, and is arranged circumferentially around the through-hole, a thrust top foil that is axially fixed to the outermost side of the thrust bump, and a radial top foil that is formed to cover the rotor shaft, and is disposed between the outer side of the rotor shaft and the inner side of the through-hole of the damper body.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for sealing an electrical submersible pump assembly are described. An electric submersible pump (ESP) system for pumping solid-laden fluid comprises a thrust chamber of an ESP seal section, the thrust chamber sealed from well fluid on a downstream side by a stationary sand barrier and on an upstream side by a mechanical seal, the thrust chamber further comprising, a rotatable shaft extending axially through the thrust chamber, a head tubularly encasing the thrust chamber and threadedly coupled to a centrifugal pump intake, and a diamond-coated hydrodynamic bearing set inside the thrust chamber, wherein well fluid enters and exits the chamber through cross-drilled apertures in the head of the chamber, and wherein the well fluid forms a hydrodynamic film between the bearing set.

Abstract: A spindle motor includes a sleeve fixed to a base member, the sleeve having a circulation hole, a shaft rotatably inserted into a shaft hole of the sleeve, a rotor hub fixed to an upper end of the shaft, and a thrust member disposed in an installation groove of the sleeve, the thrust member defining a connection part connected to the circulation hole when the thrust member is disposed in the installation groove. The connection part connects a sealing part in which a gas-liquid interface defined by the sleeve and the rotor hub is disposed in the circulation hole.

Abstract: A spindle motor includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion including a seal defining portion. The stationary portion includes a shaft portion, an annular member fixed to an upper portion of the shaft portion in, for example, a tight-fitting condition, and a cap member. A radially inner end portion of the cap member is fixed to each of the shaft portion and the annular member preferably through, for example, an adhesive. An upper seal portion, in which a surface of a lubricating oil is arranged, is defined in an upper seal gap defined between an outer circumferential surface of the annular member and an inner circumferential surface of the seal defining portion. The cap member is arranged to cover an upper side of the upper seal portion.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing system having a first conical bearing and a second conical bearing working in opposition to the first conical bearing, wherein the two conical bearings are disposed along a stationary shaft, wherein the first and the second conical bearing each comprises a bearing cone disposed on the shaft having bearing surfaces as well as a conical counter bearing disposed in a rotor component that are separated from one another by a bearing gap filled with a bearing fluid, wherein the bearing gap has a first open end that is sealed by a first sealing gap partially filled with bearing fluid, wherein the bearing fluid in the sealing gap forms a fluid meniscus.

Abstract: A first axial gap (L1) is formed between a seal portion (9) and a sleeve portion (8). With this, it is possible to set a moving amount of a shaft member (2) in an axial direction with high accuracy irrespective of accuracy of members such as the sleeve portion (8).

Abstract: An oil film is formed in a radial bearing clearance of a first radial bearing portion (R1) and a second radial bearing portion (R2) so as to rotatably support a shaft member (2). A bearing sleeve (8) and the shaft member (2) are accommodated in a housing (7), and the housing (7) has an inner space filled with a lubricant oil and has an opening sealed by a seal member (9). A first seal space (S1) is formed by means of an inner peripheral surface (9a2) of the seal member (9). The housing (7) and the seal member (9) are formed through injection molding of a resin.

Abstract: A fluid-riding seal 2 comprising first and second components 4, 6 that are arranged for rotation with respect to each other about a nominal rotational axis 8, the first and second components 4, 6 comprising respective first and second axial sealing surfaces 10, 16 which oppose each other and are spaced apart in the direction of the rotational axis 8 so as to define a gap between the sealing surfaces 10, 16, wherein a portion 32 of the first sealing surface 10 is curved.

Abstract: An axial gas thrust bearing for rotors in rotating machinery includes at least one radial disk, integral with or fastened to the rotor and one fixed seal facing each disk or two fixed seals positioned to surround each disk, lower portions of the seals being situated at a distance from the rotor to allow the inflow of compressed fluid passing in the gap between the respective disk and seals, thereby combining the properties of a balance piston and thrust bearing disk.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine bearing assembly for a portion of a shaft that rotates around an axis, including a substantially cylindrical bearing having a length extending between a first end and a second end along the axis of the rotating shaft. A plurality of segmented damper springs are positioned around an exterior perimeter of a portion of the cylindrical bearing. Each spring has a width along the axis of the rotating shaft and a portion of each spring defines an outer spherically contoured joint. The width of each spring is less than the length of the bearing.

Abstract: A motor includes a sleeve supporting a shaft such that an upper end of the shaft protrudes upwardly along an axial direction, a sleeve housing in which an outer diameter portion of the sleeve is inserted and supported, an oil sealing cap covering the sleeve at an opposite side of the sleeve housing, and having a sealing protrusion protruding from a top surface thereof to form a capillary seal of oil between the shaft and the sleeve, and a hub base pressure-fitted and fixed on the upper end of the shaft, and having a hub-base outer diameter portion facing the sealing protrusion and forming a first oil sealing part with the sealing protrusion.

Abstract: A highly position-stabilized indexable table or “dial” in which the dial is supported relative to a steel surface on a frame by one or more air bearings. A flexure mechanically connects the indexing motor to the dial in such a way as to be torsionally non-compliant, but axially compliant to decouple the dial from the motor shaft along the Z-axis. In one embodiment, the air bearings are mounted to the frame at uniformly angularly displaced positions under the dial. In another embodiment, the bearings are partially integrated into the dial. Negative (suction) preload can be used in either embodiment to increase air bearing stiffness and/or to allow inverted processing; i.e., mounting part fixtures on an undersurface of the dial.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing set, for use with a thrust disk disposed between planar surfaces of a housing, includes first and second topfoils disposed adjacent first and second thrust disk axial bearing surfaces and removably secured to the housing. An underspring is secured between each planar housing surface and the corresponding topfoil. Dual-leaf spring pairs attached to at least one topfoil periphery function to urge the topfoils away from the thrust disk axial bearing surfaces by applying a force against a planar housing surface, another topfoil, or a spacer washer secured between adjacent topfoil dual-leaf pairs or frictionally retained within the housing. Alternatively, a wavy washer, a conical spring, a Belleville washer, or a coil spring can be substituted for the dual-leaf spring pairs.

Abstract: An outer rotor motor has a bearing housing with reduced machining and material costs, can be assembled with high accuracy, and has favorable durability. A bearing is attached to an inner circumferential surface of a housing main body that has been formed in a cylindrical shape by plastic deformation caused by press molding a metal matrix. At least one protruding surface is formed by plastic deformation so as to protrude further outward than the housing main body, and the stator core is attached to the outer circumference-side of the at least one protruding surface.

Abstract: A fluid bearing device (50B, 50AB) is composed of a shaft (1, 51); a sleeve (9, 59) into which the shaft (1, 51) is inserted; and lubrication fluid (20) intervening in a gap between the shaft (1, 51) and the sleeve (9, 59), the fluid bearing device (50B, 50AB) supporting the shaft (1, 51) so as to be relatively rotatable freely with respect to the sleeve (9, 59), wherein an end portion of the sleeve (9, 59) is provided with a taper ring (4, 54) in annular shape, wherein at least either one of an inner circumferential surface (4a, 54a) of the taper ring (4, 54) and an outer circumferential surface (1a, 91b) of the shaft (1, 51) facing towards the inner circumferential surface (4a, 54a) of the taper ring (4, 54) is formed into a tapered surface (4a, 54a), which inclines in a direction as a gap between the inner circumferential surface (4a, 54a) of the taper ring (4, 54) and the outer circumferential surface (1a, 91b) of the shaft (1, 51) widens in accordance with leaving from the sleeve (9, 59) and forms a tape

Abstract: An optical fiber has a refractive index profile approximated by n(r)=n1[1-2(?1/100)(r/a)^?]1/2 when 0<r?a, and n(r)=n1[1-2(?1/100)]1/2 when a<r, where n1 is refractive index at the center of a core, ?1 is relative refractive index difference between the center of the core and a cladding, a is radius of the core, ? is refractive index profile parameter, and ^ represents an exponential. ? is 1.95 to 2.15. The relative refractive index difference is 1.5% or larger. A diameter of the core is 20 ?m to 45 ?m. A diameter of the cladding is 70 ?m to 90 ?m. A bending loss at 850 nm when bending the optical fiber with a curvature radius of 5 mm is 0.1 dB/turn or lower.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a multimode optical fiber for high data rate LAN using MCVD, which includes a deposition process for forming a clad layer and a core layer, doped with an additive for controlling a refractive index, on an inner wall of a quartz tube by injecting a deposition gas into the quartz tube and applying heat to outside of the quartz tube; and a collapse process, which is repeatedly conducted N times, for filling up a gap in the quartz tube by applying heat of a temperature over a deposition temperature to the quartz tube after the core layer is completely deposited. In the method, together with an N?1th collapse process, an etching process of injecting a reaction gas for etching into the quartz tube is conducted in order to eliminate a portion of which refractive index is transformed due to evaporation of the additive.

Abstract: A dynamic bearing device is provided, which can prevent abrasion powder generated when a sealing member is pushed into an inner circumference of a housing from entering the housing. A sealing member is inserted into an inner circumference of an opening of a housing with an adhesive interposed therebetween The adhesive moving forward in a pushing direction of the sealing member is retained by a capillary action in a lower tapered space between an outer circumference of the sealing member and the inner circumference of the housing. Abrasion powder is captured by the adhesive in the tapered space so as to be confined in the adhesive as a result of the setting of the adhesive.

Abstract: An inertial navigation system is provided. The system includes a sensor block, an outer shell that substantially surrounds the sensor block and a plurality of gas pads connected to the outer shell that float the sensor block in gas creating a near frictionless environment to allow the sensor block to rotate in all directions. Each of the plurality of gas pads is adapted to receive pressurized gas. The outer shell and the sensor block are separated by a gap created by the pressurized gas at each pad.

Abstract: The apparatus, which can be used in aspirating face seals or thrust bearings, spaces two relatively rotatable facing surfaces in use by entraining gas between the surfaces. The apparatus includes a first portion (1) defining a generally frusto-conical surface (3); a second portion (2) defining at least one flat surface disposed adjacent the first portion so that the two surfaces face each other and define at least one point of closest engagement between the surfaces, with diverging gaps extending between the surfaces on either side of a plane which contains the point or points of closest engagement and which extends generally orthogonal to the direction of relative rotation, and a device (4) for biasing the flat surface towards the frusto-conical surface to maintain the gaps within a predetermined dimensional range.

Abstract: To achieve an increase in bearing stiffness and cost reduction, an oil film is formed in a radial bearing clearance of a first radial bearing portion (R1) and a second radial bearing portion (R2) so as to rotatably support a shaft member (2). A bearing sleeve (8) and the shaft member (2) are accommodated in a housing (7), and the housing (7) has an inner space filled with a lubricant oil and has an opening sealed by a seal member (9). A first seal space (S1) is formed by means of an inner peripheral surface (9a2) of the seal member (9). The housing (7) and the seal member (9) are formed through injection molding of a resin.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing set, for use with a thrust disk disposed between planar surfaces of a housing, includes first and second topfoils disposed adjacent first and second thrust disk axial bearing surfaces and removably secured to the housing. An underspring is secured between each planar housing surface and the corresponding topfoil. Dual-leaf spring pairs attached to at least one topfoil periphery function to urge the topfoils away from the thrust disk axial bearing surfaces by applying a force against a planar housing surface, another topfoil, or a spacer washer secured between adjacent topfoil dual-leaf pairs or frictionally retained within the housing. Alternatively, a wavy washer, a conical spring, a Belleville washer, or a coil spring can be substituted for the dual-leaf spring pairs.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing unit using oil includes a shaft to be driven, a bearing member configured to support the shaft in a non-contact manner through a bearing gap by a hydrodynamic pressure of the oil, which is generated in the bearing gap while the shaft relatively rotate with respect to the bearing member, a housing configured to house the bearing member and having an opening at one end thereof, another end thereof being enclosed, a sealing member configured to seal a part of the opening of the housing, a channel configured to communicate a space formed between the shaft, the bearing member and the housing with an outside air, and a pressing member configured to press and fix the bearing member on the housing. At least one open part configured to release an air bubble contained in the housing is provided between the bearing member and the sealing member.

Abstract: A sliding bearing (1) includes an upper casing (3) which is made of polyacetal resin as a synthetic resin, has an annular surface (2), and serves as a first bearing body; a second bearing body (5) which is made of a synthetic resin, is superposed on the upper casing (3) so as to be rotatable about an axis (O), and has an synthetic resin-made annular surface (4) opposed to the annular surface (2); and a synthetic resin-made annular sheet (6) which is interposed between the annular surfaces (2) and (4) and slidably abuts against at least one of the upper casing (3) and the bearing body (5).

Abstract: A foil thrust bearing forms the primary rotating interface for a film riding face seal. This face seal includes a spring system that will allow the entire assembly to translate axially relative to a static attachment. The complete assembly will form a hybrid foil/film riding face seal that shows much promise at being sufficiently flexible to enable operation in a gas turbine engine. The seal includes a flexible top plate having a non-flat surface under its working conditions, and a spring support system to allow the top plate to accommodate axial excursions and out-of-flat distortions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrodynamic bearing system particularly for the rotary bearing of spindle motors to drive the platters in hard disk drives which comprises at least one inner bearing part and at least one outer bearing part, the bearing parts being rotatable about a rotational axis with respect to one another. The bearing system has at least one radial bearing region and/or at least one axial bearing region which are formed on surfaces of the bearing parts facing each other. A bearing gap filled with lubricant is formed between the surfaces of the bearing parts facing each other and is connected to an equalizing volume in a fluid-conducting way. According to the invention, the equalizing volume is formed from a single or multiple thread provided on the circumference of the outer bearing part. The outer bearing part is enclosed by a sleeve so that a winding channel acting as an equalizing volume is formed between the outer bearing part and the sleeve.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing including a shaft rotating within a sleeve and a thrust plate or the like supported at an end of the shaft rotating in a recess defined with the sleeve. The thrust plate faces a counterplate supported from the sleeve over the recess, and the sleeve and shaft are supported for rotation by fluid in the gap or gaps between the shaft and sleeve, thrust plate and sleeve, and thrust plate and counterplate. To prevent fluid from leaking out of the fluid dynamic bearing into the surrounding atmosphere by seeping between the counterplate and sleeve face it rests on, a seal recess is defined in the sleeve, a crush ring seal is placed in the recess. The counterplate is then pressed into the recess, crushing the crush seal ring and blocking any passage of the fluid from the gap region surrounding the thrust plate through the gap between counterplate and sleeve.

Abstract: An improved rotational motor, such as a spindle motor for a disc drive, is provided. The motor first comprises a hub having a shaft portion and a horizontal body portion. The motor also comprises a sleeve surrounding the shaft portion of the hub. A fine vertical gap is retained between the shaft and the inner diameter of the surrounding sleeve. In addition, a fine horizontal gap is provided between the upper hub portion and the top of the sleeve. The vertical gap is filled with a lubricating liquid, such as a clean oil. A capillary seal is provided in the vertical fluid gap at one end. Preferably, the capillary seal is disposed at an upper end of the shaft proximal to the horizontal gap. Novel air pumping grooves are machined along the horizontal fluid gap. When the hub is rotated, the air pumping grooves create a high pressure region in the vicinity of the capillary seal.

Abstract: An improved rotational motor, such as a spindle motor for a disc drive, is provided. The motor first comprises a hub having a shaft portion and a horizontal body portion. The motor also comprises a sleeve surrounding the shaft portion of the hub. A fine vertical gap is retained between the shaft and the inner diameter of the surrounding sleeve. In addition, a fine horizontal gap is provided between the upper hub portion and the top of the sleeve. The vertical gap is filled with a lubricating liquid, such as a clean oil. A capillary seal is provided in the vertical fluid gap at one end. Preferably, the capillary seal is disposed at an upper end of the shaft proximal to the horizontal gap. Novel air pumping grooves are machined along the horizontal fluid gap. When the hub is rotated, the air pumping grooves create a high pressure region in the vicinity of the capillary seal.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing including a shaft rotating within a sleeve and a thrust plate or the like supported at an end of the shaft rotating in a recess defined with the sleeve. The thrust plate faces a counterplate supported from the sleeve over the recess, and the sleeve and shaft are supported for rotation by fluid in the gap or gaps between the shaft and sleeve, thrust plate and sleeve, and thrust plate and counterplate. To prevent fluid from leaking out of the fluid dynamic bearing into the surrounding atmosphere by seeping between the counterplate and sleeve face it rests on, a seal recess is defined in the sleeve, a crush ring seal is placed in the recess. The counterplate is then pressed into the recess, crushing the crush seal ring and blocking any passage of the fluid from the gap region surrounding the thrust plate through the gap between counterplate and sleeve.

Abstract: A spindle motor comprises a hollow shaft 13 having one end formed with a thrust plate 15, and a sleeve 12 provided to face the shaft 13 through a radial fluid bearing clearance R therebetween, wherein a thrust fluid bearing S is formed between the opposite flat surfaces 15s of the thrust plate 15 and the sleeve 12 facing the flat surfaces 15s. In addition, the hollow shaft 13 has a connection portion 30 at the lower end formed in a concave shape, such that the thrust plate 15 is guided by the inner peripheral surface of the connection portion 30 such that it is coaxial with the shaft 15, and fixed to the shaft 13 by fitting the cylindrical portion 20b of a set screw 20 to the through hole 15b of the thrust plate 15 and the connection portion 30.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing includes a shaft rotating within a sleeve. The shaft and sleeve are supported for relative rotation by fluid in the gap between the shaft and sleeve. To prevent fluid from leaking out of the fluid dynamic bearing into the surrounding atmosphere, one end of the fluid is defined by a capillary seal.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing including a shaft rotating within a sleeve and a thrust plate or the like supported at an end of the shaft rotating in a recess defined with the sleeve. The thrust plate faces a counterplate supported from the sleeve over the recess, and the sleeve and shaft are supported for rotation by fluid in the gap or gaps between the shaft and sleeve, thrust plate and sleeve, and thrust plate and counterplate. To prevent fluid from leaking out of the fluid dynamic bearing into the surrounding atmosphere by seeping between the counterplate and sleeve face it rests on, a seal recess is defined in the sleeve, a crush ring seal is placed in the recess. The counterplate is then pressed into the recess, crushing the crush seal ring and blocking any passage of the fluid from the gap region surrounding the thrust plate through the gap between counterplate and sleeve.

Abstract: The improved sliding bearing provides fitting of a cap into a sleeve with steadily fixation of adhesive, and prevention of the remained adhesive outside of the desired area. The sliding bearing comprises a sleeve, a shaft enclosed in said sleeve, and, a cap fitted into the sleeve, the sleeve having a shouldered hole with a first shoulder on which the cap is held, wherein the internal circumferential surface of the sleeve or the external circumferential surface of the cap includes a second shoulder circumferentially formed thereon. The second shoulder of the sleeve is of an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the cap, and an inner diameter approximately same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cap, while the second shoulder of the cap is of an inner diameter smaller than that of the sleeve, and an outer diameter approximately same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve.

Abstract: A high capacity thrust bearing is disclosed for use in a tubular drilling string to support axial loads resulting from upward or downward jarring forces. The thrust bearing comprises an inner mandrel and an outer housing. A mandrel pressure chamber string and a housing pressure chamber string are journalled between the mandrel and the housing. The mandrel pressure chamber string and the housing chamber string are arranged to form a number of individual pressure chambers. Alternating pressure chambers contain high pressure fluid or low pressure fluid, thereby forming a repeating pressure differential between adjacent chambers. As loads are applied axially to the drill string, such as jarring loads, the pressure differential over the surface area of the pressure chambers provides a thrust bearing. The thrust bearing is rotatable by its connection to the drill string.

Abstract: An improved foil thrust bearing includes a pair of members arranged for relative rotation with respect to one another. One of the pair of members is adapted to rotatably support the other. A thrust bearing disk is operatively disposed between the pair of relatively rotatable members. The thrust bearing disk has a plurality of diverging surface ramps. The surface ramps can comprise an inner ramp and an outer ramp. The thrust bearing disk can also comprise a plurality of radial slots. A plurality of separately formed, converging surface compliant foils are disposed on the thrust bearing disk and between the ramps. An underspring element is operatively disposed between the thrust bearing disk and one of the rotatable members, with the underspring element having a plurality of alternating upper and lower ridges.

Abstract: A bearing structure for a spindle motor is disclosed. The bearing structure provides a fluid bearing seal and support structure that may simultaneously addresses the problems of preventing oil leakage, of maintaining the bearing integrity under shock, of reducing oil evaporation and of minimizing distortion of the active bearing surface. The bearing structure includes a thrust plate coupled to a shaft and a bearing plate and load plate coupled to a sleeve, wherein the load plate urges the bearing plate towards the thrust plate, and wherein an adhesive is interposed between the load plate and the thrust plate. The adhesive may be an UV epoxy. The sleeve is operatively coupled to a stator, and the stator rotates the sleeve upon receiving a drive signal. The bearing further includes a diffusion barrier disposed between the sleeve and the stator. A second diffusion barrier is disposed between the load plate and the shaft.