Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a cam clutch that prevents cams from unwanted wedging and enables smooth operation including the switching between operation modes without involving an increase in size or number of components and with a simple structure. The cam clutch according to the present invention uses first cams and second cams having different engaging directions as sprags for transmitting and interrupting torque between an inner race and an outer race. A cam interlock mechanism tilts the second cams to a disengaging direction with a tilting motion of the first cams toward an engaging direction, to separate engaging surfaces of the second cams from raceways of the inner race and/or the outer race.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a charging apparatus. The bearing assembly comprises a bearing housing and a shaft. The bearing assembly further comprises a compressor-side bearing bushing and a turbine-side bearing bushing which together support the shaft inside a bearing bore of the bearing housing. The compressor-side bearing bushing is configured differently than the turbine-side bearing bushing.

Abstract: The present invention describes a wind turbine comprising a hub, at least one blade and at least one pitch bearing to connect the at least one blade to the hub, the at least one pitch bearing comprising at least an inner ring and an outer ring, and at least a rolling race, wherein the wind turbine further comprises at least a tensioning system configured to exert a radial compression force to at least a part of the outer ring of the at least one pitch bearing, thus increasing the resultant stiffness of the at least one pitch bearing.

Abstract: Methods of making bearings using pressure sensitive macromolecular adhesive polymers and pressure sensitive polymer compositions capable of integrating fluoropolymeric properties with a catechol-amine functionality to form an adhesive system that allows bonding between metallic substrates and fluoropolymers are disclosed. Also disclosed are core-shell polymeric particles comprised of a core and a shell comprising a thermoplastic polydopamine polymer that may be prepared as a colloidal suspension and used as a hot-melt pressure sensitive adhesive capable of binding low surface energy materials, such as polyolefins and fluoropolymers, to diverse materials including metals in making bearings and/or bearing components.

Abstract: A rotor assembly for a wind turbine includes a rotor blade extending between a blade root and a blade tip, a rotatable hub, a pitch bearing arranged between the rotor blade and a hub of the wind turbine, and a stiffener ring. The pitch bearing has an outer race, an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race, and a plurality of roller elements arranged between the outer race and the inner race. The stiffener ring is arranged between one of the inner race or the outer race of the pitch bearing and the blade root. Further, the stiffener ring has a symmetrical shape so as to provide uniform stiffness to the pitch bearing so as to provide a uniform stiffness to the pitch bearing.

Abstract: An ice crushing device and a refrigerator are provided, the ice crushing device includes a housing assembly including a housing and an ice bucket supported in the housing; a driver for driving the ice bucket to rotate, at least a portion of the driver being mounted in the housing; an ice crusher disposed in the ice bucket; the housing assembly further includes an ice-discharging plate provided at a bottom of the ice bucket, the ice-discharging plate is provided with an ice-discharging port, wherein the housing includes a first portion that houses the ice bucket and a second portion in which the driver is mounted, a groove extending along the circumferential direction of the ice bucket is provided between the ice-discharging plate and the first portion, the groove is communicated with the ice-discharging port, and a lower edge of the ice bucket projects into the groove.

Abstract: An ice crushing device and a refrigerator are provided, the ice crushing device includes a housing assembly having a housing and an ice bucket supported in the housing; a driver for driving the ice bucket to rotate; an ice crusher disposed in the ice bucket; wherein the driver includes a motor and a gear assembly driven by the motor. The gear assembly includes a first bevel gear connected to the motor, a second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear, and a cylindrical gear coaxially arranged with the second bevel gear. A stop ring and a seal assembly that engage with each other are disposed between the second bevel gear and the cylindrical gear, the seal assembly matches the housing to separate the space between the second bevel gear and the cylindrical gear.

Abstract: An ice crushing device and a refrigerator are provided, the ice crushing device includes a housing assembly having a housing and an ice bucket supported in the housing; a driver for driving the ice bucket to rotate; an ice crusher disposed in the ice bucket; the housing assembly further includes an ice-discharging plate provided at a bottom of the ice bucket, the ice-discharging plate is provided with an ice-discharging port communicated with the ice bucket, wherein the driver includes a motor, a gear assembly driven by the motor, and a gear box accommodating the gear assembly, the gear box has an input end connected with the motor and an output end, wherein the gear box is mounted on the housing, and an axis of the output end is disposed in parallel with a rotation axis of the ice bucket.

Abstract: An ice crushing device and a refrigerator are provided, the ice crushing device includes a housing assembly including a housing and an ice bucket supported in the housing; a driver for driving the ice bucket to rotate; an ice crusher disposed in the ice bucket; wherein the ice crusher includes an ice cutter shaft fixed with respect to the housing, and several movable ice cutters and several fixed ice cutters disposed on the ice cutter shaft at an interval, each movable ice cutter includes three blades evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, the ice crusher further includes three ice agitating rods connected to the ice cutter shaft, the three ice-agitating rods are fixed corresponding one to one with the three blades, and at least one of the blades or one of the ice agitating rods is fixed relative to circumferential direction of the ice bucket.

Abstract: An ice crushing device and a refrigerator, the ice crushing device comprising: a housing assembly comprises a housing and an ice bucket supported in the housing; a driver for driving the ice bucket to rotate, at least a portion of the driver being mounted in the housing; an ice crusher disposed in the ice bucket; the housing assembly further comprises an ice-discharging plate provided at a bottom of the ice bucket, the ice-discharging plate is provided with an ice-discharging port communicated with the ice bucket, ice cubes are discharged out of the ice-discharging port after being crushed in the ice bucket by the ice crusher, a slope is disposed on the ice-discharging plate at a position adjacent to the ice-discharging port and along a rotary ice discharge direction, and the slope is located on an ice discharge side of the ice-discharging plate and disposed uphill.

Abstract: An explosion-protected device (1) comprises a deformable interior body (20) that comprises at least one line channel (30, 31) extending along a longitudinal axis (L) through the interior body (20) for a line. The line extends through the at least one line channel (30, 31). The interior body (20) is encompassed by a housing (2). The housing (2) is divided into an incoming section (3), an outgoing section (4) as well as a middle section (5) disposed between the incoming section (3) and the outgoing section (4). A spring element (25) is provided which is disposed in the middle section (5) and exerts pressure onto the interior body (20).

Abstract: A telescopic side arm for a refuse vehicle has an inner and outer boom. A mounting assembly secures the outer boom with a refuse vehicle. A plurality of bearing pads is positioned between the inner and outer booms to provide smooth movement between the inner and outer booms. A plurality of shims is associated with the bearing pads to assure a tight fit between the inner and outer booms.

Abstract: A half bearing has a concave portion, a concave portion, and a concave portion penetrating from the outer circumferential surface to the inner circumferential surface, and the washer has a convex portion, a convex portion, and a convex portion on the inner circumferential surface side. The washer is moved to the outer circumferential surface side of the half bearing in a bent state, the convex portion is inserted into the concave portion, the convex portion is aligned with the position of the concave portion, and the convex portion is aligned with the position of the convex portion. Next, when the half bearing returns to its shape before being bent, the convex portion is accommodated in the concave portion, and the convex portion is also accommodated in the concave portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust-gas-driven turbocharger having a hydrodynamic plain bearing having a rotor and a stator, the rotor being rotatable with respect to the stator, the rotor bearing surface being located opposite a counter-surface of the stator in order to generate hydrodynamic pressure in the region of a converging gap. In such a hydrodynamic plain bearing, the application properties can be improved by the fact that the rotor bearing surface and/or the counter-surface constitutes in a section view, in the context of a section along and through the rotation axis, a continuous bearing contour that is constituted from convex or concave curvatures and/or from at least two contour segments that are embodied as straight lines and/or curvatures. The invention also relates to a hydrodynamic plain bearing or bearing arrangement having such a plain bearing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an adhesive layer, bearing including the adhesive layer, and methods of forming. The adhesive layer can include a mixture of a first polymer, a second polymer, and a third polymer, wherein the second polymer includes ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, and the third polymer includes a modified ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene, or a combination thereof. In a particular embodiment, the first polymer can include an aromatic polymer. In another embodiment, the adhesive layer can have a tensile stress in an extrusion direction of at least 30 MPa.

Abstract: A flexible bearing assembly includes at least one metal end ring, a flexible bearing core having a plurality of layers of a resilient material between layers of a reinforcement material, and a phenolic composite material between and bonded to each of the at least one metal end ring and the flexible bearing core. A rocket motor assembly includes a chamber configured to contain a propellant and a movable thrust nozzle coupled to the chamber. The movable thrust nozzle includes a phenolic composite material between and bonded to each of a metal end ring and a flexible bearing core. Methods of forming a flexible bearing assembly include bonding a phenolic composite material to at least one metal end ring and bonding a flexible bearing core to the phenolic composite material. The flexible bearing core includes a plurality of layers of a resilient material between layers of a reinforcement material.

Abstract: In order to provide a functional component attaching member of which durability can be further improved because when a load is applied to a functional component while a vehicle is travelling, the load can also be borne by portions other than a wall portion opposite to a load direction, the present invention provides a rubber functional component attaching member (functional component mounting base 1) for fastening a functional component 29 to an inner surface 70 of a tire, comprising a bottom surface 4 that is fixed to the inner surface 70 of the tire, an attaching portion 2 having a recessed portion 2A to which a functional component-side attaching portion 30 provided to the functional component 29 is attached, and a reinforcing material 20 embedded in a rubber portion on an outer side of the recessed portion 2A.

Abstract: The invention relates to an exhaust-gas-driven turbocharger having a hydrodynamic plain bearing having a rotor and a stator, the rotor being rotatable with respect to the stator, the rotor bearing surface being located opposite a counter-surface of the stator in order to generate hydrodynamic pressure in the region of a converging gap. In such a hydrodynamic plain bearing, the application properties can be improved by the fact that the rotor bearing surface and/or the counter-surface constitutes in a section view, in the context of a section along and through the rotation axis, a continuous bearing contour that is constituted from convex or concave curvatures and/or from at least two contour segments that are embodied as straight lines and/or curvatures. The invention also relates to a hydrodynamic plain bearing or bearing arrangement having such a plain bearing.

Abstract: A sliding-hearing composite material includes a steel supporting layer (10), an intermediate layer (12) based on an aluminum alloy that is free of lead, and a bearing metal layer (14) based on an aluminum alloy that is free of lead, wherein the aluminum alloy of the intermediate layer (12) has a composition having 3.5 to 4.5 wt % copper, 0.1 to 1.5 wt % manganese, 0.1 to 1.5 wt % magnesium, and the usual admissible impurities, the remainder being aluminum, and wherein the aluminum alloy of the bearing mental layer (14) has a composition having wt % tin, 1.0-3.0 wt % nickel, 0.5-1.0 wt % manganese, 0.5-1.0 wt % copper, 0.15-0.25 wt % chromium, 0.1-0.3 wt % vanadium, and the usual admissible impurities, the remainder being aluminum. A sliding bearing element and the use of the sliding-bearing composite material for sliding bearing element, particularly sliding bearing shells, sliding bearing bushes, or thrust washers is also disclosed.

Abstract: A turbocharger having a turbine with a turbine rotor, a compressor with a compressor rotor that is coupled to the turbine rotor via a shaft. A bearing housing arranged between the turbine housing and the compressor housing, wherein both the turbine housing and also the compressor housing are connected to the bearing housing, with at least one bearing, via which the shaft is mounted in the bearing housing, wherein the respective bearing includes a bearing bush that is mounted on the bearing housing in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein between the bearing bush and the bearing housing a radially outer lubricating cap and between the bearing bush and the shaft a radially inner lubricating gap is formed, and wherein axial ends of the respective bearing bush, at a radially outer section of the same have a greater axial extent than on a radially inner section of the same.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic plain bearing having a stator and a rotor rotatable with respect to the stator, a rotor bearing surface being located opposite a counter-surface of the stator in order to generate hydrodynamic pressure. The rotor bearing surface and/or the counter-surface constitutes in a section view, in the context of a section along and through the rotation axis, a continuous bearing contour that is constituted from at least two contour segments. The contour segments are suitable for generating hydrodynamic load capacity in a radial and axial direction. The contour segments are led into one another, by at least one transition segment, in such a way that hydrodynamic load capacity is generatable via the contour segments and the transition segment. The plain bearing is embodied as a multiple-surface plain bearing having two or more lubrication wedges in the region of the contour segments and of the transition segment.

Abstract: A half thrust bearing having a semicircular shape includes a thrust bearing body having a slide surface that receives an axial force from a crankshaft, and thrust reliefs formed adjacent to respective end portions of the thrust bearing body. Wall thicknesses of the thrust reliefs decrease to the respective end portions. Each thrust relief length continuously increases in a direction from an inner circumference to an outer circumference of the half thrust bearing. Each thrust relief length is a length, in a direction perpendicular to a plane that includes an end portion of the half thrust bearing, from the plane to a point at which a surface of each thrust relief intersects an inner circumference of the thrust bearing body. The half thrust bearing includes a bearing alloy layer and a resin slide layer, or additionally a back metal layer. The slide surface includes the resin slide layer.

Abstract: A strut assembly includes a piston and a bearing housing around the piston. The bearing housing may also comprise a groove and a tapered surface opposite the groove. A bearing may be in the groove and proximate the piston. An outer cylinder may be around the bearing housing. The angle of the tapered surface may be based on a deflection angle between the outer cylinder and the piston. A wear plate may be around the tapered surface. An elastic material may be disposed between the tapered surface and the wear plate. The bearing housing may comprise a titanium alloy. The bearing housing may be configured to flex towards the wear plate.

Abstract: Provided is a resin cage for a tapered roller bearing in which a mold parting line which is extended in an axial direction is formed in a pillar portion defining a pocket. On facing surfaces of adjacent pillar portions, on an outer diameter side from the mold parting line, a first conical surface which slides in contact with an outer peripheral surface of a tapered roller is formed, and a first flat surface in a radial direction is formed in a portion on the outer diameter side from the first conical surface. On an inner diameter side from the mold parting line, a second conical surface which slides in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tapered roller is formed, and a second flat surface in a radial direction is formed in a portion on the inner diameter side from the second conical surface.

Abstract: A rotary machine is provided with: a flange section protruding in the radial direction of a rotating shaft which rotates about an axis and rotating together with the rotating shaft; a stationary bush disposed at a distance in the direction of the axis from the flange section, surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, and provided in a housing supporting the rotating shaft so as to be immovable in the direction of the axis relative to the rotating shaft; and a rotation bush which is disposed between the flange section and the stationary bush so as to be sandwiched there between in the direction of the axis, covers the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, and is rotatable relative to the rotating shaft and the housing while floating in fluid. The rotation bush has, on the surface thereof which faces the direction of the axis, a land surface and a tapered surface which is continuous with the land surface.

Abstract: A radial sliding bearing provided with a sliding bearing (1), an inner ring (2), and an outer ring (3), the inner ring (2) is made of melt-cast metal and the outer ring (3) being constituted by an article molded from a resin composition, the inner ring (2) comprising a concavely curved surface (2a) on part of the axial direction of the outer circumference and a bearing hole (4) for mating with a support shaft on the inner circumference, the outer ring (3) having a convexly curved surface (3a) that contacts and slides against the concavely curved surface (2a) on the outer circumference of the inner ring (2) along part of the axial direction of the inner circumference, and the inner ring (2) and the outer ring (3) relatively rotating without contacting each other apart from the contact between the convexly curved surface and the concavely curved surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing arrangement, in particular for sensor arrangements, comprising a first bearing part and a second bearing part, which are designed and arranged so as to be movable relative to each other and which touch each other at least partially in the course of said relative motion. The first bearing part is guided on at least one first running surface of the second bearing part, and the first running surface of the second bearing part has a recess, in which at least one ridge is formed, wherein the arrangement of the ridge in the recess does not influence the relative motion between the first bearing part and the second bearing part.

Abstract: A working container for electrical household food preparation appliances including a lower transmission component connected by a shaft to a rotary working tool arranged in a receptacle, wherein the shaft runs through the bottom of the receptacle and is rotatably mounted in a bearing housed in the bottom of the receptacle by virtue of the lower transmission component having an upper flange ring forming a reservoir around the shaft. The inner wall of the flange ring enables the collection of oil coming from the bearing and prevents the projection of oil onto a wall of the working container and permits the oil to drain to the bottom of the reservoir.

Abstract: A system includes a rotor assembly with a first rotor component having a first set of bushing receptacles and a first set of bolt holes arranged about a first rotational axis of the first rotor component. The rotor assembly also includes a second rotor component having a second set of bushing receptacles and a second set of bolt holes arranged about a second rotational axis of the second rotor component. The rotor assembly includes a first set of bushings disposed in the first and second sets of bushing receptacles in a first installed configuration, wherein the first installed configuration of the first set of bushings is configured to align the first and second rotational axes with one another, and the first installed configuration of the first set of bushings is configured to bear at least a first portion of a torque during rotation of the rotor assembly.

Abstract: An solar tracker bearing comprising a pair of stationary outer bearing races attached on either side of a bearing support element and a rotatable inner bearing race held by the pair of outer bearing races, the rotatable inner bearing race having an beam slot for seating a torque tube beam therein.

Abstract: A sliding bearing for an internal combustion engine having a plastics polymer-based composite layer on a substrate, the composite layer comprising: a matrix of plastics polymer-based material having distributed throughout the matrix; 0.1 to 5% vol carbon nanostructures; and incidental impurities; and a method of manufacture of such a sliding bearing.

Abstract: A conical rotary valve for chromatographic applications is provided, including a valve stator, a valve rotor, a drive adaptor and a pair of stoppers each mounted to the stator. The drive adaptor is rotatable and coupled to the valve rotor for transmitting a rotating force thereto. The drive adaptor has a body and a pair of radial arms projecting from the body radially outward from the axis of rotation on opposite sides thereof. Each of the pair of radial arms is movable along a respective arcuate travelling course with respect to the stator. The stoppers are each positioned to obstruct one of the radial arms at an end of the corresponding travelling course. The stoppers are positioned to simultaneously engage the radial arms, thereby balancing the reaction forces created within the valve when the radial arms reach the ends of their travelling courses.

Abstract: A bearing component including a body of composite material having a surface configured as a bearing surface, the composite material including a plurality of round particles bound by a braze material, each of the plurality of round particles comprising a round outer layer encapsulating a wear resistant element.

Abstract: Particles, embedded into a sliding layer, have a coating, within which a lubricant, e.g., a liquid, is contained. A component with the sliding layer provides a sliding surface that can be used as a backup bearing to ensure emergency operating properties, for example, of a shaft that is mounted in a main bearing. When the shaft strikes the bearing surface, the coating of the particles that are exposed on the bearing surface are destroyed and the lubricant can exit. Advantageously, the sliding properties of the sliding surface are thereby improved.

Abstract: A high-precision slide bearing includes a substrate of sintered metal and a synthetic resin layer. The bearing can be used for rotary shafts in compressors of room air-conditioners or in transmissions of motor vehicles and construction machines to support relatively large radial and axial loads. The resin layer is integrally superposed on the radially inner surface of the sintered metal substrate of the slide bearing, which is a cylindrical member. The resin layer is made of a resin composition of an aromatic polyetherketone resin containing a fibrous filler. The fibrous filler is made up of fibers dispersed in the resin layer and oriented such that their length directions intersect the rotational direction of the bearing at angles of 45 to 90 degrees. The resin layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm.

Abstract: Cutting elements for earth-boring tools may include a polycrystalline table attached to a portion of a first substrate on which the polycrystalline table was formed. The portion of the first substrate may exhibit a thickness less than a thickness of the first substrate before a remainder of the first substrate was removed to form the portion of the first substrate. Another substrate may be attached to the portion of the first substrate, the portion of the first substrate being interposed between the polycrystalline table and the other substrate. Earth-boring tools may include such cutting elements secured to bodies of the earth-boring tools. Bearings for earth-boring tools may include a polycrystalline table attached to a portion of a first substrate on which the polycrystalline table was formed, the polycrystalline table defining a contact surface.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatively holding a shaft with respect to a support member and comprises: a bearing, with a rotatable ring and a fixed outer ring to be immobilized within a housing of said support member. An encoder washer is fast in rotation with the rotating ring. At least one sensor is adapted to detect at least one rotation parameter of the encoder washer and a sensor body holds this sensor. An annular flange is used for mounting said sensor body with respect to the fixed outer ring. The annular flange has a first skirt and a second skirt which define, between them and a bottom wall of the flange, an annular recess for accommodating at least a part of the sensor body. In mounted configuration of the bearing assembly, the first and second skirts extend respectively towards the rotatable and fixed rings.

Abstract: A micro drive assembly may comprise a substrate, a micro shaft oriented in-plane with the substrate and at least one micro bearing to support rotation of the micro shaft. The micro shaft and micro bearing may be in or less than the micrometer domain.

Abstract: An improved bearing and shaft assembly for jet assemblies is disclosed. The improved bearing and shaft assembly includes a bearing assembly having an outer bearing member and an inner bearing member, and a shaft assembly having a shaft member, a shaft protection member, and a locking mechanism. Also, a jet assembly that includes the improved bearing and shaft assembly is disclosed. The jet assembly may be coupled to a motor assembly. The jet assembly further includes the housing that includes at least one inlet aperture and at least one outlet aperture, and an impeller positioned within a cavity of the housing. In addition, a pump comprising a motor assembly and a jet assembly that includes the improved bearing and shaft assembly is disclosed. Furthermore, a method for displacing a fluid using the improved bearing and shaft assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: The bearing device has a support ring positioned around a rotating shaft and a plurality of bearing pads provided between the rotating shaft and the support ring and configured to support the rotating shaft. Some of the plurality of bearing pads are positioned at a lower side of the rotating shaft, and a key member is installed between the support ring and a carrier ring supporting the plurality of bearing pads. The key member is inserted therebetween in a tangential direction of an outer circumference of the carrier ring and is configured to perform positioning of the plurality of bearing pads and the support ring in a radial direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to bearing assemblies configured to effectively provide heat dissipation for bearing elements, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and methods of operating such bearing assemblies and apparatuses. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed about an axis. Each superhard bearing element of the plurality of superhard bearing elements has a superhard table including a superhard surface. The bearing assembly includes a support ring structure coupled to the plurality of superhard bearing elements. One or more of the superhard bearing elements includes a superhard table, which may improve heat transfer from such superhard bearing elements.

Abstract: A bearing housing (1) of an exhaust-gas turbocharger (2) having a turbine-side flange (3), having a compressor-side flange (4) and having a center part (5) which is arranged between the turbine-side flange (3) and the compressor-side flange (4). The turbine-side flange (3), the compressor-side flange (4) and the center part (5) are separate components which are connected to one another in the fully assembled state by a connection device (6) or thermally or by adhesive bonding.

Abstract: A sliding bearing includes a center portion and end portions on a bearing surface 1. Convexo-concave portions are respectively formed in the center portion and the end portions. The average height of the vertexes of convex portions 1A in the center portion is set smaller than the average height of the vertexes of convex portions 1B in the end portions. Average height Lh of the convexo-concave portion 1A in the center portion and average height LH of the convexo-concave portions 1B in the end portions are set to the same height. The center portion may be formed flat.

Abstract: A seatbelt anchor assembly includes a ferrule, a cable, and seatbelt buckle. The ferrule can be mounted at one end to a seat base or other mounted structure of the vehicle, and can further include an anti-rotation pin that is received in a locating hole of the seat base to limit rotation of the ferrule during mounting and during normal occupant use. The pin can be made from aluminum or other material that can shear off in response to a dynamic vehicle load, allowing the ferrule to pivot about its mounting location to align the loads. The ferrule can be in the form of a blank including a body portion and a head portion having a pair of ears, and can include a recess between the ear portions and the body portion to limit tension in the ferrule when the ferrule is crimped to mount a cable thereto.

Abstract: A high-cycle, short range-of-motion linkage apparatus is provided for actuating a positioning device. The linkage apparatus includes a pivot member having a head portion configured to receive by plastic deformation a bearing assembly therein. The head portion defines a bore therein having a substantially cylindrical inner surface that defines an inner diameter having a first center point. The head portion further defines a truncated arcuate outer surface, a portion of which defines a radius of curvature and a second center point. A stem having a central axis extends from the pivot member along the central axis in a first direction. The second center point is offset from the first center point in the first direction and a distance between the first center point and the second center point, measured along the central axis, is in the range of up to about 33% of the radius of curvature.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to bearing apparatuses in which one bearing surface of the bearing apparatus includes diamond, while another bearing surface includes a non-diamond superhard material (e.g., silicon carbide). For example, a bearing apparatus may include a bearing stator assembly and a bearing rotor assembly. The bearing stator assembly and bearing rotor assembly each include a support ring and one or more superhard bearing elements generally opposed to one another. The bearing surface(s) of the rotor or stator may include diamond, while the bearing surface(s) of the other of the rotor or stator do not include diamond. Another bearing apparatus may include both thrust- and radial bearing components. The generally opposed thrust-bearing elements may include diamond, while the generally opposed radial bearing elements may not include diamond, but include a non-diamond superhard material, such as silicon carbide.

Abstract: A sealing or bearing structure for sealing or separating moving surfaces is provided. The sealing or bearing structure includes a main body that defines a body axis going through the main body. A contact surface is configured to slidingly contact another surface, such as a rod, and defines a contact axis that is parallel to the body axis. At least one geometric surface feature, such as a shaped edge, is located between the body axis and the contact axis. The geometric surface feature has an entry angle that is less than 5 degrees relative to the contact axis.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes: (a) an inner member comprising rigid material with a first contact surface; (b) an outer member comprising rigid material with a second contact surface; (c) an annular intermediate member between the inner and outer members, and having: (i) a third contact surface including first bearing elements contacting the first contact surface to define a first bearing interface, each first bearing element including a raised central portion flanked beam portions; and (ii) a fourth contact surface including second bearing elements contacting the second contact surface to define a second bearing interface, each second bearing element including a raised central portion flanked by a pair of beam portions; (d) wherein the contact surfaces of each bearing interface are wear-resistant; and (e) wherein the bearing elements are shaped and sized so as to conform in an irregular shape to the at least one contact surface.

Abstract: An improved ball joint for use in a motor vehicle steering or suspension system includes a housing, a bearing disposed in the housing, and a ball stud supported within the housing by the bearing. The bearing includes at least a first bearing member formed from a first material and a second bearing member formed from a second dampening material attached to at least a portion of an outer surface of the first bearing member. The first bearing member has a bidirectional slot formed therein which is configured to allow the ball stud to articulate in a first direction and restrict and dampen articulation in a second direction which is generally transverse to the first direction.

Abstract: A journal foil bearing includes a bearing retainer having one slot configured to receive a top foil leading edge tab and another slot configured to receive a top foil trailing edge tab. A backup support structure, integral to the bearing retainer, extends between and is at least partially defined by the slots. The retainer is configured so that, during operation, the trailing edge tab contacts the support structure at a position close to the friction force, thereby minimizing top foil bending stress and improving bearing strength.