A journal air bearing is provided. The bearing includes a top foil configured to receive the shaft, an intermediate foil disposed radially outboard the top foil, and a journal sleeve disposed radially outboard the intermediate foil. The intermediate foil defines a plurality of holes configured to act as a vent to communicate fluid to an increased supply area to an air film.

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.

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.

A balance weight includes a main weight portion extending over a range defined by a circular-arc circumferential edge centered at a rotational shaft hole side and a pair of virtual end surfaces located on the circular-arc circumferential edge on both sides of the rotational shaft hole, a pair of extension weight portions extending from the pair of virtual end surfaces to an opposite circular-arc side of the rotational shaft hole from the circular-arc circumferential edge, the rotational shaft hole provided at the main weight portion so as to be located on a central side of the circular-arc circumferential edge, a crank shaft attachment protrusion, a crank shaft hole provided at the crank shaft attachment protrusion radially eccentrically with respect to the rotational shaft hole, and a pair of spaces formed between positions on both sides of the crank shaft attachment protrusion and the pair of extension weight portions, respectively.

A vacuum pump comprises: a ball bearing which supports a rotor; a holding section which elastically holds an outer ring of the ball bearing; and a grease which is filled between the outer ring and the holding section, the grease having a consistency of NLGI No. 1.5 or less.

A fluid bearing for use in turbomachinery including at least one bearing pad configured to be arranged about a rotating member of the turbomachinery. Each bearing pad includes an internal cooling opening defined in the bearing pad and an internal channel network defined in the bearing pad with at least one channel node in fluid communication with the internal cooling opening and at least two passageways in fluid communication with and extending from the channel node through the bearing pad. At least one of the passageways extends to an exterior surface of the bearing pad to define at least one cooling discharge opening.

A spindle-bearing protecting device is provided that captures an indication of failure of the spindle bearings of a machine tool and can prolong the time until the main bearing is scorched. A spindle-bearing protecting device for protecting a bearing that supports a spindle to be rotatable, includes: a rotating part provided more to an outer side in an axial direction than the bearing, and having a rotor blade that rotates along with the spindle; a supply part that supplies coolant or lubricant to between the rotor blade and the bearing; a detection unit that detects abnormality of the bearing; and a control unit that controls a supply of coolant or lubricant by way of the supply part and the revolution speed of the spindle, in a case of the detection unit detecting abnormality of the bearing.

A bearing pad and bearing are provided which can inhibit the bearing pad from being deformed without increasing the costs. In a bearing pad (2), a conduit that extends from a first opening (3a) formed in a high temperature zone (2H) on a sliding surface (2a) opposing to a supported surface (1a) towards the direction apart from the supported surface (1a) and that finally reaches a second opening (3d) is formed.

A bearing pad and bearing are provided which can inhibit the bearing pad from being deformed without increasing the costs. In a bearing pad (2), a conduit that extends from a first opening (3a) formed in a high temperature zone (2H) on a sliding surface (2a) opposing to a supported surface (1a) towards the direction apart from the supported surface (1a) and that finally reaches a second opening (3d) is formed.

A tilting pad journal bearing is arranged such that a circumferential relative position of an opening portion of an oil feeding hole to supply lubricant oil to a sliding portion of a bearing pad with respect to the bearing pad differs depending on the position of each bearing pad. For a bearing pad under a rotary shaft which supports the load of the rotary shaft, the circumferential position of an opening portion of an oil feeding hole with respect to the bearing pad is set toward an upstream side of a space between pads in a rotating direction of the rotary shaft. For a bearing pad above the rotary shaft, the circumferential position of an opening portion of an oil feeding hole with respect to the bearing pad is set toward a downstream side of a space between pads in the rotating direction of the rotary shaft.