Provided is a bracket for securing a number of cooling rings arranged on a bearing ring, which bracket includes an upper surface, a lower surface shaped to lie on the cooling rings, and a through-opening extending between the upper surface and the lower surface to accommodate a fastener for mounting the bracket to the bearing ring; wherein the material properties of the bracket are chosen to permit movement of the cooling rings relative to the bracket when the bracket is mounted to the bearing ring; and/or wherein the bracket is made of a resilient elastic material. Further provided is a cooling arrangement for a bearing, including a number of cooling rings arranged in parallel on a mounting surface of a bearing ring of the bearing; and a number of such brackets to secure the cooling rings to the bearing body.

A bearing housing for a two-wheel air cycle machine includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a third housing portion, and a journal bearing bore. The first housing portion is centered around an axis and has a first side and a second side. The second side is positioned axially away from the first side. The second housing portion is centered around the axis and has a first side and a second side. The second side is positioned axially away from the first side. The first side of the second housing portion connects to the second side of the first housing portion. The third housing portion is centered around the axis and has a first side and a second side. The second side is positioned axially away from the first side. The first side of the third housing portion connects to the second side of the second housing portion. The journal bearing bore is centered axially with in the bearing housing and has a diameter of D.sub.1.

A bearing housing for a two-wheel air cycle machine includes a first housing portion, a second housing portion, a third housing portion, and a journal bearing bore. The first housing portion is centered around an axis and has a first side and a second side. The second side is positioned axially away from the first side. The second housing portion is centered around the axis and has a first side and a second side. The second side is positioned axially away from the first side. The first side of the second housing portion connects to the second side of the first housing portion. The third housing portion is centered around the axis and has a first side and a second side. The second side is positioned axially away from the first side. The first side of the third housing portion connects to the second side of the second housing portion. The journal bearing bore is centered axially with in the bearing housing and has a diameter of D.sub.1.

Methods are directed towards dynamically determining refrigerant film thickness at the rolling-element bearing and for dynamically controlling refrigerant film thickness at the rolling-element bearing. Further, an oil free chiller system is configured for dynamically determining refrigerant film thickness at the rolling-element bearing of the oil free chiller system, wherein the oil free chiller system is also configured for dynamically controlling refrigerant film thickness at the rolling-element bearing of the oil free chiller system.

A downhole-type system includes a rotatable shaft; a sensor that can sense an axial position of the shaft and generate a first signal corresponding to the axial position of the shaft; a controller coupled to the sensor, in which the controller can receive the first signal generated by the sensor, determine an amount of axial force to apply to the shaft to maintain a target axial position of the shaft, and transmit a second signal corresponding to the determined amount of axial force; and multiple magnetic thrust bearings coupled to the shaft and the controller, in which each magnetic thrust bearing can receive the second signal from the controller and modify a load, corresponding to the second signal, on the shaft to maintain the target axial position of the shaft.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide two advantageous features, which are especially beneficial in combination, but which can be advantageously and beneficially employed independently of one another: (1) firstly, a self-cooling motor bearing system; and (2) secondly, a self-lubricating motor bearing system. In the preferred embodiments, one or both of these two advantageous features are integrated inside an electric motor (e.g., within the electric motor's enclosure housing) in such a manner as to greatly enhance bearing operating conditions (e.g., maintaining adequate bearing lubrication and/or bearing operating temperature) without the use of external lubrication units and/or external cooling units.

A gyroscopic roll stabilizer for a boat includes an enclosure mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure, and a flywheel assembly including a flywheel and flywheel shaft, with the flywheel assembly rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer also includes a motor operative to rotate the flywheel assembly and disposed inside the enclosure. A motor cooling circuit is configured to transfer heat away from the motor. The motor cooling circuit has a closed fluid pathway for recirculating cooling fluid therein. The fluid pathway includes a fluid channel jointly defined by the motor and the enclosure and having the cooling fluid therein. The gyroscopic roll stabilizer is configured to transfer heat away from the motor to the cooling fluid. Related methods are also disclosed.

A gyroscopic roll stabilizer includes an enclosure, a flywheel assembly, and a motor. The enclosure is mounted to a gimbal for rotation about a gimbal axis and configured to maintain a below-ambient pressure. The flywheel assembly is rotatably mounted inside the enclosure for rotation about a flywheel axis. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel and flywheel shaft. The flywheel shaft has a first end and an opposite second end; a first cavity formed in the first end and facing away from the second end; and a second cavity formed in the second end and facing away from the first end. The flywheel shaft has a longitudinal passage connecting the first cavity and the second cavity. This longitudinal passage may be used for inspection of one of the cavities and/or an associated seal, from the direction of the other cavity. Related methods are also disclosed.

A turbocharger includes: a shaft connecting a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel; a thrust collar rotating together with the shaft; a thrust bearing holding the thrust collar for rotation; and a bearing housing holding the thrust bearing, wherein the bearing housing includes: an oil supply passage for supplying oil for lubrication to the thrust bearing; an oil discharge passage from which the oil supplied to the thrust bearing is discharged; a wall portion facing the thrust collar; and a groove portion formed in the wall portion and extending from the thrust collar toward a discharge port of the oil discharge passage.

A thrust gas bearing includes a collar portion fixed to a shaft portion, a first base part facing one axial end surface of the collar portion, a first gas film forming part formed between the collar portion and first base part, a second base part facing an other axial end surface of the collar portion, a second gas film forming part formed between the collar portion and second base part, and a cooling flow path to carry a fluid flow. The cooling flow path includes a first flow path formed on one axial end side of the first base part and extending from an axial center toward an outer periphery, and a second flow path formed on an other axial end side of the second base part and extending from an outer periphery toward an axial center. The second flow path is located downstream of the first flow path.