A bearing system includes a bearing housing that includes a sleeve and a mounting structure for connecting the bearing system to a compressor housing. The sleeve has a radial inner surface that defines a cylindrical bore, and includes a locking feature located along the radial inner surface. The mounting structure is located radially outward from the sleeve. The bearing system also includes a foil bearing assembly positioned within the cylindrical bore. The foil bearing assembly includes an outer foil, an inner foil, and a bump foil positioned between the outer foil and the inner foil. At least one of the outer foil and the inner foil includes a bearing retention feature cooperatively engaged with the locking feature to maintain the foil bearing assembly within the bearing housing at a fixed rotational position.

A bearing system includes a bearing housing that includes a sleeve and a mounting structure for connecting the bearing system to a compressor housing. The sleeve has a radial inner surface that defines a cylindrical bore, and includes a locking feature located along the radial inner surface. The mounting structure is located radially outward from the sleeve. The bearing system also includes a foil bearing assembly positioned within the cylindrical bore. The foil bearing assembly includes an outer foil, an inner foil, and a bump foil positioned between the outer foil and the inner foil. At least one of the outer foil and the inner foil includes a bearing retention feature cooperatively engaged with the locking feature to maintain the foil bearing assembly within the bearing housing at a fixed rotational position.

A housing unit for a caster assembly comprising a hollow housing body forming an inner cavity. A first bearing is connected to the hollow housing body, the first bearing defining a rotational axis through its center, and configured to rotatably support a first portion of a stem supporting a caster for rotation about the rotational axis. A support assembly is connected to the hollow housing body, the support assembly being spaced from the first bearing, the support assembly having bearing segments concurrently defining a plain bearing around the rotational axis, the plain bearing configured to rotatably support a second portion of the stem during rotation about the rotational axis. A pressure-applying component is operatively mounted to the support assembly, the pressure-applying component being selectively displaceable to displace the at least one of the bearing segments toward or away from the second portion of the stem, to increase or decrease a pressure of the bearing segments on the second portion of the stem. The support assembly and the first bearing are configured to rotatably support the stem of the caster to form a swivel joint.

A housing unit for a caster assembly comprising a hollow housing body forming an inner cavity. A first bearing is connected to the hollow housing body, the first bearing defining a rotational axis through its center, and configured to rotatably support a first portion of a stem supporting a caster for rotation about the rotational axis. A support assembly is connected to the hollow housing body, the support assembly being spaced from the first bearing, the support assembly having bearing segments concurrently defining a plain bearing around the rotational axis, the plain bearing configured to rotatably support a second portion of the stem during rotation about the rotational axis. A pressure-applying component is operatively mounted to the support assembly, the pressure-applying component being selectively displaceable to displace the at least one of the bearing segments toward or away from the second portion of the stem, to increase or decrease a pressure of the bearing segments on the second portion of the stem. The support assembly and the first bearing are configured to rotatably support the stem of the caster to form a swivel joint.

An assembly including an inner member; an outer member; and a bearing including a bearing sidewall including a flat portion, a first convex axial end, and a second convex axial end, where at least one of the inner member or the outer member is adapted to axially translate relative to the bearing, and where at least one of the first convex axial end or the second convex axial end is adapted to induce formation of a film on the bearing sidewall during the axial translation of at least one of the inner member or the outer member.

An assembly including an inner member; an outer member; and a bearing including a bearing sidewall including a flat portion, a first convex axial end, and a second convex axial end, where at least one of the inner member or the outer member is adapted to axially translate relative to the bearing, and where at least one of the first convex axial end or the second convex axial end is adapted to induce formation of a film on the bearing sidewall during the axial translation of at least one of the inner member or the outer member.

A bearing of which a load supporting position capable of being changed, including: a cylindrical housing comprising a hollow inner circumferential surface; one or more support members provided in the housing and disposed along a circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface; a plurality of pin holes provided along an outer circumferential surface of the housing; and a rotation preventing pin coupled to a first pin hole of the plurality of pin holes and configured to prevent rotation of the housing. In addition, threads are formed on inner circumferential surfaces of the pin holes and an outer circumferential surface of the rotation preventing pin to enable a pin hole and the rotation preventing pin to be easily coupled and decoupled.

A bearing of which a load supporting position capable of being changed, including: a cylindrical housing comprising a hollow inner circumferential surface; one or more support members provided in the housing and disposed along a circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface; a plurality of pin holes provided along an outer circumferential surface of the housing; and a rotation preventing pin coupled to a first pin hole of the plurality of pin holes and configured to prevent rotation of the housing. In addition, threads are formed on inner circumferential surfaces of the pin holes and an outer circumferential surface of the rotation preventing pin to enable a pin hole and the rotation preventing pin to be easily coupled and decoupled.

Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.

Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.