A hydrodynamic plain bearing includes a bearing shell having an inner surface which forms a bearing surface for a rotating shaft or the like. The bearing surface has a plurality of surface segments separated from each other and disposed successively in the circumferential direction of the bearing shell. At least the bearing surface or the entire bearing shell is made from CuCr1Zr.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to tilting pad bearing assemblies, bearing apparatuses including the tilting pad bearing assemblies, and methods of using the bearing apparatuses. The tilting pad bearing assemblies disclosed herein include a plurality of tilting pads. At least some of the superhard tables exhibit a thickness that is at least about 0.120 inch and/or at least two layers having different wear and/or thermal characteristics.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sliding member, a rolling bearing, and a cage each having a sliding surface excellent in a sliding property thereof even in the presence of lubricating oil and under conditions of a high sliding speed and a high contact pressure. The sliding member is used under an oil lubrication environment and has a sliding layer formed on an iron-based metal material. The sliding layer consists of a foundation layer including heat-resistant resin and a first fluororesin layer both formed on a surface of the iron-based metal material. A second fluororesin layer is formed on a surface of the foundation layer. After the foundation layer and the second fluororesin layer are calcined, the second fluororesin layer is irradiated with radiation rays. The heat-resistant resin does not thermally decompose when the foundation layer and the second fluororesin layer are calcined.

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.

The invention relates to a sliding element having a coating, which comprises at least one functional layer, said functional layer having a mixed oxide-matrix and in the mixed-oxide matrix and solid lubricant particles and/or hard particles are embedded in the mixed oxide-matrix.

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.

This disclosure relates to a method for controlling lubrication of a rotary shaft seal. The method involves providing an apparatus having a bulk lubricating oil reservoir, a rotary shaft that passes through the bulk lubricating oil reservoir, and a rotary shaft seal. The rotary shaft seal has a sealing edge in proximity with the rotary shaft creating a contact zone. The contact zone has a film of lubricating oil. The method also involves increasing the rate of heat flow along the rotary shaft to reduce temperature of the film of lubricating oil in the contact zone. Increasing the rate of heat flow along the rotary shaft is accomplished by using rotary shaft materials of construction having sufficient high thermal conductivity, rotary shaft coatings having sufficient high thermal conductivities, or increasing the surface area of the rotary shaft. This disclosure also relates to a method for controlling heat transfer in a contact zone, and a method for improving performance of an apparatus.

An insulated bearing includes an outer ring, an inner ring, and a plurality of rolling elements. At least one of the outer ring and an inner ring is made of metal, the plurality of rolling elements are provided between the outer ring and the inner ring, so as to be freely rolled, and at least one of the outer ring and an inner ring is coated with an insulating layer. The insulating layer is formed of a mixture in which silicon carbide and/or aluminum nitride as an additive are/is dispersed in aluminum oxide as a base matrix. The content of the additive is 1 to 40 mass % with respect to the total amount of the mixture.

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.

A flexure bearing includes an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of substantially planar radially extending blades coupled between the inner and outer race. The blades have a thickness that is thinner than a thickness of the inner and outer races. The inner race, outer race, and blades have substantially the same height. At least one heating element is coupled to the inner race and/or the outer race. The heating element is configured to apply heat to the race that it is coupled to in order to tune the flexure bearing.