An example embodiment of an air bearing assembly includes at least a first member and a shaft with a flange configured to rotate with respect to the first member. The first member has a coating on at least one surface facing at least one of the shaft and the flange. The coating includes tungsten carbide, a nonpolymeric self-lubricating coating, or a combination thereof.

An example embodiment of an air bearing assembly includes a first member and a shaft with a flange configured to rotate with respect to the first member. The first member has a first coating on at least one first surface facing at least one second surface on the flange or the shaft. The first coating includes tungsten carbide, a nonpolymeric self-lubricating coating, or a combination thereof. At least one of the second surfaces has a second coating on a surface facing the first coating.

A thrust bearing assembly for a machine includes a stator housing, a fluid film thrust bearing, and a ring bearing. The stator housing surrounds at least a segment of a rotor shaft and one or more runners on the rotor shaft that include a first runner surface and a second runner surface facing in opposite axial directions along the rotor shaft. The fluid film thrust bearing is axially held between a first stator surface of the stator housing and the first runner surface. The fluid film thrust bearing is configured to generate a fluid cushion that blocks the first runner surface from engaging the fluid film thrust bearing. The ring bearing is axially held between a second stator surface of the stator housing and the second runner surface. The ring bearing has an annular contact surface that engages the second runner surface to axially support the rotor shaft.

A foil bearing (40) includes foils (42) at a plurality of portions in a rotation direction of a shaft member (11). A top foil portion (Tf) including a bearing surface (S2) is formed in a region including a front end (421) of each of the foils (42), and a back foil portion (Bf) is formed in a region including a rear end (422) of each of the foils (42). A gap (C1) is secured between, of two of the foils adjacent to the foil (42) in a rotation direction (R) and a direction opposite to the rotation direction, the rear end (422) of the foil on the rotation direction side and the front end (421) of the foil on the side opposite to the rotation direction side. A width of the gap (C1) is set to be non-uniform in a direction (N) orthogonal to the rotation direction.

A thrust bearing assembly for a machine includes a stator housing, a fluid film thrust bearing, and a ring bearing. The stator housing surrounds at least a segment of a rotor shaft and one or more runners on the rotor shaft that include a first runner surface and a second runner surface facing in opposite axial directions along the rotor shaft. The fluid film thrust bearing is axially held between a first stator surface of the stator housing and the first runner surface. The fluid film thrust bearing is configured to generate a fluid cushion that blocks the first runner surface from engaging the fluid film thrust bearing. The ring bearing is axially held between a second stator surface of the stator housing and the second runner surface. The ring bearing has an annular contact surface that engages the second runner surface to axially support the rotor shaft.

Air foil bearing capable of adjusting stiffness of single bumps by varying widths of the single bumps. Since the bumps have the same height in an initial stage, a wedging effect is implemented only when a load is applied thereto by an oil film. Therefore, the air foil bearing is advantageous in terms of height management thereof. In addition, it is possible to stably dampen shocks applied in the direction of rotation of a rotor, to improve a support capability, and to reduce shocks due to damping. Therefore, it is possible to enhance durability of the air foil bearing.

A foil bearing includes a foil holder and a plurality of foils fixed to the foil holder and arrayed in a circumferential direction. Each of the foils includes a top foil portion having a bearing surface, an extending portion formed on one circumferential side of the top foil portion, an underfoil portion formed on another circumferential side of the top foil portion, and an insertion slot formed between the top foil portion and the underfoil portion in the circumferential direction. The insertion slot includes a positioning portion and a wide portion that is larger in circumferential width than the positioning portion and is opened to an end portion of each of the foils. An edge of the top foil portion, which is opposed to the wide portion, retreats toward the one circumferential side with respect to an edge opposed to the positioning portion.

A wing foil bearing may include one or more wing or tab foil layers. A tab foil layer may comprise a thin material with a two-dimensional array of tab shapes. A tab shape may be defined by a boundary of material separated from the thin material and having an integral edge and a free edge. Tab shapes may include one or more free-state bends relative to the thin material, forming a two-dimensional array of cantilever wings or tabs. Tab arrays may be one or more of various types or two-dimensional arrays, and a tab foil layer may include additional tab arrays and tabs. One or more tab foil layers may be engaged with a mounting surface layer and a counter-surface layer to form a wing foil bearing. Tab foil layers may be stacked and or nested, including partial nesting and complete nesting.

A method for coating a turbomachine part with a self-lubricating includes: providing a rotor or thrust disc of the turbomachine; applying, by a thermal spraying process, a self-lubricating coating having of a mixture of 50 to 90 wt % of alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) with titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2) to a surface of the rotor and/or a surface; and finishing the coated surface of the rotor and/or thrust disc.

A bearing assembly for an engine is disclosed. The bearing assembly includes a first structure, a second structure that is movable relative to the first structure, and a foil membrane disposed between the first structure and the second structure. The foil membrane includes at least one perforation that supplies liquid fuel in a region between the foil membrane and the second structure, where the liquid fuel is combusted by the engine.