In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compact is disclosed. The method includes sintering a plurality of diamond particles in the presence of a metal-solvent catalyst to form a polycrystalline diamond body; leaching the polycrystalline diamond body to at least partially remove the metal-solvent catalyst therefrom, thereby forming an at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body; and subjecting an assembly of the at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body and a cemented carbide substrate to a high-pressure/high-temperature process at a pressure to infiltrate the at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body with an infiltrant. The pressure of the high-pressure/high-temperature process is less than that employed in the act of sintering of the plurality of diamond particles.

Provided is a semi-annular-shaped half thrust bearing having a sliding surface for receiving an axial force and a back surface opposite to the sliding surface. The sliding surface includes a plurality of recesses. Each recess has a recess surface recessed from the sliding surface toward the back surface of the half thrust bearing. The recess surface is convex toward the back surface of the half thrust bearing in cross-sectional view in a circumferential direction of the half thrust bearing. The recess surface includes a plurality of circumferential grooves recessed from the recess surface toward the back surface of the half thrust bearing. The circumferential grooves extend along the circumferential direction of the half thrust bearing, and smooth surfaces and the circumferential grooves are alternately arranged on the recess surface.

Bottom bearings may be configured to bear the weight of a vertical shaft. In some implementations, a bottom bearing may include a first half-cylinder including a first shoulder and a first inside surface. The bottom bearing may also include a second half-cylinder including a second shoulder and a second inside surface. The first shoulder and second shoulder are configured to bear the weight of the vertical shaft by exerting an upward force on a sleeve affixed to the vertical shaft. A method of manufacturing a bottom bearing may include the steps of forming a cylinder from an ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene, wherein the cylinder includes a shoulder, an inside surface, and a central axis. The method may further include cutting the cylinder along the central axis to form the first half-cylinder and the second half-cylinder.

A hydroelectric energy system includes a stator including a first plurality of electricity-generating elements. The system also includes a rotor including a second plurality of electricity-generating elements. The rotor is disposed radially outward of an outer circumferential surface of the stator and is configured to rotate around the stator about an axis of rotation. The rotor is a flexible belt structure having a variable thickness and extending along a portion of an axial length of the stator. The system further includes at least one hydrodynamic bearing mechanism configured to support the rotor relative to the stator during rotation of the rotor around the stator. The at least one hydrodynamic bearing mechanism includes a bearing surface made of wood or a composite material.

In an embodiment, a method of fabricating a polycrystalline diamond compact is disclosed. The method includes sintering a plurality of diamond particles in the presence of a metal-solvent catalyst to form a polycrystalline diamond body; leaching the polycrystalline diamond body to at least partially remove the metal-solvent catalyst therefrom, thereby forming an at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body; and subjecting an assembly of the at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body and a cemented carbide substrate to a high-pressure/high-temperature process at a pressure to infiltrate the at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond body with an infiltrant. The pressure of the high-pressure/high-temperature process is less than that employed in the act of sintering of the plurality of diamond particles.

A bearing configuration for an oil pump assembly is disclosed herein. The bearing configuration includes a first radially extending hydrodynamic bearing element configured to directly face a first axial side of a gear, a second radially extending hydrodynamic bearing element configured to directly face a second axial side of the gear, and an axially extending hydrodynamic bearing element configured to directly face a radially inner side of the gear. The bearing configuration is configured to be used to support an idler gear in a transmission assembly, in one example.

A trunnion bearing includes an inner ring having exterior and interior surfaces; and an outer ring having interior and exterior surfaces. A portion of the inner ring is disposed in the outer ring. A lubricious liner is disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring. The trunnion bearing includes a bushing disposed in the inner ring. The bushing has a lubricant reservoir formed therein to dispense a lubricant therefrom.

In an embodiment, in a slide component, dynamic pressure generation grooves 10 are provided on a sealing face of at least one of a pair of slide parts 4, 7 so as to be isolated with no communication from the sealed fluid side and the leakage side by land portions R of both the sealing faces, and a plurality of independently-formed minute recessed sections 11 is provided at positions on the sealing face IS between the dynamic pressure generation grooves 10 and the leakage side, the positions being separated in the radial direction from the dynamic pressure generation grooves. The slide component can make the sealing faces fluid-lubricant and low frictional and prevent leakage of a sealed fluid and incoming of dust to the sealing faces at the time of normal operation.

A sliding component is provided. At least one sliding face of sliding faces sliding relatively to each other of a pair of sliding parts of annular shapes is provided with positive pressure generation mechanisms with positive pressure generation grooves and negative pressure generation mechanisms with negative pressure generation grooves. The positive pressure generation grooves and the negative pressure generation grooves are separated from the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side by a land. Deep grooves deeper than the groove depth of the positive pressure generation grooves and the negative pressure generation grooves are located at least on the opposite-to-sealed-fluid side of the positive pressure generation grooves and the negative pressure generation grooves. The deep grooves are provided in such a manner as to communicate at least with the sealed fluid side.

Bottom bearings may be configured to bear the weight of a vertical shaft. In some implementations, a bottom bearing may include a first half-cylinder including a first shoulder and a first inside surface. The bottom bearing may also include a second half-cylinder including a second shoulder and a second inside surface. The first shoulder and second shoulder are configured to bear the weight of the vertical shaft by exerting an upward force on a sleeve affixed to the vertical shaft. A method of manufacturing a bottom bearing may include the steps of forming a cylinder from an ultra-high-molecular-weight (UHMW) polyethylene, wherein the cylinder includes a shoulder, an inside surface, and a central axis. The method may further include cutting the cylinder along the central axis to form the first half-cylinder and the second half-cylinder.