A plain bearing (410) is fixed to a shaft hole (401) of an impeller (400) of the pump (100) so as to rotatably support the impeller (400) with respect to the shaft (300), and is restricted from moving in an axial direction by an annular restrictor (310) fixed to the shaft (300). On an end face (411) of the plain bearing (410) facing the restrictor (310), a lubrication groove (412) connecting a radially inner side and a radially outer side of the end face (411) to supply cooling water onto the end face (411) for lubrication, and a dynamic pressure generating groove (413) that introduces a flow of cooling water created by rotation of the impeller (400) to generate a dynamic pressure, are provided. The present bearing suppresses an increase in rotation torque of the impeller (400) during high speed rotation.

An integrated bearing assembly includes a thrust bearing disposed along a face of a turbocharger casing in a turbocharger and extending circumferentially around an axis of rotation of a rotor of the turbocharger, and a dual film journal bearing radially disposed between the rotor and the turbocharger casing which can be semi-floating or fully floating. The journal bearing includes a shoulder step radially extending away from the rotor. The shoulder step of the journal bearing engages one or more of the thrust bearing or the turbocharger casing to prevent axial movement of the dual film journal bearing relative to the turbocharger casing.

An electric submersible pump includes a plurality of centrifugal pump stages, each stage including a rotating impeller and a stationary diffuser mounted on a shaft coupled to a motor. An upthrust washer can be disposed axially between an impeller and its associated diffuser at or near a tip of the impeller, and the gap between the impeller tip and diffuser can define the end play or axial clearance for the pump. If the upthrust washer wears away, upthrust rubbing occurs at the impeller tip instead of proximate the pump shaft to advantageously help protect the shaft from damage or failure related to heat. In some ESPs, an upthrust bearing assembly can be located at the pump head. A downthrust washer can be disposed in an upstream facing groove of the impeller. The downthrust washer can have a thickness greater than 0.10 in.

A magnetic pump comprising: a pump body supporting an output shaft on a wet side of the pump and having an inlet and at least one outlet for pumped fluid; an input drive element on a dry side of the pump, at least one magnet for coupling the input and output shafts such that motion of the input shaft causes motion of the output shaft, a pressure containing structure mounted on the pump body for separating the dry and the wet sides, wherein the pump includes: one or more pathways through which pumped fluid can pass so as to lubricate one or more moving parts within the pressure containing structure, and a monitoring port/channel through which one or more properties of pumped fluid passing through the one or more pathways can be sensed.

A magnetic pump comprising: a pump body supporting an output shaft on a wet side of the pump and having an inlet and at least one outlet for pumped fluid; an input drive element on a dry side of the pump, at least one magnet for coupling the input and output shafts such that motion of the input shaft causes motion of the output shaft, a pressure containing structure mounted on the pump body for separating the dry and the wet sides, wherein the pump includes: one or more pathways through which pumped fluid can pass so as to lubricate one or more moving parts within the pressure containing structure, and a monitoring port/channel through which one or more properties of pumped fluid passing through the one or more pathways can be sensed.

A compressor for a heat transfer circuit includes a variable frequency drive (VFD), an electric motor that rotates a driveshaft, bearing(s) for supporting the driveshaft, a backup gas supply, and a power supply. During a utility power interruption, the backup gas supply operates utilizing DC electrical power generated by a back electromotive force of the electric motor. A method of operating an electric power supply system for a compressor includes operating in a utility power mode and operating in a backup power mode during a utility power interruption. In the utility power mode, AC electrical power is supplied from the VFD to the motor. In the backup power mode, DC electrical power generated in the VFD by a back electromotive force of the motor it used to operate a backup gas supply to supply compressed working fluid to gas bearing(s) of the compressor.

A blood pump system includes a pump housing and an impeller for rotating in a pump chamber within the housing. The impeller has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The system includes a stator having drive coils for applying a torque to the impeller and at least one bearing mechanism for suspending the impeller within the pump chamber. The system includes a position control mechanism for moving the impeller in an axial direction within the pump chamber to adjust a size of a first gap and a size of a second gap, thereby controlling a washout rate at each of the first gap and the second gap. The first gap is defined by a distance between the first side and the housing and the second gap is defined by a distance between the second side and the pump housing.

A blood pump system includes a pump housing and an impeller for rotating in a pump chamber within the housing. The impeller has a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The system includes a stator having drive coils for applying a torque to the impeller and at least one bearing mechanism for suspending the impeller within the pump chamber. The system includes a position control mechanism for moving the impeller in an axial direction within the pump chamber to adjust a size of a first gap and a size of a second gap, thereby controlling a washout rate at each of the first gap and the second gap. The first gap is defined by a distance between the first side and the housing and the second gap is defined by a distance between the second side and the pump housing.

A micro-hydraulic suspension mechanical pump includes a volute, an upper cover, an impeller, a brushless motor, a waterproof sleeve and water lubrication spiral groove thrust bearings, each having stationary and rotating rings. A water inlet and a water outlet channel are provided on the volute, and a middle water inlet hole is formed on the upper cover. The water lubrication spiral groove thrust bearings are provided above and below a magnetic steel rotor. During operation of the micro-hydraulic suspension mechanical pump, a liquid film is formed between the stationary ring and the rotating ring to enable the magnetic steel rotor to be suspended, and a liquid film is formed between the outer wall of the rotor sleeve and the inner wall of the waterproof sleeve. Due to suspension of the rotor, wear caused contact is avoided, and service life of the micromechanical pump is improved.

The present invention is directed to a spa tub (and to a spa chair that includes a spa tub) that has a sprayer with a thermal meter so that an employee does not need to touch or feel the water and/or fluids to gauge the temperature of the water and/or fluids. The spa tub may also have a water pump and/or an air pump assembly that is designed and configured to be mounted to the wall of a basin for providing massage therapy to a user. In addition, the spa tub may additionally have a liner and/or an air dispenser. As a non-limiting embodiment, a spa chair includes a spa tub, a basin, a mounting housing member, and a sprayer with a thermal meter. The spa chair may also include a jet assembly, an air pump assembly a spa base, a gasket or seal, an air dispenser, and/or a liner.