A rotor bearing system includes a mandrel and a plurality of canted cantilever bearing pads supporting the mandrel, such that, when the bearing pads are run-in against the mandrel, the bearing pads generate uniform bearing gaps and alignment. The mandrel and the bearing pads are sized to form a running proximity to exclude the entry of red blood cells or flow entrained contaminant inclusions therebetween during operation, thereby causing the bearing system to operate in an elasto-hydrodynamic regime of mixed- or boundary-lubrication.

A hydrodynamic bearing in the form of a flex pad bearing includes configurations structured to change a bearing characteristic. One form of the bearing includes a nonlinear back wall that includes a circular arc and a transition, where the back wall extends radially outward of a ligament. The bearing can include an opening for the deposit of a weighted mass, wherein the opening can threadingly receive a threaded weighted mass. In one form a sidewall that includes the back wall segment can have an average outer radius which determines a thickness of the flex pads. A ratio of the pad between the thickness and diameter of a central passage can be set to achieve the change in bearing characteristic.

Provided is a bearing for a wind turbine, including a first and a second ring arranged radially to each other with one ring rotating relative to the other ring around an axis of rotation. The first ring has a cylindrical ring section and a collar extending radially from the ring section. The collar has an axial support area supporting axial bearing elements, wherein several pretension elements creating compressive stress are fixed to the first ring in the section where the collar extends from the ring section.

A fluid bearing for a wind turbine including a bearing housing, a plurality of bearing pads inside the bearing housing and circumferentially distributed around a longitudinal axis of the fluid bearing, a plurality of supporting structures, each supporting structure having at least a first interface detachably connected to a respective seat provided in the bearing housing and at least a second interface detachably connected to a respective bearing pad of the plurality of bearing pads, the supporting structure including an elastomer allowing tilting of the respective bearing pad parallel to the longitudinal axis, the elastomer being interposed between the respective seat and the respective bearing pad is provided.

Some embodiments include an x-ray system, comprising: a structure having a hole having an axially extending wall; and a nozzle disposed in the hole; wherein the nozzle and the axially extending wall form a plurality of axially extending helical fluid channels. Some embodiments include an x-ray system formed by shaping tubing to form a plurality of axially extending helical flutes; and forming a plurality of axially extending helical fluid channels by inserting the shaped tubing into a hole in a structure.

Provided is a fluid film bearing, for a rotor hub in a wind turbine, including a first and second part rotatably connected to each other, wherein the first part forms a first annular sliding surface that extends in the circumferential direction of the bearing along the first part, wherein the second part includes a support structure and first pads distributed along the circumference of the support structure, wherein a respective pad sliding surface of each of the first pads or of a first subgroup of the first pads supports the first annular sliding surface, wherein each first pad includes a mounting section that is mounted to a backside of the support structure, a contact section that is either forming the respective pad sliding surface or carrying a coating that forms the respective pad sliding surface and a connecting section that connects the contact section with the mounting section.

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.

A hydrodynamic bearing in the form of a flex pad bearing includes configurations structured to change a bearing characteristic. One form of the bearing includes a nonlinear back wall that includes a circular arc and a transition, where the back wall extends radially outward of a ligament. The bearing can include an opening for the deposit of a weighted mass, wherein the opening can threadingly receive a threaded weighted mass. In one form a sidewall that includes the back wall segment can have an average outer radius which determines a thickness of the flex pads. A ratio of the pad between the thickness and diameter of a central passage can be set to achieve the change in bearing characteristic.

The invention relates to a tilting-pad bearing (7), comprising: a sleeve (15); a plurality of tilting pads (9); and a frame (8), in which the tilting pads (9) are held.

Heat engines employing fluid bearing assemblies hermetically sealed with a closed flowpath for a working fluid are generally disclosed. For example, the heat engine includes a rotating drivetrain and a fluid bearing assembly. The rotating drivetrain includes a compressor section, an expander section, and a heat exchanger. The compressor section and expander section together define at least in part a closed flowpath for the flow of a working fluid. The heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the closed flowpath for adding heat to the working fluid. The fluid bearing assembly is configured to utilize the working fluid to support the rotating drivetrain. Further, the fluid bearing assembly is hermetically sealed with the closed flowpath.