A sealing structure includes: a first member having a first surface extending along a gravity direction in which gravity acts; a second member having a second surface facing the first surface and extending along the gravity direction; a hydrostatic bearing that is arranged on the first surface of the first member and is configured to supply a compressed liquid between the first surface and the second surface; and a seal portion having a clearance that is formed between the first surface and the second surface and is provided below the hydrostatic bearing in the gravity direction. A liquid is retained in the clearance by surface tension.

Embodiments of a frequency independent damper assembly are disclosed. In some embodiments, the damper assembly includes a damper housing, a damper plunger and a support spring. The damper plunger is disposed at least partially within the housing and movable within to define a first primary damper cavity and a second primary damper cavity. The support spring includes a plurality of flexible elements coupled to the damper housing and disposed radially outward of the first primary damper cavity and the second primary damper cavity. The support spring defines a first accumulator volume and a second accumulator volume. A flow-through channel couple the first accumulator volume to the second accumulator volume. A gas bearing including the frequency independent damper assembly is disclosed.

A hydrodynamic bearing contains a body of which an inner surface forms a cavity arranged to accommodate and surround a rotary shaft. The cavity has a plurality of pads installed on the inner surface so as to support and guide the rotary shaft in rotation in a direction of rotation w from upstream to downstream. Each pad has an upper surface of which one portion, referred to as the active surface, acts as a sliding surface for the rotary shaft. The bearing having at least one pad included in an active angular sector of the bearing and at least one pad included in a passive angular sector of the bearing such that the active surface of each pad of the passive angular sector is lower than the active surface of each of the pads of the active angular sector.

A laser cutting device (100) is configured to etch an inner surface of a journal bearing (18). The laser cutting device (100) includes a laser (102); a beam directing tool (130) that receives a beam (108) emitted from the laser (102) and selectively changes the direction of travel of the beam (108); a fixture (170) that supports the journal bearing (18) in a desired position relative to the beam directing tool (130); an actuator (148) connected to one of the beam directing tool (130) and the fixture (170), the actuator (148) providing relative movement between the beam directing tool (130) and the fixture (170); and a controller (180) that controls the intensity and duration of the beam (108) emitted from the laser (102); and the actuator (148), whereby material can be removed from a surface of the journal bearing (18) to a precise width and depth, and in any pattern.

The invention relates to a bearing device comprising a first surface and a second surface which are moveable relative to one another, wherein the first and second surfaces are separated by a bearing gap filled with a lubricant, which is a magnetorheological or electrorheological liquid, or a lubricant having a temperature dependent viscosity, or a lubricant having a controllable slip velocity. The bearing device further comprising one or more supply inlets in the first or second surface, and one or more activators embedded in the first surface or second surface and configured to locally increase a viscosity or decrease the slip velocity of the lubricant in at least one obstruction zone, thereby inhibiting a flow of the lubricant in the obstruction zone.

In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.

A bearing assembly may include a first bearing ring, a second bearing ring, and at least one row of rolling elements having a plurality of rolling elements that are disposed so as to be capable of rolling on a first raceway of the first bearing ring and on a second raceway of the second bearing ring. At least one hydrostatically supported first sliding bearing segment may be disposed on the first bearing ring. Further, the hydrostatically supported first sliding bearing segment may interact with a first bearing face that is disposed on the second bearing ring. The hydrostatically supported first sliding bearing segment may be mounted so as to be movable in a movement direction that is perpendicular to the first bearing face.

An externally pressurized porous gas bearing for operating within a refrigerant environment is disclosed. The gas bearing utilizes shear heating from rotation of a rotor, thereby increasing the pressure and load capacity of the externally pressurized porous gas bearing. The gas bearing is capable of operating when the refrigerant is in a liquid phase and when the refrigerant is in a gaseous phase.

A wind turbine includes a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is mounted via a bearing assembly having a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring mounted to rotate in relation to the first bearing ring. A hydrostatically supported first friction bearing segment is disposed on the first bearing ring and interacts with a first friction face that is disposed on the second bearing ring. The first friction bearing segment is received in a receptacle pocket of the first bearing ring such that a first compression chamber is formed between the first bearing ring and the first friction bearing segment. The first friction bearing segment is configured such that a second compression chamber is formed between the first friction bearing segment and the second bearing ring, wherein the first compression chamber and the second compression chamber are connected by a duct that runs through the first friction bearing segment.

The invention relates to a support of a bearing pad of a sliding bearing.

Provided is a bearing pad support connection including a bearing pad and a bearing pad support, whereby the bearing pad is connected to the bearing pad support by a pivot joint. The pivot joint includes a pivot pocket, and a pivot.

The pivot pocket includes a sealing that abuts on the pivot of the pivot joint.