A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator and a rotor and a drive hub. The rotor is moveable relative to the stator and a gap is defined between the rotor and the stator. A lubricant is disposed within the gap to support the rotor relative to the stator and provide a bearing mechanism. The drive hub is coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the drive hub. The drive hub may be connected to the rotor via a coupler member that is torsionally stiff and axially and radially compliant. The stator may be fixed relative to a connection structure that extends radially within the stator. The connection member may support the drive hub for rotation. Lubricant is supplied via a passageway extending through the connection member into a chamber that includes the gap.

A porous gas bearing is disclosed. The porous gas bearing includes a housing having a fluid inlet and an aperture. A porous surface layer is disposed within the housing surrounding the aperture in a circumferential direction. The porous surface layer is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A damping system includes a damping system including a biasing member, the biasing member being disposed in a passageway that extends along the longitudinal direction of the aperture and circumferentially about the aperture, wherein the biasing member is arranged radially outward from the porous surface layer.

A porous gas bearing is disclosed. The porous gas bearing includes a housing having a fluid inlet and an aperture. A porous surface layer is disposed within the housing surrounding the aperture in a circumferential direction. The porous surface layer is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A damping system includes a damping system including a biasing member, the biasing member being disposed in a passageway that extends along the longitudinal direction of the aperture and circumferentially about the aperture, wherein the biasing member is arranged radially outward from the porous surface layer.

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 cavity and a second accumulator cavity. A flow-through channel couples the first accumulator cavity to the second accumulator cavity. A gas bearing including the frequency independent damper assembly is disclosed.

A hydrostatic bearing is provided which may include foot part supporting a load- carrying unit, a head part, and body part forming a lower chamber and an upper chamber. A lower member is supported by the load-carrying unit and arranged inside the lower chamber. An upper member is controllable by a pressurizing fluid and arranged inside the upper chamber. The lower member is controllably moveable along a central axis of the hydrostatic bearing between a retracted state, where the lower member is distanced from the upper member, and an extended state, where the lower member is also in contact with the upper member. The hydrostatic bearing acts both as a conventional slave bearing and a conventional master bearing.

Applicant respectfully submits that no new matter is entered into this application by the new abstract.

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.

A rotation system (10) containing a housing (11), a shaft (12) rotatable relative to the housing (11), and at least one bearing assembly (51) which has a first region (52) supporting the shaft (12) by a radial gas bearing. An air gap is formed between the bearing assembly (51) and the shaft (12). The first region (52) contains or is formed by a tubular radial bearing bushing (55). An inside of the radial bearing bushing (55) has a bearing surface (66) which supports the shaft (12) in the radial direction. The bearing assembly (51) has a third region (54) which is held by or integrated on or in the housing (11) and a second region (53) connects the first region (52) to the third region (54). The second region (53) is more elastic than the first region (52) due to its shape or the shape of the first region (52).

A bearing includes a bearing pad for supporting a rotary component and a housing attached to or formed integrally with the bearing pad. The housing includes a flexible column extending towards the bearing pad for providing the bearing pad with an airflow. The column supports the bearing pad from a location inward of an outer periphery of the bearing pad along an axial direction of the bearing. With such a configuration, a resistance of the bearing pad along a radial direction of the bearing is less at the outer periphery than a resistance of the bearing pad along the radial direction proximate the column.

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 fluid film damper may comprise a sleeve, an annular support housing surrounding the sleeve, an annular volume between the annular support housing and the sleeve, a first supply conduit in fluid communication with a first inlet to the annular volume, a second supply conduit in fluid communication with a second inlet to the annular volume, wherein the first inlet is disposed opposite the annular volume from the second inlet, and a common oil supply conduit in fluid communication with the annular volume via a check valve, wherein the common oil supply conduit supplies the fluid to the annular volume via the first supply conduit and the second supply conduit.