Bearing assemblies, bearing components and related methods are provided for heavy load applications. In one embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a first bearing apparatus having a base member and a first plurality of polycrystalline diamond compacts (PDCs) on a first surface of the base member, the first plurality of PDCs defining a first collective bearing surface. A second bearing apparatus is configured to engage and slide over the first collective bearing surface. the second bearing apparatus may include a second plurality of PDCs defining a second collective bearing surface. The collective bearing surfaces may be configured to be substantially planar or substantially arcuate. Such bearing assemblies may be implemented in, for example, bridges, roadways, buildings, railways and other structures and machines that may require heavy load bearing support.

A sliding member includes a back metal layer and a sliding layer on the back metal layer. The sliding layer includes a synthetic resin matrix and graphite particles dispersed in the matrix in a volume ratio of 5-50% of that of the sliding layer. The graphite particles are composed of spheroidal and flake-like particles. The flake-like particles have a volume ratio of 10-40% of total graphite particles. The spheroidal particles have a cross-sectional structure with a plurality of AB planes of a graphite crystal laminated along a curved particle surface, from the surface toward a center direction. The flake-like graphite particles have a cross-sectional structure with the plurality of AB planes laminated in a thickness direction of the thin plate shape. The spheroidal particles have an average particle size of 3-50 μm, and the flake-like graphite particles have an average particle size of 1-25 μm.

The present invention aims to provide solid particles with improved lubrication, a solid lubricant including the solid particles, and a metal member including, on the surface thereof, the solid particles or the solid lubricant. The solid particles of the present invention include base particles and carbon fluoride particles attached to surfaces of the base particles.

A valve device includes a body that defines a passage through which a fluid flows, a shaft that is movably supported with respect to the body and defines an axis, a valve element that is fixed to the shaft to open and close the passage; and a cylindrical bearing bush that movably supports the shaft with respect to the body, in which the bearing bush includes a mixed region in which a metal core material and expanded graphite are mixed with each other, and a first expanded graphite region made of only the expanded graphite such that the metal core material is not exposed in an inner circumferential side region in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the shaft.

A non-contact air bearing having electrostatic discharge properties may comprise: a porous media element having a bearing surface; a supply line configured supply an externally pressurize gas or fluid to the porous media; and an electrostatic dissipative porous bearing layer on the bearing surface of the porous media element; wherein the externally pressurized fluid flows through the porous media element and creates a thin film between the electrostatic dissipative layer and a substrate supported by the air bearing.

A non-contact air bearing having electrostatic discharge properties may comprise: a porous media element having a bearing surface; a supply line configured supply an externally pressurize gas or fluid to the porous media; and an electrostatic dissipative porous bearing layer on the bearing surface of the porous media element; wherein the externally pressurized fluid flows through the porous media element and creates a thin film between the electrostatic dissipative layer and a substrate supported by the air bearing.

The invention relates to a sliding member having a first sliding surface, wherein the first sliding surface (29) comprises a particulate support material (6) and a graphene-containing material (7), wherein the particulate support material (6) is at least partially coated with the graphene-containing material (7), and wherein a material bond (14) is present between the particulate support material (6) and the graphene-containing material (7).

The invention relates to a sliding member having a first sliding surface, wherein the first sliding surface (29) comprises a particulate support material (6) and a graphene-containing material (7), wherein the particulate support material (6) is at least partially coated with the graphene-containing material (7), and wherein a material bond (14) is present between the particulate support material (6) and the graphene-containing material (7).

The invention relates to a sliding element, in particular for a stretching installation and/or a conveyor chain, comprising graphite or electrographite, wherein the sliding element has pores which have an open pore size of ≥7.5% by volume, and wherein the particle size of the graphite particles used as a starting material for the sliding elements is between 3 μm and 15 μm.

The invention relates to a sliding element, in particular for a stretching installation and/or a conveyor chain, comprising graphite or electrographite, wherein the sliding element has pores which have an open pore size of ≥7.5% by volume, and wherein the particle size of the graphite particles used as a starting material for the sliding elements is between 3 μm and 15 μm.