A gas bearing system has at least one gas bearing (30, 32, 34) with a moving part and a static part and which can be operated in both aero-dynamic and aero-static modes. The system has a source (36) of pressurised gas fluidly connected with the bearing and a control system (134) for regulating the supply of pressurised gas to the bearing in dependence on the rotational speed of the moving part. The system has particular application in a turbocharger (1) where a flow of pressurised gas from the source is introduced into the bearing at the start-up and slow down phases of operation of the turbocharger, the flow being stopped, or reduced, when the turbocharger has reached normal operating speeds.

A gas bearing system has at least one gas bearing (30, 32, 34) with a moving part and a static part and which can be operated in both aero-dynamic and aero-static modes. The system has a source (36) of pressurized gas fluidly connected with the bearing and a control system (134) for regulating the supply of pressurized gas to the bearing in dependence on the rotational speed of the moving part. The system has particular application in a turbocharger (1) where a flow of pressurized gas from the source is introduced into the bearing at the start-up and slow down phases of operation of the turbocharger, the flow being stopped, or reduced, when the turbocharger has reached normal operating speeds.

A foil bearing (40) includes foils (42) at a plurality of portions in a rotation direction of a shaft member (11). A top foil portion (Tf) including a bearing surface (S2) is formed in a region including a front end (421) of each of the foils (42), and a back foil portion (Bf) is formed in a region including a rear end (422) of each of the foils (42). A gap (C1) is secured between, of two of the foils adjacent to the foil (42) in a rotation direction (R) and a direction opposite to the rotation direction, the rear end (422) of the foil on the rotation direction side and the front end (421) of the foil on the side opposite to the rotation direction side. A width of the gap (C1) is set to be non-uniform in a direction (N) orthogonal to the rotation direction.

A radial foil bearing includes a carrier foil formed from a corrugated foil, a first curved segment formed from a first top foil and a second curved segment formed from a second top foil. The second curved segment is arranged successively on the carrier foil after the first curved segment to form a tubular carrier comprising two curved segments when the carrier foil is rolled. In an embodiment, the carrier foil has a first end and a second end, and, after the carrier foil is rolled to form the tubular carrier, the tubular carrier has a circumferentially closed shape and the first end faces the second end.

A sliding element works with a guide system having two guide parts that can be moved relative to one another. The sliding element can be fixed to one of the guide parts by an attachment face (3) and includes, on a face opposite the attachment face (3), a sliding surface (6) so as to be slidingly supported on the other guide part. The sliding element includes a first part (I) and a second part (2) which is mounted so as to be rotatable relative thereto, which parts include a contact surface (3) for mutual support. The contact surface (7) is axially inclined in a rotational direction of the second part (2) counter to the first part (I), and the two parts (I, 2) can be locked to one another in various angular positions and the locking can be released.

The present invention improves the drainability of lubricating oil at a thrust bearing. The present invention comprises: a rotating shaft; a thrust bearing that is provided to the rotating shaft and restricts the axial-direction movement of the rotating shaft; and an oil reservoir part (20) that has formed therein an oil reservoir space (20a) that is provided to be adjacent to the thrust bearing in the axial direction and to open downward, the oil reservoir space (20a) having formed therein an inclined surface (20aa) that, in a region that is in and below a horizontal plane H that passes through the center of the rotating shaft, protrudes to the thrust bearing side and is inclined along the rotational direction of the rotating shaft.

A bearing assembly comprising a bearing shell, thrust bearing pads, and journal bearing pads, where the thrust bearing pads and/or the journal bearing pads have through-pad lubricating gas distributors comprising at least one of a porous layer having connected-through porosity, a dense layer having a plurality of at least six orifices defined therethrough, or a porous layer having connected-through porosity having a plurality of at least six orifices defined therethrough.

A thrust bearing which is disposed to face a thrust collar provided in a rotation shaft is disclosed. The thrust bearing includes a top foil, a back foil, and a base plate. The back foil includes a plurality of back foil pieces which are arranged in a circumferential direction of the base plate, and the top foil includes a plurality of top foil pieces which are respectively disposed on the back foil pieces. An inner peripheral recessed portion is formed at a portion which supports an inner peripheral side end of the back foil piece in a surface supporting the back foil in the base plate.

A gas bearing system has at least one gas bearing (30, 32, 34) with a moving part and a static part and which can be operated in both aero-dynamic and aero-static modes. The system has a source (36) of pressurised gas fluidly connected with the bearing and a control system (134) for regulating the supply of pressurised gas to the bearing in dependence on the rotational speed of the moving part. The system has particular application in a turbocharger (1) where a flow of pressurised gas from the source is introduced into the bearing at the start-up and slow down phases of operation of the turbocharger, the flow being stopped, or reduced, when the turbocharger has reached normal operating speeds.

A foil bearing (40) includes foils (42) at a plurality of portions in a rotation direction of a shaft member (11). A top foil portion (Tf) including a bearing surface (S2) is formed in a region including a front end (421) of each of the foils (42), and a back foil portion (Bf) is formed in a region including a rear end (422) of each of the foils (42). A gap (C1) is secured between, of two of the foils adjacent to the foil (42) in a rotation direction (R) and a direction opposite to the rotation direction, the rear end (422) of the foil on the rotation direction side and the front end (421) of the foil on the side opposite to the rotation direction side. A width of the gap (C1) is set to be non-uniform in a direction (N) orthogonal to the rotation direction.