Force coupling or torque coupling assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include assemblies that each include superhard contact elements. At least some of the superhard contact elements may be configured to remain in contact with each other when a rotational force and/or a thrust force is applied between the assemblies.

To provide a rolling bearing having a hard film on an inner ring raceway surface and an outer ring raceway surface of the rolling bearing that improves peeling resistance of the hard film, shows the original property of the hard film, and suppresses the attackability to a mating material. A rolling bearing 1 has an inner ring 2 having an inner ring raceway surface 2a on an outer circumference, an outer ring 3 having an outer ring raceway surface 3a on an inner circumference, and rolling elements 4 that roll between the inner ring raceway surface 2a and the outer ring raceway surface 3a. A hard film 8 includes a foundation layer formed directly on the inner ring raceway surface 2a or the outer ring raceway surface 3a and mainly formed of Cr and WC, a mixed layer having a gradient composition formed on the foundation layer and mainly formed of WC and DLC, and a surface layer formed on the mixed layer and mainly formed of DLC. In a roughness curve of a surface on which the foundation layer is formed, the arithmetical mean roughness Ra is 0.3 μm or less and the root mean square gradient RΔq is 0.05 or less.

Provided are sliding components capable of obtaining a stable low-friction effect under a wide range of conditions of use. A sliding component has a relatively sliding surface. A base material of one of the sliding components is coated with a graphite film, and the sliding surface of the other of the sliding components is made of the graphite film.

Provided are bearing assemblies including one or more substrate assemblies, such as thrust bearing assemblies. The substrate assemblies include a bearing element fixed to a substrate. The bearing elements are formed from a thermally stable material such as a ceramic-bonded diamond composite. Methods for manufacturing the bearing assemblies are also provided.

A hybrid bearing assembly includes a bushing. A sleeve is rotationally disposed within the bushing and a support layer is disposed around an outer perimeter of the bushing. A protective sleeve is disposed abutting the sleeve. A protective bushing is disposed abutting the bushing.

A bearing component such as a bearing ring includes a metallic base body and at least one alloy steel coating on the base body, the coating being applied to the base body by deposition welding. The base body is preferably non-alloy steel or cast iron, and the alloy includes at least one carbide-forming transition metal such as niobium, tantalum, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, tungsten, molybdenum, vanadium, or manganese. The coating can form a raceway of the bearing component or a structural element such as a flange. Also a method of forming such a bearing component is provided.

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 bearing assembly includes a roller bearing unit, an inner race and an outer race. The roller bearing unit is formed of polycrystalline super-hard material having a mean mass density of at most 4.5 g/cm.sup.3 and a volume-weighted arithmetic mean thermal conductivity of at least 100 W/m.Math.K.

A bearing component, such as a bearing roller or a bearing ring, has an exterior surface and includes at least one interior region made of a recycled material which region is spaced from and does not form any part of the exterior surface. The recycled material and the unrecycled material may each include silicon nitride and/or sialon and/or silicon carbide and/or a ceramic material. Also a method of forming the component.

Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies having one or more bearing element in a bearing housing for supporting a shaft extending through at least a portion of the bearing housing. The bearing assembly including a recirculation line for delivering fluid into the bearing housing at a location separate from a fluid inlet of the bearing housing to at least partially thermally regulate, lubricate, and/or flush the one or more bearing elements during operation of the shaft.