Bearing device comprising: —a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface which are moveable relative to one another and which face one another, wherein the first bearing surface and second bearing surface are separated by a bearing gap filled with a lubricant, wherein the lubricant comprises a carrier fluid and particles which respond to magnetic or electric fields, wherein said particles are suspended in the carrier fluid in the absence of magnetic or electric fields, —one or more field generators which are embedded in the first or second bearing surface, wherein the field generators are magnetic or electric field generators configured to generate a localized magnetic or electric field which is configured to locally remove the particles from suspension by exerting a field force on the particles, thereby forming a local flow obstruction on at least one of the bearing surfaces in the form of an agglomerate of previously suspended particles, wherein the local flow obstruction is configured to locally obstruct a flow of the lubricant through the bearing gap in an obstruction zone.

A steering column may include a steering spindle that is surrounded by a casing tube and is connected to a steering wheel, a guide clamp in which the casing tube is guided displaceably along a longitudinal axis of the steering spindle. The guide clamp may be mounted pivotably about a pivot axis in a holding part that is connectable to a chassis of the motor vehicle. The position of the casing tube may be adjustable relative to the holding part, and a blocking device may be arranged between the casing tube and the holding part. The blocking device may comprise a threaded rod engaged with a spindle nut. The spindle nut may be mounted in a rolling bearing. Rolling bodies of the rolling bearing may be at least partially surrounded by a magnetorheological fluid, and the blocking device may comprise an electromagnet.

A steering column may include a steering spindle that is surrounded by a casing tube and is connected to a steering wheel, a guide clamp in which the casing tube is guided displaceably along a longitudinal axis of the steering spindle. The guide clamp may be mounted pivotably about a pivot axis in a holding part that is connectable to a chassis of the motor vehicle. The position of the casing tube may be adjustable relative to the holding part, and a blocking device may be arranged between the casing tube and the holding part. The blocking device may comprise a threaded rod engaged with a spindle nut. The spindle nut may be mounted in a rolling bearing. Rolling bodies of the rolling bearing may be at least partially surrounded by a magnetorheological fluid, and the blocking device may comprise an electromagnet.

An electromagnetically enabled active dynamic pressure gas bearing is provided and includes an electromagnetic bearing and an elastic foil bearing sleeved between the electromagnetic bearing and a rotor shaft. The elastic foil bearing includes a top layer elastic foil and a bottom layer elastic foil, the top layer elastic foil is made of non-magnetic material, and a plurality of separate magnetic material areas are distributed on a surface of the top layer elastic foil.

A hydrostatic bearing assembly or structure for an x-ray tube and associated process for manufacturing and operating the bearing assembly is provided to reduce and potentially eliminate wear from landing or takeoff of the rotating component of the bearing assembly on the non-rotating component. The shaft and sleeve are separated by a gap in which an amount of a liquid metal is placed in order to provide the sleeve with the ability to rotate about the shaft, or vice versa. The non-rotating component of the hydrostatic bearing assembly is formed with a number of fluid channels extending through the component and in communication with the gap. The liquid metal is pumped into and out of the gap via the channels under pressure supplied by a magnetohydrodynamic pump to maintain the separation of the rotating and non-rotating components of the bearing assembly.

A bearing device with first and second bearing surfaces facing each other and which are moveable relative to one another. The first and second bearing surfaces are separated by a bearing gap filled with a lubricant. The lubricant comprises a carrier fluid and particles which respond to magnetic or electric fields. The particles are suspended in the carrier fluid in the absence of magnetic or electric fields. One or more magnetic or electric field generators are embedded in the first or second bearing surface to generate a localized magnetic or electric field which locally removes the particles from suspension by exerting a field force on the particles. This forms a local flow obstruction on at least one of the bearing surfaces in the form of an agglomerate of previously suspended particles. The local flow obstruction locally obstructs a flow of the lubricant.

A hydrostatic bearing assembly or structure for an x-ray tube and associated process for manufacturing and operating the bearing assembly is provided to reduce and potentially eliminate wear from landing or takeoff of the rotating component of the bearing assembly on the non-rotating component. The shaft and sleeve are separated by a gap in which an amount of a liquid metal is placed in order to provide the sleeve with the ability to rotate about the shaft, or vice versa. The non-rotating component of the hydrostatic bearing assembly is formed with a number of fluid channels extending through the component and in communication with the gap. The liquid metal is pumped into and out of the gap via the channels under pressure supplied by a magnetohydrodynamic pump to maintain the separation of the rotating and non-rotating components of the bearing assembly.

An electromagnetically enabled active dynamic pressure gas bearing is provided and includes an electromagnetic bearing and an elastic foil bearing sleeved between the electromagnetic bearing and a rotor shaft. The elastic foil bearing includes a top layer elastic foil and a bottom layer elastic foil, the top layer elastic foil is made of non-magnetic material, and a plurality of separate magnetic material areas are distributed on a surface of the top layer elastic foil.

Systems, devices, uses and methods relating to magnetorhological materials including carbon nanotubes, such as single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, are disclosed. Uses of magnetorheological materials such as in motion damping/vibration isolation are also disclosed.