An intravascular blood pump comprises a catheter, a rotor, a housing in which the rotor is housed and a flexible drive shaft extending through the catheter and rotatably supported in a proximal bearing located proximally of the rotor. The proximal bearing comprises a bearing sleeve and an outer bearing ring. The bearing sleeve comprises a proximal portion located proximally of the outer bearing ring, the proximal portion of the bearing sleeve forming an axial bearing with a proximal surface of the outer bearing ring. The bearing sleeve further comprises a distal portion extending from the proximal portion of the bearing sleeve distally into the outer bearing ring, wherein the distal portion of the bearing sleeve forms a radial bearing with the outer bearing ring.

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.

A copper-zinc alloy contains 59.0 to 65.0% Cu, 2.5 to 4.0% Mn, 1.2 to 2.5% Al, 0.5 to 2.0% Si, 0.2 to 1.0% Fe, 0 to 1.0% Pb, 0 to 1.5% Ni, 0 to 0.2% Sn, balance Zn and unavoidable impurities. The zinc alloy has excellent temperature resistance and surfaces produced by machining have a considerably reduced surface roughness.

Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies where one of the bearing assemblies may include angled bearing surfaces having a planar shape.

A sliding bearing includes an inner ring element; an outer ring element; and at least one sliding bearing element, which is arranged between the inner ring element and the outer ring element, wherein the sliding bearing element includes at least two sliding bearing pads, wherein the individual sliding bearing pads each have a bearing surface, which has the basic shape of a spherical cap.

A coupler assembly for engaging a bushing pin of a bushing assembly, the bushing pin defining at least one bushing pin recess has a coupler collar and at least one coupler pin. The coupler collar defines a coupler through hole and at least one coupler pin passageway. The at least one coupler pin is adapted to be inserted at least partly through the at least one coupler pin passageway. With at least a portion of the bushing pin within the coupler through hole and the at least one bushing pin recess in a desired orientation relative to the at least one coupler pin passageway, the at least one coupler pin is inserted into the at least one coupler pin passageway such that the at least one coupler pin engages the at least one bushing pin recess to inhibit relative movement between the bushing pin and the coupler collar.

A coupler assembly for engaging a bushing pin of a bushing assembly, the bushing pin defining at least one bushing pin recess has a coupler collar and at least one coupler pin. The coupler collar defines a coupler through hole and at least one coupler pin passageway. The at least one coupler pin is adapted to be inserted at least partly through the at least one coupler pin passageway. With at least a portion of the bushing pin within the coupler through hole and the at least one bushing pin recess in a desired orientation relative to the at least one coupler pin passageway, the at least one coupler pin is inserted into the at least one coupler pin passageway such that the at least one coupler pin engages the at least one bushing pin recess to inhibit relative movement between the bushing pin and the coupler collar.

A seal assembly for a gas turbine engine having a seal formed of a carbon material; and a seal seat positioned for rotation relative to the seal, wherein the seal and the seal seat each have a sealing surface which together define a sliding seal, and further having a carbon film on the sealing surface of the seal seat.

Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.

An apparatus and method for assembling a split sleeve onto a shaft. The split sleeve apparatus provides a first and second arcuate portion with each having a partial cylindrical configuration. The first and second arcuate portions have at least one finger extending circumferentially outward from their opposing ends. The at least one finger from each of the first and second arcuate portions complementarily engage one another to form a continuous cylinder. At least one aperture extends longitudinally through the at least one finger of the first and second arcuate portions. A dowel rod extends through the at least one aperture for connecting the first and second arcuate portions to form the cylinder. The first and second arcuate portions are fabricated from a material having heat expansion characteristics that allow the material to expand when heated during assembly and to contract when cooled creating an interference fit with the shaft.