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.

The present invention discloses a shaft-tube joint structure of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) drive shaft. The shaft-tube joint structure includes a hollow shaft tube, a plurality of first rectangular teeth being uniformly and circumferentially arranged at both ends of the hollow shaft tube; two shaft-tube joints which are respectively fixed at two ends of the hollow shaft tube, the thickness of the shaft-tube joint being smaller than that of the hollow shaft tube, and an inner wall of the shaft-tube joint being smoothly connected to an inner wall of the hollow shaft tube; and a universal joint, an end thereof being tubular, a plurality of second rectangular teeth being uniformly and circumferentially arranged, the universal joint being matched with and sleeving the outer wall of the shaft-tube joint, and the second rectangular teeth being meshed with the first rectangular teeth.

The present invention discloses a shaft-tube joint structure of a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) drive shaft. The shaft-tube joint structure includes a hollow shaft tube, a plurality of first rectangular teeth being uniformly and circumferentially arranged at both ends of the hollow shaft tube; two shaft-tube joints which are respectively fixed at two ends of the hollow shaft tube, the thickness of the shaft-tube joint being smaller than that of the hollow shaft tube, and an inner wall of the shaft-tube joint being smoothly connected to an inner wall of the hollow shaft tube; and a universal joint, an end thereof being tubular, a plurality of second rectangular teeth being uniformly and circumferentially arranged, the universal joint being matched with and sleeving the outer wall of the shaft-tube joint, and the second rectangular teeth being meshed with the first rectangular teeth.

A porous gas bearing is disclosed. The porous gas bearing includes a housing having a fluid inlet and an aperture. A porous surface layer is disposed within the housing surrounding the aperture in a circumferential direction. The porous surface layer is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet. A damping system includes a damping system including a biasing member, the biasing member being disposed in a passageway that extends along the longitudinal direction of the aperture and circumferentially about the aperture, wherein the biasing member is arranged radially outward from the porous surface layer.

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.

A bearing element for at least one adjustable guide vane of a turbomachine, in particular an aircraft engine, is provided. The bearing element comprising a porous matrix made of carbon and/or graphite and at least one metallic phase or a metal salt that is at least partially arranged inside the pores of the matrix, so that what results is a metal-infiltrated or a metal-salt-infiltrated material.

Raw material powder containing metal powder as a main component is molded to form a metal powder molded body (3′), and the metal powder molded body (3′) is sintered to form a metal substrate (3). Further, a lubricating member (4) is made of an aggregate of graphite particles (13), and at least a part of a bearing surface (11) is formed of the fabricating member (4). The lubricating member (4) is fitted into the metal powder molded body (3′). After that, the metal powder molded body (3′) is sintered, and at this time, the lubricating member (4) is fixed onto the metal substrate (3) with a contraction force (F) generated in the metal powder molded body (3′).

Raw material powder containing metal powder as a main component is molded to form a metal powder molded body (3′), and the metal powder molded body (3′) is sintered to form a metal substrate (3). Further, a lubricating member (4) is made of an aggregate of graphite particles (13), and at least a part of a bearing surface (11) is formed of the fabricating member (4). The lubricating member (4) is fitted into the metal powder molded body (3′). After that, the metal powder molded body (3′) is sintered, and at this time, the lubricating member (4) is fixed onto the metal substrate (3) with a contraction force (F) generated in the metal powder molded body (3′).

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.