Patent ID: 7980765

Claim:
Journal bearing apparatus for use in association with a shaft characterized by a longitudinal shaft axis, the journal bearing apparatus comprising: a cylindrical electrically nonconductive bearing member for circumscriptive placement with respect to said shaft, said bearing member being characterized by a bearing length and having an inward facing bearing surface characterized by a first circumference, said shaft having an outward facing shaft surface characterized by a second circumference that is smaller than said first circumference; plural electrodes embedded in said bearing member and parallel to and separated from each other, each said electrode having an electrode edge and extending at least substantially along said bearing length so that said electrode edge is flush with said inward facing bearing surface, wherein when said bearing member is circumscriptively placed with respect to said shaft, a space exists between said inward facing bearing surface and said outward facing shaft surface, each said electrode is parallel to said longitudinal shaft axis, and each said electrode edge is exposed to said space; and electrorheological fluid for disposition in said space, wherein upon electrification of at least one adjacent pair of said electrodes, an electric flux is established between said adjacent pair of said electrodes so as to retain some said electrorheological fluid upon said inward facing bearing surface and between said adjacent pair of said electrodes.