小型的滑動軸承壹般直接用軸套(bush, sleeve),較大的滑動軸承壹般采用分成多瓣的軸套,國內壹般稱為軸瓦、瓦塊(pad),其中壹類特殊的軸承——米歇爾止推軸承和金氏軸承(Michell, Kingsbury),其瓦塊被稱為 shoe。
其來源可以從Websters詞典對shoe的壹個釋義中看出來:
A plate, or notched piece, interposed between a moving part and the stationary part on which it bears, to take the wear and afford means of adjustment; -- called also slipper, and gib. (簡單的說就好比:妳要搬壹個很重的機器,在它下面墊上了減少摩擦的滑塊。由於是墊在地上的,所以被稱為“鞋子”。這句不是翻譯,是我的解釋,呵呵。)