Bearings – Rotary bearing – Plain bearing
Utility Patent
1999-07-15
2001-01-02
Hannon, Thomas R. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Plain bearing
C384S215000, C384S283000
Utility Patent
active
06168314
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bearing for supporting a shaft.
A bearing is used to support rotatably a rotating shaft, to support reciprocally a shaft which linearly reciprocates in an axial direction, or to support rotatably and reciprocally a shaft in an axial direction, which rotates and reciprocates in the axial direction.
This kind of bearing may be a sliding bearing or a rolling bearing. The sliding bearing has a bearing surface which slides on and contacts with the outer circumferential surface of a shaft. The rolling bearing is provided with rolling members such as rollers or steel balls between a shaft and the bearing portion, and the shaft is supported by rolling contact therebetween.
When a shaft rotates, the shaft generates a vibration which is transmitted to the bearing. In an apparatus having a shaft, such a vibration transmitted to the bearing is also transmitted to the apparatus-side. To prevent occurrence of a vibration of the apparatus body, a vibration-proof material needs to be incorporated in the apparatus body.
It is impossible to directly support the shaft by a vibration-proof material such as rubber or soft plastics to prevent the vibration of the shaft from being transmitted directly to the bearing, because rubber or the like has a large friction coefficient so that the shaft seizes on the vibration-proof material.
Hence, the sliding bearing uses a hard material which has a small friction coefficient, such as metal like phosphor bronze or ceramics, for a bearing member. A lubricant is provided between the shaft and the bearing surface contacting the shaft, so the shaft and the bearing contact each other through an oil film without making direct contact therebetween. By thus using a hard material as a bearing member, vibration of the shaft is always transmitted to the mechanical structure through the bearing member. Besides, a lubricant must always be supplied between the shaft and the bearing surface, and shortage of oil involves seizing of the shaft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has an object of providing a bearing capable of absorbing vibration and impact force from a shaft.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bearing in which a lubricant is provided between a shaft and a sliding surface movably supporting the shaft.
Another object of the invention is to provide a bearing in which a lubricant is provided from a lubricant container portion between a shaft and a sliding surface movably supporting the shaft.
Further another object of the invention is to provide a bearing capable of absorbing vibration applied to a static shaft.
Also, another object of the invention is to provide a bearing which returns a fluid by pumping operation obtained through rotation of a shaft.
According to the present invention, there is provided a bearing for supporting a shaft, comprising: an elastic cylinder made of an elastic material such as rubber and provided at a bearing body section; and a spiral member made of a low-friction material, which projects from a circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder, and is spirally assembled to the elastic cylinder, wherein a lubricant is supplied into a spiral gap divisionally formed between parts of the spiral member.
The elastic cylinder is fixed to the bearing body section, the spiral member projects from an inner circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder toward an inner circumferential portion of the elastic cylinder, the shaft rotatably contacts the spiral member, and the spiral member makes pumping operation in a direction in which the lubricant is returned. The elastic cylinder is fixed to the bearing body section, the spiral member projects from an inner circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder toward an inner circumferential portion of the elastic cylinder, and the shaft contacts the spiral member such that the shaft is reciprocally movable in an axial direction. The elastic cylinder is fixed to the bearing body section, the spiral member projects from an inner circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder toward an inner circumferential portion of the elastic cylinder, and the shaft contacts the spiral member such that the shaft is rotatable and reciprocally movable in an axial direction. The elastic cylinder is fixed to the bearing body section, the spiral member projects from an inner circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder toward an inner circumferential portion of the elastic cylinder, the shaft is supported and kept stationary, and vibration of the shaft is absorbed by the spiral member and the elastic cylinder. The elastic cylinder is fixed to the shaft, the spiral member projects from an outer circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder toward an outer circumferential portion of the elastic cylinder, the shaft is supported by the bearing body section such that the elastic cylinder and the spiral member are rotatable together, and the spiral member makes pumping operation in a direction in which the lubricant is returned, by rotation of the elastic cylinder and the spiral member. The elastic cylinder is fixed to the shaft in a state of being kept stationary, the spiral member projects from an outer circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder toward an outer circumferential portion of the elastic cylinder, the shaft is supported by the bearing body section such that the elastic cylinder and the spiral member are rotatable together, and vibration of the shaft is absorbed by the spiral member and the elastic cylinder. A tightening force is applied to the elastic cylinder by pressure adjuster means for applying. Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a bearing for supporting a shaft, comprising: an elastic cylinder made of an elastic material such as rubber and provided at a bearing body section; an inner spiral member made of a low-friction material, which is spirally assembled to an inner circumferential portion of the elastic cylinder such that the inner spiral member projects from an inner circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder, and contacting an outer circumferential surface of the shaft; and an outer spiral member made of a low-friction material, which is spirally assembled to an outer circumferential portion of the elastic cylinder such that the outer spiral member projects from an outer circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder, and contacting an inner circumferential surface of an installation hole. The elastic cylinder is fixed to a bearing body section through the outer spiral member, and a lubricant is supplied into a spiral gap divisionally formed by the spiral member, the inner circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder, and the outer circumferential surface of the shaft. The shaft rotatably contacts the inner spiral member, and the inner spiral member makes pumping operation in a direction in which the lubricant is returned, in accordance with rotation of the shaft. The shaft contacts the inner spiral member such that the shaft is reciprocally movable in an axial direction. The shaft contacts the inner spiral member such that the shaft is reciprocally movable and rotatable. The shaft is supported by the inner spiral member such that the shaft is kept stationary. The elastic cylinder is fixed to the shaft through the inner spiral member such that the elastic cylinder rotates together with the shaft; a lubricant is supplied into a spiral gap divisionally formed by the outer spiral member, the outer circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder, and the inner circumferential surface of the bearing body section; and the outer spiral member makes pumping operation in a direction in which the lubricant is returned, in accordance with rotation of the outer spiral member which rotates together with the shaft. The elastic cylinder is fixed to the shaft through the inner spiral member; a lubricant is supplied into a spiral gap divisionally formed by the outer spiral member, the outer circumferential surface of the elastic cylinder, and the inner circumferential surface of the b
Imai Akira
Imai Atsushi
Imai Yutaka
Hannon Thomas R.
McCormick Paulding & Huber LLP
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