Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Process for making bearing or component thereof
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-04-03
Hughes, S. Thomas (Department: 3726)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Process for making bearing or component thereof
C384S208000, C029S898056, C029S898059
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209206
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to self-aligning and self-lubricating spherical bearings.
More particularly, the invention relates to bearings comprising one composite race or member including a bearing surface fabricated, at least in part, of self-lubricating material and a supporting portion fabricated from fiberglass filaments and resin.
In the past, inner races or bearing members including two truncated hemispherical metallic segments having convex bearing surfaces provided with lubricating grooves were known. These inner bearing members cooperated with outer metallic races or bearing members to provide bearing assemblies which were relatively heavy and therefore not suitable for installations where total weight was a consideration.
Also in the past, bearing assemblies included bearing members with entry slots, or bearing members with spherical balls provided with flats, were sometimes employed. However, these bearing assemblies were limited in load carrying capacity.
Attention is directed to the following U.S. Patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,965, issued Nov. 30, 1993
U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,354, issued Feb. 22, 1994
U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,000, issued Oct. 26, 1971
U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,295, issued Oct. 24, 1972
U.S. Pat. No. 3,974,009, issued Aug. 10, 1976
U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,508, issued Apr. 18, 1995
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method of making a spherical bearing including the steps of forming an outer bearing member with an inner concave spherical bearing surface, forming a second member with an outer convex spherical bearing surface of self-lubricating material, cutting the second member along a diametric plane to provide first and second inner bearing segments respectively including first and second outer spherical bearing surface segments, inserting the first inner bearing segment within the outer bearing member so as to fully engage the first outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface, and inserting the second inner bearing segment within the outer bearing member so as to fully engage the second outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface.
The invention also provides a method of making a spherical bearing comprising the steps of forming an outer bearing member with spaced and parallel side faces and an inner concave spherical bearing surface extending between the side faces of the outer bearing member, forming a second member with spaced and parallel side faces and an outer convex spherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material and extending between the side faces of the second member, cutting the second member along a diametric plane extending perpendicularly to the side faces thereof to provide first and second bearing segments respectively including first and second spaced and parallel side faces segments, first and second end faces extending between the side face segments, and first and second outer truncated spherical bearing surface segments extending between the side face segments and the end faces, inserting the first bearing segment within the outer bearing member in a direction perpendicular to the side faces of the outer bearing member and with the spaced and parallel sides of the first bearing segment in generally perpendicular relation to the spaced and parallel sides of the outer bearing member and so as to partially engage the first outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface, rotating the first bearing segment within the outer bearing member so as to locate the spaced and parallel sides of the first bearing segment in parallel relation to the spaced and parallel sides of the outer bearing member and so as to fully engage the first outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface, inserting the second bearing segment within the outer bearing member in a direction perpendicular to the side faces of the outer bearing member and with the spaced and parallel sides of the second bearing segment in generally perpendicular relation to the spaced and parallel sides of the outer bearing member and with the end faces of the second bearing segment in generally coplanar and spaced relation to the end faces of the first bearing segment and so as to partially engage second outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface, and rotating the second bearing segment within the outer bearing member so as to locate the end faces of the second bearing segment in abutting relation to the end faces of the first bearing segment and so as to fully engage the second bearing surface segment with the inner bearing surface of the outer member.
The invention also provides a spherical bearing manufactured in accordance with the methods set forth above.
The invention also provides a spherical bearing comprising an outer race member including an inner concave spherical bearing surface, a first inner bearing member extending circumferentially within the outer race member and including an outer spherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material and engaging the inner bearing surface, and a second inner bearing member extending circumferentially within the outer race member and including an outer spherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material and engaging the inner bearing surface.
The invention also provides a spherical bearing comprising an outer race member including spaced and parallel side faces, and an inner concave partially spherical bearing surface extending between the side faces of the outer bearing member, a first inner bearing member extending circumferentially within the outer race member and including spaced and parallel side faces, first and second circumferentially spaced and generally co-planar end faces extending from the side faces of the first inner bearing member, an inner concave semi-cylindrical surface extending between the end faces and the side faces of the first inner bearing member, and an outer convex partially hemi-spherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material, extending between the end faces and the side faces of the first inner bearing member, and engaging the inner bearing surface of the outer race member, and a second inner bearing member extending circumferentially within the outer race member and including spaced and parallel side faces, first and second circumferentially spaced and generally co-planar end faces extending from the side faces of the second inner bearing member, an inner concave semi-cylindrical surface extending between the end faces and the side faces of the second inner bearing member, and forming, with the inner concave semi-cylindrical surface of the first inner member, a cylindrical bore, and an outer convex partially hemispherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material, extending between the end faces and the side faces of the second inner bearing member, and forming, with the outer convex partially hemispherical bearing surface of the first inner member, an outer convex partially spherical bearing surface engaging the inner concave partially spherical bearing surface of the outer race member.
One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a bearing assembly including an inner race or bearing member made up of two composite spherical halves with a spherical, self-lubricating bearing surface on the outside, and with an inner bore having a bearing surface which can be self-lubricating, depending on the application.
Another of the objects of the invention is to improve the load capacity of the a spherical bearing by eliminating slots in the outer race and flats on the inner spherical ball.
Still another of the objects of the invention is to provide a spherical bearing assembly of lesser weight than previous spherical bearing assemblies.
Another of the objects of the invention is to provide a self-lubricated inner spherical bearing member which can be easily installed and removed from a
Bozych Dennis E.
Harris Bernard
Scholbe Jeffrey R.
Butler Marc W.
Hughes S. Thomas
Quarles & Brady LLP
Rexnord Corporation
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