Bearings – Rotary bearing – Water lubricated propellor shaft or well shaft
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-07
2001-05-29
Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Water lubricated propellor shaft or well shaft
C384S097000, C384S125000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238093
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a bearing assembly and more particularly to a new and novel bearing assembly for use in supporting a water lubricated propeller shaft as in large naval ships.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Bearing assemblies with elastomeric bearing elements are known to be particularly well suited for this purpose because of their excellent ability to withstand the effects of corrosive fluids and to abrasion resulting from particles of foreign matter carried in suspension in the sea water in which the shaft and bearing assembly operates.
One type of such bearing assembly includes an outer non-corrosive support or shell and a plurality of circumferentially evenly spaced elastomeric staves provided therein which support by selectively contacting the shaft.
Another type of such bearing assembly includes an outer non-corrosive support or shell and a larger elastomeric bearing contact surface provided therein which contacts the shaft over a larger circumferential area than the stave type bearing. This type of bearing is known as a round bore or partial arc bearing (in some cases).
Partial arc bearings are difficult to manufacture because of the exacting tolerances to which they must be made. Heretofore, partial arc bearings have been manufactured by attaching bearing members to the inner surface of the shell and machining the elastomer down to the proper dimension. The machining process, however, scars the elastomer, thereby significantly raising the coefficient of friction between bearing and shaft and the wear rate of both members.
Efforts to improve such bearings and their manufacture have led to continuing developments to improve versatility, practicality and efficiency.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of making a round bore or partial arc bearing comprising the steps of A) providing a cylindrical bearing shell; B) applying a bonding agent to the inner diameter of said bearing shell; C) disposing bearing material onto said bonding agent to thereby provide a bearing assembly; D) inflating a pneumatic device within said bearing assembly to thereby apply radial pressure to said bearing material; and, E) curing said bonding agent while said radial pressure is applied.
The present invention provides a partial arc bearing having reduced coefficient of friction and wear rate while reducing manufacturing costs.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent in the light of the detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, as illustrated by the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1376043 (1921-04-01), Sherwood
patent: 1416988 (1922-05-01), Sherwood
patent: 1510804 (1924-10-01), Sherwood
patent: 3184362 (1965-05-01), Litsky et al.
patent: 3668040 (1972-06-01), Clark
patent: 3779828 (1973-12-01), Clark
patent: 4725151 (1988-02-01), Orndorff
patent: 5033871 (1991-07-01), Ide
patent: 5256237 (1993-10-01), Mass et al.
patent: 5509738 (1996-04-01), Haynes et al.
patent: 0188664 (1985-10-01), None
Brady Philip Paul
Langston Warren Keith
Orndorff, Jr. Roy Lee
Duramax Marine, LLC
Footland Lenard A.
Hochberg D. Peter
Holt William H.
Vieyra Katherine R.
LandOfFree
Partial arc bearing assembly and method of making the same does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Partial arc bearing assembly and method of making the same, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Partial arc bearing assembly and method of making the same will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2461094