Spherical plain bearing with spread lock dual sealing means

Details Spherical plain bearing with spread lock dual sealing means Spherical plain bearing with spread lock dual sealing means

2001-06-07

2003-09-30

Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)

Bearings

Rotary bearing

Plain bearing

Reexamination Certificate

active

06626575

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with the field of spherical plain bearings generally and with means for sealing thereof for retaining lubrication between the generally spherical bearing surfaces and for preventing the movement of contaminants therebetween. Such spherical plain bearings normally include an inner and outer race member wherein the inner race member defines a spherically convex inner race bearing surface. Also the outer race member defines a cavity therein with an outer race bearing surface which is concave and generally spherical therein. These two surfaces are mated to one another and have complementary profiles. The present invention provides a unique configuration for sealing of these bearing surfaces to minimize contamination thereof and to enhance retaining of lubrication therebetween. Such seals can be of any material such as rubber, however the present invention contemplates the use of plastic.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous prior art patents have been granted on various configurations of spherical plain bearings with different types of seal configurations for use therewith such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,631,906 patented Mar. 17, 1953 to W. H. U. Brock and assigned to Automotive Products Company Limited on a “Sealing Device For Fluid Pressure Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,769,672 patented Nov. 6, 1973 to P. R. Eklund and assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force on a “Method Of Making An Improved Teflon-Lined Spherical Bearing; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,832,022 patented Aug. 27, 1974 to H. L. Reinsma et al and assigned to Caterpillar Tractor Co. on a “Dual Seal Arrangement For A Spherical Joint”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,938 patented Nov. 19, 1974 to L. Stella et al and assigned to The Torrington Company on a “Bearing And Bearing Seal”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,947,075 patented Mar. 30, 1976 to H. P. Ewertz and assigned to Valley-Todeco, Inc. on a “Bearing System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,013 patented Mar. 21, 1978 to H. W. Kock and assigned to Roller Bearing Company of America on a “Sealed Self-Aligning Spherical Bushing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,015 patented Mar. 21, 1978 to D. F. Greby et al and assigned to Lear Siegler, Inc. on a “Bearing And Method For Manufacturing Same”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,023 patented Mar. 6, 1984 to T. E. Bolner and assigned to Thiokol Corporation on an “Internally Actuated Spherical Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,522,411 patented Jun. 11, 1985 to T. J. Burgan and assigned to Chicago Rawhide Mfg. Co. on “Fluid Seals With Self-Venting Auxiliary Lips”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,531,747 patented Jul. 30, 1985 to T. Miura and assigned to Nippon Oil Seal Industry Co., Ltd. on an “Extended Wear Annular Oil Seal”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,694 patented Jun. 6, 1989 to P. R. Schmehr et al and assigned to SKF Gleitlager GmbH on a “Bearing Seal”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,002,406 patented Mar. 26, 1991 to J. R. Morton et al and assigned to Emerson Electric Co. on a “Sealing Structure For A Spherical Bearing Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,672 patented Jun. 30, 1992 to H. Wycliffe and assigned to The BOC Group plc on “Shaft Sealing Arrangements”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,352 patented Jan. 31, 1995 to I. Kurose and assigned to Uchiyama Manufacturing Corp. on a “Sealing System For Bearings, Particularly Radial-Type Bearings”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,336 patented to M. E. Maroney on Nov. 12, 1996 on a “Seal For A Spherical Plain Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,909,880 patented Jun. 8, 1999 to W. P. Waskiewicz and assigned to The Torrington Company on a “Polymer Bearing Seal And Sealed Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,899 patented Oct. 19, 1999 to B. Schierling and assigned to Mannesman Sachs AG on a “Centrifugal Mass Device With An Axial Slide Bearing As Seal”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,115 patented Nov. 9, 1999 to S. C. Hoeting and assigned to Setco Sales Co. on a “Bearing Seal With Uniform Fluid Purge”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,854 patented Dec. 14, 1999 to M. Kellstrom et al and assigned to Aktiebolaget SKF on a “Sealed Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,876 patented Dec. 21, 1999 to T. Yamagishi et al and assigned to Koyo Seikl Co., Ltd. on a “Sealing Member And Capped Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,495 patented Feb. 15, 2000 to M. Loos et al and assigned to Asea Brown Boveri AG on an “Axial Sliding Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,026,917 patented Feb. 22, 2000 to A. F. Zabradnik et al and assigned to Baker Hughes Incorporated on an “Earth-Boring Bit With Improved Bearing Seal”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,124 patented Feb. 29, 2000 to R. Moseberg et al and assigned to INA Walzlager Scvhaeffler oHG on a “Linear Rolling Bearing With Longitudinal Sealing Elements”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,435 patented Mar. 14, 2000 to R. A. Oklejas and assigned to Pump Engineering, Inc. on a “Thrust Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,272 patented Mar. 28, 2000 to M. Nagase and assigned to NSK Ltd. on a “Rolling Bearing With A Sealing Device”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,734 patented May 16, 2000 to A. Bundgart and assigned to SKF Sverige AB on a “Bearing Seal”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,879 patented May 23, 2000 to N. Mitsue et al and assigned to NSK Ltd. on a “Rolling Bearing With Seal”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,407 patented May 30, 2000 to E. Kobayashi et al and assigned to Minebea Kabushiki-Kaisha on a “Seal For An Anti-Friction Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,933 patented Jun. 13, 2000 to D. E. Johnson and assigned to Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership on a “Load Bearing Washer And Dirt Excluder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,901 patented Jul. 4, 2000 to T. N. Arvidsson and assigned to Andritz Inc. on an “Hydraulic Axial Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,905 patented Jul. 4, 2000 to A. Vignotto et al and assigned to SKF Industrie S.p.A. on a “Sealing Assembly For A Rolling Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. Re. 36,804 patented Aug. 1, 2000 to K. Kajhara et al and assigned to Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. on a “Bearing Sealing Device And Bearing Sealing Mechanism Capable Of Preventing The Leakage Of Grease”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,575 patented Aug. 15, 2000 to R. Obara and assigned to Minebea Co., Ltd. on a “Compound Bearing Apparatus”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,164 patented Aug. 15, 2000 to S. Bebjak et al and assigned to Firma Druckgusswerk Mossner GmbH on a “Method For Manufacturing A Seal In A Bearing Groove Of A Cylinder Head”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,338 patented Sep. 26, 2000 to L. Edelmann and assigned to SKF Linearsysteme GmbH on a “Radial Seal For Ball Bearing”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,321 patented Oct. 3, 2000 to M. W. K. Fetty et al and assigned to Brenco Incorporated on a “Shaft Journal Bearing And Seal Wear Ring Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,096 patented Oct. 17, 2000 to P. Damour et al and assigned to Glyco-Metal-Werke Glyco B.V. & Co. KG on a “Bearing Bush And Method For The Production Thereof”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,099 patented Oct. 17, 2000 to P. Olszewski et al and assigned to INA Walzlager Schaeffler OHG on a “Radial Bearing For A Vehicle Drive Shaft”.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a uniquely configured spherical plain bearing which utilizes a dual spread lock sealing device for preventing contamination of the bearing surface and for maintaining lubrication thereover. The plain bearing itself includes an inner race member which defines an inner race bearing surface extending externally therearound. This inner race bearing surface is preferably of a generally spherically convex shape.
An outer race member is also included which includes an outer race body which defines a bearing cavity therein which is adapted to receive the inner race member positioned therein in such a manner as to be movable to form the rotational and spherical capability of movement of the relative bearing pieces. The outer race member further includes an outer race bearing surface defined within the bearing cavity. This outer race bearing surface is generally spherically concave and is positioned in abutment with and movable with respect to the inner race bearing surface of t

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