Plain bearing

• US 10,087,984 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Original Assignee: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation (Compagnie De Saint-Gobain)
• Inventors: Hunter, Alan F., Koziol, Zbigniew M., Witting, Nicholas F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waits, Alan B
• Application Number:
  US15/193,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20170002858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 16 21- 25, 16108, 16109, 29898054, 29898056, 29898057, 29898058, 29898059
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/02 for radial load only
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/10 for both radial and axial load
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2202/50 Lubricating properties
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2220/42 by working of thin-walled material such as sheet or tube
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2240/60 Thickness, e.g. thickness of coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2350/54 Hinges, e.g. sliding bearings for hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/046 divided or split, e.g. half-bearings or rolled sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/122 Multilayer structures of sleeves, washers or liners
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/14 Special methods of manufacture; Running-in
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/201 Composition of the plastic
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/203 Multilayer structures, e.g. sleeves comprising a plastic lining
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/208 Methods of manufacture, e.g. shaping, applying coatings

Abstract

A plain bearing comprising a generally cylindrical sidewall having a first axial end and a second axial end; and a curved portion disposed at the first axial end, wherein the generally cylindrical sidewall has a thickness, wherein the curved portion has an effective material thickness, wherein the effective material thickness of the curved portion is n-times thicker than the thickness of the generally cylindrical sidewall, and wherein n equals 2, 3, 4, or even 5.

Claims

1. A plain bearing comprising:

a cylindrical sidewall having a first axial end and a second axial end; and

a curved portion disposed at the first axial end,

wherein the cylindrical sidewall has a thickness, wherein the curved portion has an effective material thickness, wherein the effective material thickness of the curved portion is n-times thicker than the thickness of the cylindrical sidewall, and wherein n equals 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the curved portion comprises a substrate and a low friction material, wherein the curved portion defines a cavity extending at least partially around the circumference of the plain bearing, and wherein the cavity is fully bounded by the substrate.

2. The plain bearing of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical sidewall comprises a gap extending at least partially between the first and second axial ends.

3. The plain bearing of claim 1, wherein the curved portion has a plurality of rolls, and wherein at least two of the plurality of rolls are coaxial with respect to one another.

4. The plain bearing of claim 1, wherein the curved portion has at least two tangent lines, when viewed in cross section, parallel to the cylindrical sidewall.

5. The plain bearing of claim 1, wherein the cavity has an assembled shape after assembly.

6. The plain bearing of claim 1, wherein the cavity defines a second volume after assembly.

7. The plain bearing of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical sidewall comprises a substrate and a low friction material.

8. A plain bearing comprising:

a cylindrical sidewall; and

a curved portion contiguous with an extending from an axial end of the cylindrical sidewall,

wherein;

the bearing comprises a low friction material and a substrate,

the substrate is exposed along a radially outer surface of the cylindrical sidewall, and

the substrate is not visible along the curved portion, wherein the curved portion has an effective material thickness, wherein the effective material thickness of the curved portion is n-times thicker than the thickness of the cylindrical sidewall, and wherein n equals 2, 3, 4, or 5, wherein the curved portion comprises the substrate and the low friction material, wherein the curved portion defines a cavity extending at least partially around the circumference of the plain bearing, and wherein the cavity is fully bounded by the substrate.

9. The plain bearing of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical sidewall comprises a gap extending at least partially between the first and second axial ends.

10. The plain bearing of claim 8, wherein, as viewed in a cross-sectional elevation view, the curved portion has a arcuate innermost surface.

11. The plain bearing of claim 8, wherein the curved portion has at least 3 rolls.

12. The plain bearing of claim 8, wherein the curved portion has a plurality of rolls, and wherein at least two of the plurality of rolls are coaxial with respect to one another.

13. The plain bearing of claim 8, wherein the curved portion has at least two tangent lines, when viewed in cross section, parallel to the cylindrical sidewall.