Roller bushing
First Claim
1. A roller bushing assembly for use in a leaf spring suspension system to pivotally support an end of a leaf spring to allow a leaf spring to flex more easily, said roller bushing assembly comprising:
- a housing for the roller bushing assembly having a wall defining a cylindrical hollow internal bore,a pair of roller bearings mounted in the bore and having rolling elements,an outer race on each of the roller bearings for rolling contact with the internal rolling elements,said roller elements each having inner surfaces and defining an internal opening within the roller bearings,a shaft mounted in the internal openings in the roller bearings for support and for relative oscillation with rolling surface contact between the inner surfaces on the rolling elements and the shaft,a grease means in said housing for retaining grease for lubrication of the rolling elements,a precisely machined surface on said shaft machined to a finish of 60 to 65 microns and predetermined tolerances to have a close fit with the bearing element inner surfaces to reduce road pounding motion therebetween and being highly polished to provide smooth rolling surface engagement with the bearing inner surfaces,a precisely machined and highly polished surface on said housing for supporting the outer races of the roller bearings,the rolling elements rolling relative to the outer races and said machined shaft surface so that the vehicle suspension load is carried between hard polished machined surfaces with the rolling elements providing a low friction oscillatory movement for the end of the leaf spring to reduce the friction and thereby allow the leaf spring to flex more easily.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A roller bushing assembly for use in a vehicular leaf spring suspension system pivotally supports an end of a leaf spring so as to minimize transmission of roadway induced shock and vibration loads to the vehicle and driver. The roller bushing assembly includes a tubular housing containing roller bearings for support of a shaft which is connected to a vehicle chassis. Free flexure of the spring is facilitated by providing low friction pin connections that minimize resistance of the vehicle/spring connections to rotation of the spring ends and extension and contraction of the spring. A method of installation of a bushing having bearings therein includes supporting the bearings on a pilot and force-fitting the tubular housing into a spring eye with a pressing tool. After removal of the pilot from the bearings, the shaft is inserted into the bearings and seals are slid along the shaft to abut and seal the bearings against intrusion of foreign matter.
23 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A roller bushing assembly for use in a leaf spring suspension system to pivotally support an end of a leaf spring to allow a leaf spring to flex more easily, said roller bushing assembly comprising:
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a housing for the roller bushing assembly having a wall defining a cylindrical hollow internal bore, a pair of roller bearings mounted in the bore and having rolling elements, an outer race on each of the roller bearings for rolling contact with the internal rolling elements, said roller elements each having inner surfaces and defining an internal opening within the roller bearings, a shaft mounted in the internal openings in the roller bearings for support and for relative oscillation with rolling surface contact between the inner surfaces on the rolling elements and the shaft, a grease means in said housing for retaining grease for lubrication of the rolling elements, a precisely machined surface on said shaft machined to a finish of 60 to 65 microns and predetermined tolerances to have a close fit with the bearing element inner surfaces to reduce road pounding motion therebetween and being highly polished to provide smooth rolling surface engagement with the bearing inner surfaces, a precisely machined and highly polished surface on said housing for supporting the outer races of the roller bearings, the rolling elements rolling relative to the outer races and said machined shaft surface so that the vehicle suspension load is carried between hard polished machined surfaces with the rolling elements providing a low friction oscillatory movement for the end of the leaf spring to reduce the friction and thereby allow the leaf spring to flex more easily. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A roller bushing assembly for use in a mechanism having an oscillating motion, said roller bushing assembly comprising:
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a sleeve for the roller bushing assembly having a wall defining a cylindrical hollow internal bore, a pair of roller bearings mounted in the bore and having rolling elements, an outer race on each of the roller bearings having a hard finished inner cylindrical surface for rolling contact with the internal rolling elements, said roller elements each having inner surfaces and defining an internal opening within the roller bearings, a shaft mounted in the internal openings in the roller bearings for support and for relative oscillation with rolling surface contact between the inner surfaces on the rolling elements and the shaft a grease means in said housing for retaining grease for lubrication of the rolling elements, a precisely machined surface on said shaft machined to predetermined tolerances to have a close fit with the bearing element inner surfaces and being highly polished to provide smooth rolling surface engagement with the bearing inner surfaces, precisely machined and highly polished inner and outer surfaces on said housing to a finish of 60 to 65 microns, with the inner surface supporting the outer races of the roller bearings, the rolling elements rolling relative to the outer races and said machined shaft surface so that the oscillating load is carried between hard polished machined surfaces with the rolling elements having a low friction oscillatory movement. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. Roller bushing assembly for use in a mechanism having an oscillating motion, said roller bushing assembly comprising, in combination:
- a housing having a wall defining a cylindrical hollow internal bore;
a rolling bearing means mounted in the internal bore of the housing, said rolling bearing means having rolling elements, said rolling elements defining an internal opening within the rolling bearing means; and
a shaft mounted in the internal opening in the rolling bearing means for relative oscillation with rolling surface contact between the rolling elements and the shaft, with said rolling bearing means comprising a pair of roller bearings each comprising an outer race having an inner cylindrical surface for rolling contact with said rolling elements, with said housing formed from a material having a hardness and a thermal expansion coefficient substantially equal to that of said roller bearings, with the cylindrical hollow internal bore of said housing being polished and machined to a predetermined roundness tolerance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a housing having a wall defining a cylindrical hollow internal bore;
Specification