Glacier Garlock Bearings, Inc.

Dana Corporation

The Glacier Metal Company Limited

T&n Technology Limited

Janette Johnston

Glyndwr J Davies

Kenneth Macleod Mcmeekin

Michael Kim

Philip Moisey

Kenneth Macleod McMeekin

Philip J Moisey

Derek Semple Marsella

A bearing, plastic bearing material, and a method for the production thereof are described. The bearing comprises a continuous consolidated bearing material layer impregnated into a porous layer, which is in turn mounted on a backing material.

Boreable plain bearing material

A plain bearing comprises a metal backing, a layer of a porous matrix of sintered metal on the backing and a filled PTFE infiltrated into the interstices of the sintered layer and standing proud of the sintered layer, wherein the PTFE is filled with 1-20% by volume fibrillated aramid fibres and 10-30% by volume glass. The glass is preferably E-glass present as milled filaments of length 0.05-0.30 mm and diameter 0.010-0.020 mm and coated with a silene sizing agent. The fibrillated aramid fibres provide reinforcement and improved load bearing capacity and the glass provides an abrasive filler which abrades asperities on a body and creates a smooth polished surface against which to bear, thereby improving its life. The PTFE preferably also includes ferric oxide and carbon black to about 1.5% and 1.2% by volume respectively which both pigment the polymer and act as fine abrasive and lubricant respectively. The carbon black content may be increased to about 10% to provide electrical conductivity. The filler may be prepared as a wet mush or a dry &ldquo;paper&rdquo;.

Plain bearing structure

A plain bearing comprises a metallic backing, a sintered porous metal layer bonded to the backing and a lining layer infiltrated into the pores of the porous metal layer and overlying the sintered metal layer, said lining layer comprising PTFE containing 10-30% by vol. of particulate wear-resistant filler, 2-10% by vol. fibrillated aramid fibers and 2-10% by vol. of a melt processable fluoropolymer. The melt processable fluoropolymer is a copolymer of the group tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether and monofluoroalkoxy. Such a bearing exhibits superior cavitation erosion resistance and may, by increasing the temperature and/or duration of the sintering operation that is normally performed after the mixture of ingredients has been applied to a backing material, be made to exhibit significantly improved fatigue strength.

Plain bearing

A plain bearing comprises a metal backing, a layer of a porous matrix of sintered metal on the backing and a filled PTFE infiltrated into the interstices of the sintered layer and standing proud of the sintered layer, wherein the PTFE is filled with 1-20% by volume fibrillated aramid fibres and 10-30% by volume glass. The glass is preferably E-glass present as milled filaments of length 0.05-0.30 mm and diameter 0.010-0.020 mm and coated with a silene sizing agent. The fibrillated aramid fibres provide reinforcement and improved load bearing capacity and the glass provides an abrasive filler which abrades asperities on a body and creates a smooth polished surface against which to bear, thereby improving its life. The PTFE preferably also includes ferric oxide and carbon black to about 1.5% and 1.2% by volume respectively which both pigment the polymer and act as an abrasive and lubricant respectively. The carbon black content may be increased to about 10% to provide electrical conductivity. The filler may be prepared as a wet mush or a dry &ldquo;paper&rdquo;.

Plain bearing with polytetrafluoroethylene-based lining

A bearing material comprising in wt %: 5 to 30 PTFE; 5 to 60 bronze; 1 to 20 graphite; balance PVDF is described together with test results of bearings having a lining of the material.

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Kilmarnock, United Kingdom

Janette Johnston