Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc.

Werner Hartl

Bogdan T Mania

An improved seal configuration for use primarily with a spherical plain bearing wherein the sealing member includes a base with two outwardly extending lips, one extending in an inner direction and one extending in an outer direction. Both of the lips engage the bearing surface of an inner race member. The seal base member of the seal is mounted within a seal mounting groove defined in the bearing surface of the outer race member. The seal is preferably circular and includes a downwardly flexibly resilient inner and outer lip configuration which provide dual sealing and enhanced contaminant control for a spherical plain bearing.

Spherical plain bearing with spread lock dual sealing means

The improved spherical plain bearing of the present invention is formed using a unique method of manufacture which includes surface hardening of the outer ring and the inner ring wherein the outer ring includes a fracture zone having a reduced cross-sectional area which allows the case hardening diffusion technique to penetrate much deeper into the ring fracture zone than in the other areas thereof. In this manner the reduced cross-section area of the outer ring provides a more brittle area with less of the more ductile interior steel which is more difficult to fracture. Such fracturing is necessary with such plain spherical bearings in order to allow placement of the inner ring within the outer ring. The spherical plain bearing produced by this method can include a single fracture or double fracture.

Spherical plain bearing

The improved spherical plain bearing of the present invention is formed using a unique method of manufacture which includes surface hardening of the outer ring and the inner ring wherein the outer ring includes a fracture zone having a reduced cross-sectional area which allows the case hardening diffusion technique to penetrate much deeper into the ring fracture zone than in the other areas thereof. In this manner the reduced cross-section area of the outer ring provides a more brittle area with less of the more ductile interior steel which is more difficult to fracture. Such fracturing is necessary with such plain spherical bearings in order to allow placement of the inner ring within the outer ring. The spherical plain bearing produced by this method can include a single fracture or double fracture. Thus this bearing provides significant structural strength due to the inner core of softer more ductile steel while at the same time providing enhanced wear characteristics due to the case hardened outer layer on both the inner and outer races.

Spherical plain bearing and method of manufacturing thereof

A self-aligning spherical bushing is disclosed to be positionable between an inner member and an outer member to allow movement therebetween. The bushing includes a first outer ring of generally cylindrical shape which includes a spherically concave inner surface. A second ring is included which is also generally cylindrical and includes a cylindrical central opening therethrough and a convex outer surface. The second ring is adapted to be captured within the first ring with the spherical surfaces mated with respect to one another movably. The inner and outer surfaces of the inner ring can include a lubrication groove extending circumferentially therearound. The outer ring can define a lubrication groove about the outer surface thereof. A lubrication aperture can connect the inner and outer surfaces of each ring. The spherical exterior surface of the inner ring is of a smaller spherical diameter than the concave spherical surface of the inner surface of the outer ring in order to provide necessary operating clearances. The outer surface of the inner ring also includes supplementary circular lubrication channels oriented with the plane of the circles parallel to the axis of the second ring and in fluid flow communication with respect to the lubrication aperture extending circumferentially around the outer surface of the inner ring. These circular channels intersect the lubrication channel at right angles and are regularly spaced at equal intervals therealong to eliminate any preferred position between the first and second rings.

Self-aligning spherical bushing means

A device for coupling a shaft and the hub of a machine element such as a pulley or gear for joint rotation, includes annular outer and inner wedges each of which has angularly spaced longitudinal slots, and ribs aligned with the slots. The wedges telescope so that the ribs of one wedge extend into the slots of the other, aligning longitudinal bores of the ribs to receive fastening elements such as screws. The fastening elements thus impart relative axial movement to the wedges to expand the same radially into gripping engagement with the shaft and hub.

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Plainsboro, NJ, United States of America

Werner Hartl