# US 12,110,920 B2 · High performance plastic radial bearings for rotating and reciprocating applications > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,920 B2 - Document ID: US12110920B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/850,985 - Filed: 2022-06-27 - Published: 2023-12-28 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-27 - Assignees: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership - Applicants: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership - Inventors: Raymond L. Szparagowski; Saikrishna Sundararaman; Simon Watling - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110920B2 ## CPC - F16C 27/02: Sliding-contact bearings - F16C 17/02: for radial load only - F16C 17/026: {with helical grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. herringbone grooves} - F16C 33/1065: {Grooves on a bearing surface for distributing or collecting the liquid} - F16C 33/20: Sliding surface consisting mainly of plastics (F16C33/22 - F16C33/28 take precedence) - F16C 33/208: {Methods of manufacture, e.g. shaping, applying coatings} - F16C 33/046: {divided or split, e.g. half-bearings or rolled sleeves} - F16C 2208/00: Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers - F16C 2208/36: Polyarylene ether ketones [PAEK], e.g. PEK, PEEK (F16C2208/58 takes precedence) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A bearing for use between an outer member and an inner member that is movable relative to the outer member. The bearing includes a generally cylindrical plastic body having a plurality of undulations that form gradual radially inward and radially outward waves relative to a circular path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bearing for use between an outer member and an inner member that is movable relative to the outer member, comprising: a generally cylindrical plastic body having a plurality of generally sinusoidal undulations that form radially inward and radially outward waves relative to a circular path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the generally cylindrical plastic body has a constant wall thickness. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the generally cylindrical plastic body is a split plastic body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bearing according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of undulations include at least six undulations. ### Claim 5 A bearing for use between an outer member and an inner member that is movable relative to the outer member, comprising: a generally cylindrical plastic body having a plurality of undulations that form radially inward and radially outward waves relative to a circular path; and wherein the radially inward and radially outward waves of the plurality of undulations each have a peak surface that is non-parallel to a center axis of the generally cylindrical plastic body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bearing according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of undulations are substantially identical in shape. ### Claim 7 A bearing for use between an outer member and an inner member that is movable relative to the outer member, comprising: a generally cylindrical plastic body having a plurality of undulations that form radially inward and radially outward waves relative to a circular path; wherein the plurality of undulations include adjacent undulations on an interior surface having a differing alternating pattern; and wherein the adjacent undulations of the interior surface include grooves that get narrower from one axial end to another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bearing according to claim 7, further comprising at least one tab extending radially from an end of the generally cylindrical plastic body. ### Claim 9 A bearing for use between an outer member and an inner member that is movable relative to the outer member, comprising: a cylindrical plastic body having an inner diameter surface with a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves; and wherein the plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves widen from one axial end of the cylindrical plastic body to an opposite axial end of the cylindrical plastic body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bearing according to claim 9, wherein the inner diameter surfaces of the cylindrical plastic body includes partially cylindrical land surfaces between the plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves, the partially cylindrical land surface being configured to engage a shaft. ### Claim 11 A shaft guide system, comprising: a metal outer member; a metal inner member that is movable relative to the metal outer member; and a generally cylindrical plastic body having a plurality of generally sinusoidal undulations that form radially inward and radially outward waves relative to a circular path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The shaft guide system according to claim 11, wherein the generally cylindrical plastic body has a constant wall thickness. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The shaft guide system according to claim 11, wherein the generally cylindrical plastic body as a varying wall thickness. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The shaft guide system according to claim 11, wherein the generally cylindrical plastic body is a split plastic body. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The shaft guide system according to claim 11, further comprising at least one tab extending radially from an end of the generally cylindrical plastic body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The shaft guide system according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of undulations are substantially identical in shape.