Self-lubricating bearing structure

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a self-lubricating bearing structure, and more particularly to a self-lubricating bearing structure, wherein the lubricating oil contained in the self-lubricating bearing may be used cyclically between the shaft hole of the bearing and the rotation shaft without lost.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a self-lubricating bearing structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a front plan cross-sectional assembly view of the self-lubricating bearing structure as shown in FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is an expansion view of an inner wall of a bearing of the self-lubricating bearing structure as shown in FIG. 1; and

#Referring to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a self-lubricating bearing structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a bearing 1 provided with a shaft hole 11, and a rotation shaft 2 rotatably mounted in the shaft hole 11 of the bearing 1. The shaft hole 11 of the bearing 1 has a wall face provided with multiple channels 12. Preferably, each of the multiple channels 12 is helical. Each of the multiple channels 12 is extended to a top end face 13 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) of the bearing 1, so that a first end of each of the multiple channels 12 is passed through the top end face 13 of the bearing 1, and a second end of each of the multiple channels 12 is extended to a position located adjacent to a bottom end of the bearing 1. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first end of each of the multiple channels 12 is inclined with the top end face 13 of the bearing 1, with a non-right-angle included angle being formed therebetween.

#Referring to FIG. 2, when the rotation shaft 2 is rotated in the shaft hole 11 of the bearing 1, the lubricating oil contained in the bearing 1 will rise along the space between the rotation shaft 2 and the bearing 1 by rotation of the rotation shaft 2. When the rising lubricating oil meets the channel 12, the rising lubricating oil will enter the channels 12, and will return to the bottom of the channel 12 by guidance of the channel 12. Thus, the lubricating oil is collected in the bottom of the channel 12. When the lubricating oil is collected in the bottom of the channel 12 to have a determined amount, the lubricating oil will be driven by the rotating rotation shaft 2 to again rise along the wall of the shaft hole 11 of the bearing 1 by rotation of the rotation shaft 2. Thus, the lubricating oil will cycle between the rotating rotation shaft 2 and the inner wall of the shaft hole 11 of the bearing 1, so that the lubricating oil contained in the bearing 1 will not be lost, thereby further increasing the lifetime of the bearing 1.

#Accordingly, in the self-lubricating bearing structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall of the shaft hole of the bearing is provided with channels. Thus, when the rotation shaft is rotated in the shaft hole of the bearing, the lubricating oil contained in the bearing will return cyclically by guidance of the channels. In addition, the second end of each of the multiple channels is extended to a position located adjacent to the bottom end of the bearing, and is not passed through the bottom end face of the bearing. Thus, the bottom of the channel may be used to collect the lubricating oil. Thus, the collected lubricating oil may be carried away by rotation of the rotation shaft, and will rise along the inner wall of the shaft hole, and then enter the channel to return cyclically. Thus, the lubricating oil contained in the bearing will not be lost, so as to maintain the self-lubricating function of the bearing, thereby further increasing the lifetime of the bearing.