Elastomeric bearing for a suspension assembly

A suspension linkage for a rail car suspension assembly, the suspension linkage comprising:

• an elongate shaft extending between a first end and a second end thereof along a longitudinal axis L;
• a first head formed proximate to the first end, the first head having a first bearing receiving bore extending through the first head, the first bearing receiving bore defining a first interior receiving surface;
• a second head formed proximate to the second end, the second head having a second bearing receiving bore extending through the second head, the second bearing receiving bore defining a second interior receiving surface;
• a first elastomeric bearing and a second elastomeric bearing, each comprising:
• an inner member having a spherical exterior surface and being symmetric about a central axis C;
• a hollow annular outer structure being axially split thereby forming a first outer segment and a second outer segment, the first outer segment and second outer segment forming a substantially cylindrical exterior surface, the axial split being defined by opposing circumferentially faces on the first outer segment and the second outer segment;
• at least one shim structure being formed around the inner member and being disposed at least partially inside the hollow annular outer structure, the at least one shim structure having a radially outward facing surface and a radially inward facing surface;
• and
• at least one layer of elastomeric material disposed on each of the radially outward facing surface and the radially inward facing surface;
• the first elastomeric bearing being press fit into the first bearing receiving bore such that the cylindrical exterior surface of the outer structure is in fixed frictional engagement with the first interior receiving surface and the opposing circumferentially faces on the first outer segment and the second outer segment abut one another;
• and
• the second elastomeric bearing being press fit into the second bearing receiving bore such that the cylindrical exterior surface of the outer structure is in fixed frictional engagement with the second interior receiving surface and the opposing circumferentially faces on the first outer segment and the second outer segment abut one another.

A method of installing bearings in a suspension linkage, the method comprising:

• providing a first elastomeric bearing and a second elastomeric bearing;
• providing a support system comprising a first annular support and a second annular support, the first annular support having a first pocket, the second annular support having a second pocket, the first annular support being spaced apart from the second annular support, the first annular support having a first lateral opening and the second annular support having a second lateral opening that faces the first lateral opening;
• providing a tapered die system comprising a first tapered die and a second tapered die;
• providing a press arrangement comprising a first annular ram and a second annular ram, the first annular ram having a first lateral slot extending radially therethrough and an opening on a first axial ram-end of the first annular ram, the second annular ram having a second lateral slot extending radially therethrough and opening on a second axial ram-end of the second annular ram, the first annular ram having a first passage extending axially therethrough, the second annular ram having a second passage extending axially therethrough;
• providing an alignment rod extending between a first rod-end and a second rod-end;
• providing a suspension linkage for a rail car, the suspension linkage comprising an elongate shaft extending between a first shaft-end and a second shaft-end thereof along a longitudinal axis L;
• a first head formed proximate to the first shaft-end, the first head having a first bearing receiving bore extending through the first head, the first bearing receiving bore defining a first interior receiving surface;
• and a second head formed proximate to the second shaft-end, the second head having a second bearing receiving bore extending through the second head, the second bearing receiving bore defining a second interior receiving surface;
• positioning the first head in the first pocket of the first annular support;
• positioning the second head in the second pocket of the second annular support;
• positioning the first tapered die on the first head and coaxial with the first annular support;
• positioning the second tapered die on the second head and coaxial with the second annular support;
• positioning the first elastomeric bearings over the first tapered die;
• positioning the second elastomeric bearings over the second tapered die;
• aligning the first hole of the first elastomeric bearing with the first hole of the second elastomeric bearing and aligning the second hole of the first elastomeric bearing with the second hole of the second elastomeric bearing;
• positioning the first annular ram over the first elastomeric bearing coaxially with the first tapered die such that the first lateral slot opens outwardly away from the first tapered die;
• positioning the second annular ram over the second elastomeric bearing coaxially with the second tapered die such that the second lateral slot opens outwardly away from the second tapered die;
• positioning a first portion of the rod proximate the first rod-end in the first lateral slot;
• positioning a second portion of the rod proximate the second rod-end in the second lateral slot;
• applying a first force to the first annular ram thereby compressing the first elastomeric bearing in and through the first tapered die and out of the first tapered die into the first bearing receiving bore such that the cylindrical exterior surface of the outer structure is in fixed frictional engagement with the first interior receiving surface of the first head;
• and
• applying a second force to the second annular ram thereby compressing the second elastomeric bearing in and through the second tapered die and out of the second tapered die into the second bearing receiving bore such that the cylindrical exterior surface of the outer structure is in fixed frictional engagement with the second interior receiving surface of the second head.