Composite bearing
AssigneeSeal-Ryt Corp.
InventorMark R. Wilkinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved composite bearing member having at least two distinct surfaces. A first surface having a high CLTE and an opposed dynamic layer of a bearing material having a lower CLTE than the first high CLTE layer. The low CLTE dynamic layer is harder than the static layer to provide a bearing effect. The composite may include a strength layer including carbon fibers having a low CLTE between the high CLTE layer and the lower CLTE harder layer is provided.
Claims23
A composite bearing comprising:
- a bearing member having a first static surface layer with a high coefficient of thermal linear expansion (“CLTE”);
- and
- an opposed second dynamic surface layer of a bearing grade material having a lower CLTE than the first static surface and harder than the first surface.
A composite bearing member formed of at least three distinct materials comprising:
- a reinforcing layer having two faces;
- a static surface layer having a high coefficient of thermal linear expansion (“CLTE”) disposed on one face of the reinforcing layer;
- and
- a dynamic surface layer of a material having a lower CLTE than the static layer and harder than the static layer disposed on the opposite surface of the reinforcing layer.
A method for forming a composite bearing having a first static surface having a high coefficient of thermal linear expansion (“CLTE”) and a second dynamic surface of a bearing grade material having a lower CLTE than the first layer and harder than the first surface, comprising:
- using additive manufacturing to form a substantially rigid unitary cylindrical body having an outside surface having a high coefficient of thermal linear expansion (“CLTE”) and an inside dynamic surface of a bearing grade material having a lower CLTE than the first layer and harder than the first surface, dimensioned to fit into the annular seal cavity of a rotary mechanical device.
A method for forming a composite bearing having a first static surface having a high coefficient of thermal linear expansion (“CLTE”) and a second dynamic surface of a bearing grade material having a lower CLTE than the first layer and harder than the first surface, comprising:
- placing one of the materials of high CLTE or lower CLTE in a mold of desired shape and dimension;
- placing the other of the materials of high CLTE or lower CLTE on the exposed surface of the other material;
- and
- applying sufficient heat to heat the materials above the softening temperature of the materials;
- and
- applying sufficient pressure to bond the two layers together.
A method for forming a composite bearing comprising:
- using additive manufacturing to form the bearing member having a first static layer with a high coefficient of thermal linear expansion (“CLTE”);
- and a second dynamic layer of a bearing grade material having a lower CLTE than the first static surface and harder than the first surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.