Water lubricated sleeve bearings
OwnerGeorge A. Thomsoninventor
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Abstract
A sleeve bearing is described which is useful for carrying the rotating propellor shaft of water craft, as well as for various industrial purposes. The sleeve bearing consists of a single homogeneous solid, hard elastomeric urethane polymer having a Shore D hardness of at least 60, a compressive modulus of elasticity at a 4% compressive strain of at least 50,000 psi and a dry dynamic co-efficient of friction against steel of no more than 0.20. This polymer is machined so as to fit within a cylindrical housing by means of a forced interference fit providing sufficient outward radial force by the outer surface of the sleeve on the housing to retain the bearing in movement-free fit during the operational life of the bearing.
Claims2
A sleeve bearing for mounting in a cylindrical housing bore by means of an interference fit, said bearing consisting entirely of a single homogeneous solid, hard elastomeric urethane polymer having a Shore D hardness of at least 60, a compressive modulus of elasticity at a 4% compressive strain of at least 50,000 psi and a dry dynamic co-efficient of friction against steel of no more than 0.20, said bearing comprising a plurality of arcuate segments together forming a sleeve machined to fit within a cylindrical housing bore by means of a forced interference fit providing sufficient outward radial force by the outer surface of the segments on the housing to retain the segments in movement-free fit during the operational life of the bearing, said forced interference fit being the sole means of retaining the bearing within the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.