US 4,500,144 AGranted

Bearing member

AssigneeThe Bendix Corporation

InventorHugo N. de Campos

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Abstract

A bearing member (10) having a series of carbon separators (16, 16' . . . 16.sup.N) with semi-spherical pockets (52, 52' . . . 52.sup.N) on the end thereof and semi-spherical ribs (20) and (22) on its inner and outer periphery. The ribs (20) and (22) are located in grooves (50) and (58), respectively, of races (44) and (43). Balls (14, 14' . . . 14.sup.N) are located between pockets 52, 52' . . . 52.sup.N and maintained in radial alignment in the grooves (50 and 58) of the races (43) and (44). Initially separators (16, 16' . . . 16.sup.N) are separated from each other but as the bearing (10) is used the separators (16, 16' . . . 16.sup.N) wear by providing balls (14, 14' . . . 14.sup.N) and races (43 and 44) with lubrication. At a predetermined wear condition, the separators (16, 16' . . . 16.sup.N) engage each other to provide controlled ball spacing thereafter protecting bearing member (10) from premature wear or total failure.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of manufacturing and assembling a bearing member comprising the steps of:

machining a cylinder of a dry lubricant material to create a ring having first and second semi-spherical surfaces connected to first and second annular wing members, said first semi-spherical surface being the outer periphery of the ring and said second semi-spherical surface being the inner periphery;
dividing said outer periphery into equal segment points;
drilling a hole at each segment point along a radial line, each hole having a semi-spherical section adjacent said inner periphery;
severing said ring at each segment point to create arcuate sections with semi-spherical pockets on the end thereof;
inserting a first arcuate section in an outer race member such that said first semi-spherical surface is located in a first groove therein;
inserting a ball in said first groove;
positioning said ball in one of said semi-spherical pockets in said first arcuate section;
sequentially inserting additional arcuate sections and balls in said outer race to reconstruct said ring therein;
bringing a cylindrical section of an inner race member into engagement with said balls;
and
moving said inner race member with respect to said outer race member until said balls are located in a second groove in said inner race member to radially align said balls with said first and second grooves.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.