Self-aligning spherical bushing means

A self-aligning spherical bushing means, being positionable between an inner member and an outer member which are movable with respect to each other, said self-aligning spherical bushing means comprising:

• (a) a first ring means of vacuum processed bearing quality steel mountable with respect to the outer member and defining a first ring lubrication aperture means therein, said first ring lubrication aperture means comprising two first ring lubrication apertures positioned diametrically opposite from each other on said first ring means, said first ring means being hardened and coated with molybdenum disulfide dry lubricant, said first ring means further including:
• (1) an outer first ring surface being generally cylindrical and defining a first lubrication groove extending circumferentially therearound in fluid flow communication with respect to said first ring lubrication aperture means, said outer first ring surface being positioned adjacent the outer member;
• (2) an inner first ring surface being generally spherically concave and defining a fourth lubrication groove extending circumferentially therearound and in fluid flow communication with respect to said first ring lubrication aperture means to receive lubrication therefrom for lubrication of said inner first ring surface, said first ring lubrication aperture means extending from said outer first ring surface to said inner first ring surface to allow fluid flow communication between said first lubrication groove and said fourth lubrication groove;
• (b) a second ring means of vacuum processed bearing quality steel positioned within said inner first ring surface of said first ring means, said second ring means defining a mounting channel extending therethrough being generally cylindrical and adapted to receive the inner member therein, said mounting channel of said second ring means defining a central axis therethrough, said second ring means defining a second ring lubrication aperture means extending therethrough, said second ring lubrication aperture means comprising two second ring lubrication apertures positioned diametrically opposite from each other on said second ring means, said second ring means being hardened and coated with molybdenum disulfide dry lubricant, said second ring means including:
• (1) an outer second ring surface being generally spherically convex and defining a second lubrication groove extending circumferentially therearound and being in fluid flow communication with respect to said second ring lubrication aperture means, said outer second ring surface being of generally spherical convex shape and being in slidable abutment with respect to said inner first ring surface of generally spherical concave shape to facilitate self-aligning flexibility of the spherical bushing means, said outer second ring surface further defining a supplementary lubrication groove means thereon in direct fluid flow communication with respect to said second lubrication groove, said supplementary lubrication groove means comprising circular channel means defined in said outer second ring surface intersecting said second lubrication groove, said circular channel means adapted to receive lubrication from said second lubrication groove, said circular channel means being oriented in a plane parallel with respect to said central axis of said mounting channel of said second ring means, said circular channel means comprising four circular channels positioned equally spaced about said second lubrication groove in order to facilitate lubrication therearound and to prevent any preferred orientation position between said first ring means and said second ring means, said circular channels intersecting perpendicularly with respect to said second lubrication groove to facilitate lubrication in areas adjacent to said second lubrication groove, said circular channels being maintained in constant abutment with respect to said inner first ring surface to prevent contamination from entering therein;
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• (2) an inner second ring surface being generally cylindrical and defining said mounting channel therein adapted to receive the inner member positioned therein, said inner second ring surface defining a third lubrication groove extending circumferentially therearound and being in fluid flow communication with respect to said second ring lubrication aperture means, said second ring lubrication aperture means extending from said outer second ring surface to said inner second ring surface to allow fluid flow communication between said second lubrication groove and said third lubrication groove.