Bearing with bearing surface of integrally bonded self-lubricating material

A bearing comprising a substratum made of a filament wound fiberglass material and having a configured external surface, said configured external surface being formed by removing parts of said substratum so that some of said filaments of said filament wound fiberglass material are exposed, and a self-lubricating material integrally bonded to said configured external surface to provide a self-lubricating external bearing surface, said self-lubricating external bearing surface being formed by applying a layer of low friction material onto said configured external surface by applying self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers over said configured external surface and applying a hardenable liquid resin to coat and penetrate said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers, said liquid resin integrating said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers and filling any interstices between said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers and said configured external surface so that said substratum and said low friction material are integrally bonded to form a substantially voidless structure, wherein said resin bonds the exposed filaments of said filament wound fiberglass material to said self-lubricating material to interlock said filament wound fiberglass material and said self-lubricating material;

• applying an overlayment of filaments over said self-lubricating bearing external surface by helically winding the filaments of said overlayment under tension onto said self-lubricating external bearing surface to exert a bonding pressure on said self-lubricating material sufficient to cause said self-lubricating material to conform and bond to said configured external surface;
• hardening said resin;
• and removing at least part of said overlayment of filaments after said resin has hardened to expose at least selected portions of said self-lubricating external bearing surface.

A bearing comprising a substratum made of a filament wound fiberglass material and having a configured external surface, an internal surface, a self-lubricating material integrally bonded to said configured external surface to provide a self-lubricating external bearing surface, and additional self-lubricating material integrally bonded to said internal surface to provide a self-lubricating internal bearing surface, said self-lubricating external bearing surface being formed by applying a layer of low friction material onto said configured external surface by applying self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers over said configured external surface and applying a hardenable liquid resin to coat and penetrate said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers, said liquid resin integrating said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers and filling any interstices between said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers and said configured external surface so that said substratum and said low friction material are integrally bonded to form a substantially voidless structure;

• applying an overlayment of filaments over said self-lubricating bearing external surface by helically winding the filaments of said overlayment under tension onto said self-lubricating external bearing surface to exert a bonding pressure on said self-lubricating material sufficient to cause said self-lubricating material to conform and bond to said configured external surface;
• hardening said resin;
• and removing at least part of said overlayment of filaments after said resin has hardened to expose at least selected portions of said self-lubricating external bearing surface.

A self-lubricating bearing apparatus comprising:

• a substratum including filament wound fiberglass material, a portion of which is removed to provide said substratum with a spherical external surface, said spherical external surface including exposed portions of said filaments of said filament wound fiberglass material, and
• a self-lubricating material integrally bonded to said spherical external surface to provide a self-lubricating bearing surface thereon, said self-lubricating bearing surface being formed by applying a layer of low friction material onto said spherical external surface by applying self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers over said spherical external surface and applying a hardenable liquid resin to coat and penetrate said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers, said liquid resin integrating said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers and filling any interstices between said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers and between said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers and said spherical external surface so that said substratum and said self-lubricating material form a substantially voidless structure, said resin permeating and surrounding each of said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers such that said self-lubricating resin penetrable fibers are effectively suspended in resin, and said resin bonding the exposed filaments of said filament wound fiberglass material to said self-lubricating material to interlock said filament wound fiberglass material and said self-lubricating material;
• applying an overlayment of filament wound fiberglass over said self-lubricating bearing surface by helically winding said filaments of said filament wound fiberglass overlayment under about 2-4 lbs. of tension onto said self-lubricating bearing surface to exert a bonding pressure on said self-lubricating material sufficient to conform and bond said self-lubricating material to said spherical external surface;
• hardening said resin;
• and removing at least part of said overlayment of filament wound fiberglass after said resin has hardened to expose at least selected portions of said self-lubricating bearing surface.