Zero clearance bearing
AssigneeLeica Inc.
InventorJeffrey M. Sabin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing for supporting a load for axial and rotational motion relative to a shaft is disclosed as including an outer shell having a cylindrical inner wall supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced arcuate bearing pads for engaging the shaft. Each bearing pad includes a pair of elastically deformable lateral tip portions arranged for interference fit with the shaft to exert a static preload on the shaft, and a mid portion intermediate the lateral tip portions arranged for clearance fit with the shaft. A plurality of lubricant channels communicate with the shaft through gaps between the separate bearing pads.
Claims7
A bearing for supporting a load for axial and rotational motion relative to a cylindrical shaft having a central axis, said bearing comprising:
- an outer shell having a cylindrical inner wall;
- a plurality of circumferentially spaced bearing pads connected to said inner wall for engaging said shaft, each said bearing pad having a pair of elastically deformable lateral tip portions and a mid portion intermediate said tip portions;
- said tip portions of each of said plurality of pads being arranged for interference fit with said shaft prior to mating of said shaft within said bearing, said tip portions of each of said plurality of pads flexing to receive said shaft in mating engagement and thereby exerting a static preload on said shaft;
- and
- said mid portions of each of said plurality of pads being arranged for clearance fit with said shaft prior to mating of said shaft within said bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.