# US 5,707,718 A · Porous-plastic bearing and method of manufacturing porous-plastic bearing

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- Number: US 5,707,718 A
- Document ID: US5707718A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/598,546
- Filed: 1996-02-08
- Granted: 1998-01-13
- Earliest claimed: 1995-09-12
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Home Appliance Co., Ltd.; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Koei Matsukawa; Katsunori Sato; Toshihisa Imai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707718A

## CPC

- F16C 33/44: Selection of substances (F16C33/40, F16C33/41 take precedence)
- F16C 17/026: {with helical grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. herringbone grooves}
- F16C 17/045: {with grooves in the bearing surface to generate hydrodynamic pressure, e.g. spiral groove thrust bearings}
- F16C 17/06: with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings {(with flexible leaves F16C17/042; hydrostatic F16C32/0666)}
- F16C 33/103: {retained in or near the bearing}
- F16C 33/1065: {Grooves on a bearing surface for distributing or collecting the liquid}
- F16C 33/201: {Composition of the plastic}
- F16C 33/6611: {in a porous or resinous body, e.g. a cage impregnated with the grease}
- F16C 33/6648: {in a porous or resinous body, e.g. a cage impregnated with the liquid}
- F16C 37/002: {of fluid bearings}
- Y10S 384/902: Porous member
- Y10S 384/903: Retaining ring
- Y10S 384/909: Plastic
- Y10T 428/24992: Density or compression of components
- Y10T 428/249955: Void-containing component partially impregnated with adjacent component
- Y10T 428/249961: With gradual property change within a component
- Y10T 428/249972: Resin or rubber element
- Y10T 428/249994: Composite having a component wherein a constituent is liquid or is contained within preformed walls [e.g., impregnant-filled, previously void containing component, etc.]
- Y10T 428/249995: Constituent is in liquid form
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A porous-plastic bearing comprises a porous-plastic sliding bearing member which is formed by gathering a cluster of plastic particles each having a volume in the range of from about 0.004 mm.sup.3 to about 4 mm.sup.3 and sintering the cluster of plastic particles while setting its porosity at a selected value in the range of from about 10% to about 30%. Furthermore, the sliding bearing member comprises a plurality of plastic particles in any longitudinal or cross section. Pores formed within the sliding bearing member are impregnated with or filled with a lubricating agent.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A porous-plastic bearing comprising a sliding bearing member which is constructed of porous plastic and which is formed by gathering a cluster of plastic particles each having a volume in the range of from about 0.004 mm.sup.3 to about 4 mm.sup.3 and sintering the cluster of plastic particles while setting its porosity at a selected value in the range of from about 10% to about 30%, wherein said sliding bearing member comprises a plurality of plastic particles in any longitudinal or cross section, and wherein pores formed within said sliding bearing member contain a lubricating agent, wherein
said sliding bearing member comprises a first plastic particle layer with a low porosity formed in at least one region within an inner peripheral portion of said bearing member and a second plastic particle layer with a high porosity, and wherein an area of said first plastic particle layer as projected on an inner surface of said sliding bearing member is less than a total area of said inner surface of said sliding bearing member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 1, wherein said lubricating agent is a liquid lubricating oil.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 2, wherein the porosity of an outer peripheral portion of said sliding bearing member is lower than the porosity of other portions of the sliding bearing member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 2, wherein said sliding bearing member includes at least one cavity for circulating said lubricating oil.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 4, further comprising an oil holding member disposed in the cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 2, wherein said bearing further comprises a dynamic pressure groove bearing member disposed on an end surface of said sliding bearing member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 2, wherein said bearing further comprises at least one groove in an outer surface of said sliding bearing member for holding liquid lubricating oil.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 2, wherein said bearing further comprises at least one radiating fin formed on an outer surface of said sliding bearing member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 2, wherein said bearing includes a bearing housing, a casing and a cabinet which are integrally molded and made of porous plastic.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 1, wherein said lubricating agent is a solid lubricating agent.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 1, wherein a mark is disposed on an outer surface of the bearing member for marking the position of said first plastic particle layer.

### Claim 12

A porous-plastic bearing comprising a sliding bearing member which is constructed of porous plastic and which is formed by gathering a cluster of plastic particles each having a volume in the range of from about 0.004 mm.sup.3 to about 4 mm.sup.3 and sintering the cluster of plastic particles while setting its porosity at a selected value in the range of from about 10% to about 30%, wherein said sliding bearing member comprises a plurality of plastic particles in any longitudinal or cross section, and wherein pores formed within said sliding bearing member contain a lubricating agent, wherein
said sliding bearing member comprises a first plastic particle layer formed in at least one region within an inner peripheral portion of said bearing member and a second plastic particle layer formed in an outer peripheral portion of said bearing member, the porosities of said first and second plastic particle layers being lower than the porosities of other portions of said sliding bearing member, and wherein an area of said first plastic particle layer as projected on an inner surface of said sliding bearing member is less than a total area of said inner surface of said sliding bearing member.

### Claim 13

A porous-plastic bearing including a bearing ring, and a rolling element, said bearing comprising a ball holder which is constructed of porous plastic and which is formed by gathering a cluster of plastic particles each having a volume in the range of from about 0.004 mm.sup.3 to about 4 mm.sup.3, the total volume of the cluster being in the range of from about 70% to about 90% of the total volume of said ball holder, and then sintering the cluster of plastic particles, wherein pores formed within said ball holder contain a lubricating agent.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 13, wherein said lubricating agent is a liquid lubricating oil.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The porous-plastic bearing according to claim 13, wherein said lubricating agent is a solid lubricating agent.

### Claim 16

A bearing member comprising a cluster of sintered plastic particles, each one of the particles having a volume in the range of from about 0.004 mm.sup.3 to about 4 mm.sup.3, the bearing member having a porosity of from about 10% to about 30%, wherein pores formed within said bearing member contain a lubricating agent, and wherein said bearing member has a low porosity area at one portion of a load bearing surface of said bearing member, and a higher porosity area at another portion of said load bearing surface.