Bushing for heavy vehicles

A bushing adapted for use in a heavy, over-the-road vehicle, the bushing comprising an outer sleeve, an inner element telescoped into the outer sleeve, and an elastomeric interface between the outer sleeve and the inner element, the elastomeric interface being bonded to one of the inner element and the outer sleeve and being rotatable with respect to the other of the inner element and the outer sleeve, the elastomeric interface having a nominal hardness in excess of Shore 60 D.

A replacement bushing for replacing a metal-on-metal bushing for heavy over-the-road vehicles, the metal-on-metal bushing comprising a metal outer sleeve and a metal inner element telescoped into the outer sleeve, the inner element having an outer bearing surface separated from an inner bearing surface of the outer sleeve by a film of grease,

• the replacement bushing comprising an outer sleeve, an inner element, and an elastomeric interface between the outer sleeve and the inner element, the elastomeric interface having a hardness greater than Shore 60 D, the interface being bonded to one of the inner element and outer sleeve and being rotatable with respect to the other of the outer sleeve and the inner element, the interface having an outer diameter substantially equal to the maximum diameter of the metal inner element of the metal-on-metal bushing.

In combination, a leaf spring mounted in a heavy, over-the-road vehicle, the leaf spring comprising an eye part at one end thereof, and a bushing mounting the leaf spring to a chassis of the vehicle, the bushing comprising an outer sleeve having an outer surface fitted in the leaf spring eye, an inner element telescoped into the outer sleeve, and an elastomeric interface between the outer sleeve and the inner element, the elastomeric interface being bonded to one of the inner element and outer sleeve and being rotatable with respect to the other of the inner element and outer sleeve, the elastomeric interface having a nominal hardness in excess of Shore 60 D.

A method of mounting a bushing to a bracket on a heavy over-the-road vehicle, the bracket comprising a first arm and a second arm spaced from the arm, each of the first arm and the second arm including an opening, the bushing comprising a sleeve and a shaft telescoped into the sleeve, the method comprising

• a step of bonding an elastomer to one of the shaft or the sleeve, the elastomer having a hardness greater than Shore 60 D,
• a step of positioning the sleeve of the bushing between the arms of the bracket, and
• a step of inserting the shaft through the opening in the first arm of the bracket, through the sleeve of the bushing, and into the opening in the second arm of the bracket, the elastomer forming a snug, rotatable fit with the other of the sleeve and the shaft.

A method for replacing a metal-on-metal bushing for heavy over-the-road vehicles, the bushing comprising a metal outer sleeve and a metal inner element telescoped into the outer sleeve, the inner element having an outer bearing surface separated from an inner bearing surface of the outer sleeve by a film of grease, the method comprising replacing the metal-on-metal bushing with a bushing having an outer sleeve, an inner element, and a polyurethane interface with a hardness greater than Shore 60 D, the polyurethane interface being bonded to one of the outer sleeve and the inner element and being rotatable with respect to the other of the outer sleeve and, the inner element.