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US 6,648,510 B2Granted
SPA super demountable bearing
AssigneeDuramax Marine, LLC
InventorsRoy L. Orndorff, Jr., Richard C. Spangler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing assembly for supporting a water-lubricated drive shaft includes a plurality of load-bearing staves made from a composite material known as Slippery Polymer Alloy (SPA and a plurality of rubber staves. The composite staves are spaced circumferentially around the bearing housing on the inner wall. The rubber staves are also spaced circumferentially around the bearing housing, the rubber staves being located between adjoining composite staves and having compression force on their end portions to lock the composite staves in place.
Claims14
A bearing assembly for water-lubricated shafts, said assembly comprising:
- a housing having an inner surface defining a bore for receiving a shaft for rotation in a body of water;
- a set of longitudinally extending elastomeric staves extending along the inner surface of said housing and being held in place against outward radial movement by said housing, said elastomeric staves defining supporting structure for supporting and holding in circumferential and inward radial position a set of longitudinally extending SPA staves;
- a set of longitudinally extending SPA staves supported by said supporting structure, said SPA staves having shaft-engaging surfaces for engaging, lubricating and holding the alignment of the shaft;
- and
- a compression member for longitudinally compressing said elastomeric staves to cause the circumference of said elastomeric staves to expand around the inner circumference of said housing to lock said SPA staves in place in said housing.
2 more elements
A bearing assembly for water-lubricated shafts, said assembly comprising:
- a housing having an inner surface defining a bore for receiving a shaft for rotation in a body of water, and further having a predetermined length and an end portion;
- a set of longitudinally extending SPA staves supported by said supporting structure, said SPA staves each having shaft-engaging surfaces for engaging, lubricating and holding the alignment of the shaft;
- a set of longitudinally extending elastomeric staves extending along the inner surface of said housing and being held in place against outward radial movement by said housing, said elastomeric staves defining supporting structure for supporting and holding in circumferential and inward radial position a set of longitudinally extending SPA staves, said elastomeric staves each having a length exceeding the length of the housing and extending a short length beyond an end portion of the housing;
- and
- a compression device for applying compression to said longitudinally extending elastomeric staves for applying lateral pressure against said SPA staves to hold said SPA staves in position in said bearing assembly.
2 more elements
A bearing assembly for water-lubricated shafts, said assembly comprising:
- a housing having an inner surface defining a bore for receiving a shaft for rotation in a body of water, said housing having a predetermined length;
- a set of longitudinally extending elastomeric staves extending along the inner surface of said housing and being held in place against outward radial movement by said housing, said elastomeric staves defining supporting structure for supporting and holding in circumferential and inward radial position a set of longitudinally extending SPA staves, said elastomeric staves being longer than said predetermined length of said housing and extending beyond an end portion of said housing;
- a set of longitudinally extending SPA staves supported by said supporting structure, said SPA staves having shaft-engaging surfaces for engaging, lubricating and holding the alignment of the shaft;
- and
- a compression device for applying compression to said elastomeric staves;
- said elastomeric staves applying pressure laterally against said SPA staves to hold said SPA staves in position in said bearing assembly.
3 more elements
A bearing assembly for water-lubricated shafts, said assembly comprising:
- a housing having an inner surface defining a bore for receiving a shaft for rotation in a body of water;
- a set of longitudinally extending elastomeric staves extending along the inner surface of said housing and being held in place against outward radial movement by said housing, said elastomeric staves having shaft-facing surfaces and defining longitudinally extending dovetailed-shaped grooves on the shaft-facing surface forming receptacles for supporting and holding in circumferential and inward radial position a set of longitudinally extending SPA staves;
- and
- a set of longitudinally extending SPA staves supported by said supporting structure, said SPA staves being generally dovetailed-shaped in longitudinal cross section to fit into and be retained by said dovetailed-shaped grooves in said elastomeric staves;
- said SPA staves having shaft-engaging surfaces for engaging, lubricating and holding the alignment of the shaft;
- said elastomeric staves applying pressure laterally against said SPA staves to hold said SPA staves in position in said bearing assembly.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.