Back to results
US 7,000,909 B2Granted
Plastic bearing, particularly for use in MacPherson strut
OwnerDavid M. Kellam, Alex Teng +1inventors
InventorsDavid M. Kellam, Alex Teng, Michael Claassen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A MacPherson strut tube having an upper spring seat, a spring, a strut tube, and a ring bearing disposed for engaging the spring seat, the spring and the strut tube. The ring bearing comprises an upper casing, a lower casing, and a plastic ring engaged between the upper and lower casings, thereby forming said ring bearing.
Claims30
A ring bearing, comprising:
- an upper casing;
- a lower casing;
- and
- a plastic ring engaged between the upper and lower casings, thereby forming said ring bearing;
- said upper and lower casings respectively defining upper and lower annular facing surfaces for engaging said plastic ring therebetween;
- said upper and lower facing surfaces each having radially inner and outer portions;
- said upper and lower facing surfaces each being substantially curved in a direction between said inner and outer portions thereof;
- said plastic ring having upper and lower spacing portions, each being centrally located between said inner and outer portions of said upper and lower facing surfaces, thereby defining respective spaces oriented longitudinally of said ring between said plastic ring and said upper and lower facing surfaces which reduce contact friction with the respective facing surfaces.
5 more elements
A ring bearing, comprising:
- an upper casing;
- a lower casing;
- and
- a plastic ring engaged between the upper and lower casings, thereby forming said ring bearing;
- said upper and lower casings respectively defining upper and lower annular facing surfaces for engaging said plastic ring therebetween;
- said upper and lower facing surfaces each having radially inner and outer portions;
- wherein said ring has radially outer and inner portions which are relatively enlarged, in a direction between said upper and lower facing surfaces, with respect to a radially central portion thereof;
- said plastic ring having a spacing portion, centrally located between said inner and outer portions of one of said upper and lower facing surfaces, thereby defining a respective space oriented longitudinally of said ring between said plastic ring and said one of said upper and lower facing surfaces which reduces contact friction with the respective facing surface.
5 more elements
A ring bearing, comprising:
- an upper casing;
- a lower casing;
- and
- a plastic ring engaged between the upper and lower casings, thereby forming said ring bearing;
- said upper and lower casings respectively defining upper and lower annular facing surfaces for engaging said plastic ring therebetween;
- said upper and lower facing surfaces of said casings each having radially inner and outer portions;
- wherein said inner and outer portions of each of said upper and lower facing surfaces have respective radially extending flat surfaces which together define a cross-sectional V-shape, and said plastic ring has a corresponding cross-sectional V-shape.
4 more elements
A ring bearing, comprising:
- an upper casing;
- a lower casing;
- and
- a plastic ring engaged between the upper and lower casings, thereby forming said ring bearing;
- said upper and lower casings respectively defining upper and lower annular facing surfaces for engaging said plastic ring therebetween;
- said upper and lower facing surfaces each having radially inner and outer portions;
- wherein said inner and outer portions of each of said upper and lower facing surfaces have respective flat portions which together define a general V-shape when seen in cross-section, and said plastic ring has a corresponding cross-sectional V-shape;
- said plastic ring having upper and lower spacing portions, each being centrally located between said inner and outer portions of said upper and lower facing surfaces, thereby defining respective spaces oriented longitudinally of said ring between said plastic ring and said upper and lower facing surfaces which reduce contact friction with the respective facing surfaces.
5 more elements
A ring bearing, comprising:
- an upper casing;
- a lower casing;
- and
- a plastic ring engaged between the upper and lower casings, thereby forming said ring bearing;
- said upper and lower casings respectively defining upper and lower annular facing surfaces for engaging said plastic ring therebetween;
- said upper and lower facing surfaces each having radially inner and outer portions;
- wherein said inner and outer portions of each of said upper and lower facing surfaces have respective flat portions which together define a general V-shape when seen in cross-section, and said plastic ring has a corresponding cross-sectional V-shape;
- wherein said upper and lower facing surfaces have respective upper and lower spacing portions, each being centrally located between said inner and outer portions of said upper and lower facing surfaces, thereby defining respective spaces oriented longitudinally of said ring between said plastic ring and said upper and lower facing surfaces which reduce contact friction with the respective facing surfaces.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.