US 8,616,772 B1Granted

Conformal wear-resistant bearing assembly

AssigneeLittle Engine, LLC

InventorsFranz W. Kellar, Harold Lloyd Crowder, Jr., Scott M. Duquette

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Abstract

Bearing apparatus includes: (a) a first member comprising rigid material and having a bore defining a first contact surface; (b) a second member disposed in the bore, the second member comprising rigid material and having a cylindrical surface defining a second contact surface; (c) wherein both contact surfaces are wear-resistant, and wherein the first and second members are positioned relative to each other by a plurality of protruding bearing elements contacting at least one of the first and second contact surfaces, so as to transfer mechanical loads between the members, each bearing element including a raised central portion flanked by a pair of beam portions, while allowing relative translation and/or rotation between the members; and (e) wherein the bearing elements are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and conform in an irregular shape to the at least one contact surface.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A bearing apparatus, comprising:

(a) a first member comprising a rigid material and having an internal bore defining a first contact surface;
(b) a second member disposed in the internal bore of the first member, the second member comprising a rigid material and having an outer cylindrical surface defining a second contact surface;
(c) wherein both contact surfaces are wear-resistant, and wherein the first and second members are positioned relative to each other by a plurality of protruding bearing elements, so as to transfer mechanical loads between the first and second members, while allowing relative translation and/or rotation between the first and second members, wherein each bearing element includes a raised central portion flanked by a pair of beam portions;
(d) wherein:
(i) the plurality of protruding bearing elements that bear against the second contact surface are formed in the first contact surface;
or (ii) the plurality of protruding bearing elements that bear against the first contact surface are formed in the second contact surface;
and
(e) wherein the protruding bearing elements are shaped and sized so as to deform elastically and conform in an irregular shape to the corresponding one of the contact surfaces.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/969,426Filed 16 Aug 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 15 Mar 2013
Granted: 31 Dec 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

F16C 17/18
Characterised by features not related to the direction of the load: with floating brasses or brushing, rotatable at a reduced speed
F16C 27/02
Elastic or yielding bearings or bearing supports, for exclusively rotary movement: sliding-contact bearings
F16C 29/002
Bearings for parts moving only linearly: elastic or yielding linear bearings or bearing supports
F16C 31/02
Bearings for parts which both rotate and move linearly: sliding-contact bearings