Multi-piece bushing, support assembly and method of supporting a shaft
AssigneeAktiebolaget Skf
InventorsScott Michael Barth, David Afton Nelson
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Abstract
A bushing is for supporting a movable cylindrical body within a housing, the housing having a central axis, an inner circumferential surface and an annular groove formed in the surface. The bushing includes a plurality of generally arcuate tube segments disposable within the groove and alignable circumferentially about the housing axis so as to form a generally tubular body configured to slidably support the cylindrical body. Preferably, each tube segment is formed of a generally rigid metallic material.
Claims26
A bushing for supporting a movable cylindrical body within a housing, the housing having a central axis, an inner circumferential surface and an annular groove formed in the inner circumferential surface, the bushing comprising:
- a plurality of generally arcuate tube segments disposeable within the groove and alignable circumferentially about the central axis so as to form a generally continuous tubular body configured to slidably support the cylindrical body, wherein the plurality of tube segments includes
- a first segment having an angled radial end that extends generally obliquely between two axial ends and faces generally toward the central axis,
- a second segment having an angled radial end that extends generally obliquely between two axial ends and faces generally toward the central axis, and
- a third segment having two angled radial ends that extend generally obliquely between two axial ends and face generally away from the central axis.
A support assembly for supporting a movable cylindrical body, the assembly comprising:
- a housing having a central axis, an inner surface extending circumferentially about the axis and defining a bore for receiving at least a portion of the cylindrical body and an annular groove extending radially outwardly from the housing inner surface and circumferentially about the central axis;
- and
- a plurality of generally arcuate tube segments disposed within the annular groove and aligned circumferentially about the central axis so as to form a generally continuous tubular body configured to slidably support the cylindrical body, wherein the plurality of tube segments includes
- a first segment having an angled radial end that extends generally obliquely between two axial ends,
- a second segment having an angled radial end that extends generally obliquely between two axial ends, and
- a third segment having two angled radial ends that extend generally obliquely between two axial ends.
A shaft assembly comprising:
- a movable shaft;
- a housing having a central axis, an inner surface extending circumferentially about the axis and defining a bore for receiving at least a portion of the shaft and an annular groove extending radially outwardly from the shaft and circumferentially about the axis;
- and
- a plurality of generally arcuate tube segments disposed within the annular groove and aligned circumferentially about the axis so as to form a generally continuous tubular bushing configured to slidably support the shaft, each tube segment being formed of a generally rigid metallic material, wherein the plurality of tube segments includes
- a first segment having an angled radial end that extends generally obliquely between two axial ends,
- a second segment having an angled radial end that extends generally obliquely between two axial ends, and
- a third segment having two angled radial ends that extend generally obliquely between two axial ends.
A method of supporting a cylindrical body within a housing, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming an annular groove in an inner circumferential surface of the housing;
- providing a plurality of generally arcuate tube segments, wherein the plurality of tube segments includes a first segment having an angled radial end that extends generally obliquely between two axial ends, a second segment having an angled radial end that extends generally obliquely between two axial ends, and a third segment having two angled radial ends that extend generally obliquely between two axial ends;
- and
- installing the tube segments within the annular groove such that the tube segments are aligned circumferentially about the central axis so as to form a generally tubular body configured to slidably support the cylindrical body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.