Linear motion system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10670101-B2
Application number	US-201615741078-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Jun 2, 2020
Grant date	Jun 2, 2020

Abstract

A linear motion assembly having a static coefficient of friction, μS, as measured between an inner component and an outer component, and a dynamic coefficient of friction, μ D , as measured between the inner component and the outer component, wherein μ S /μ D is less than 2.0, such as less than 1.9, less than 1.8, less than 1.7, or even less than 1.6.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A linear motion assembly comprising:
an outer component defining a bore;
an inner component disposed within and translatable relative to the bore;
a bearing disposed between the inner component and the outer component; and
a lubricious fluid disposed within the bore of the outer component between the inner component and the outer component,
wherein the bearing has a static coefficient of friction, μ S , as measured between the inner component and the outer component, and a dynamic coefficient of friction, μ D , as measured between the inner component and the outer component, and wherein μ S /μ D is less than 2.0, wherein the bearing comprises a filler including a plurality of filler particles, and wherein the filler particles having an average shape factor of no less than 0.75, wherein the filler particles comprise bronze.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing comprises a backing coupled to a low friction layer.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the backing comprises a metal.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing comprises a fluoropolymer.

5. The assembly according to claim 4 , wherein the fluoropolymer comprises at least 10 vol % of the bearing.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the filler comprises at least 10 vol % of the bearing.

7. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the filler further comprises a plurality of secondary filler particles, the secondary filler particles comprising fibrous strands.

8. The suspension assembly according to claim 7 , wherein a ratio of filler particles to secondary filler particles is no less than 0.5:1.

9. A suspension assembly comprising:
a stanchion;
a receiver having a bore adapted to receive a portion of the stanchion, the receiver and stanchion being longitudinally translatable with respect to one another; and
a bearing disposed between the stanchion and the receiver, the bearing comprising a filler including a plurality of filler particles, the filler particles having an average shape factor of no less than 0.75, wherein the filler particles comprise bronze.

10. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the bearing has a first concentration of filler particles at a first location, a second concentration of filler particles at a second location, and wherein the first concentration is different than the second concentration.

11. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the filler further comprises a plurality of secondary filler particles, the secondary filler particles comprising fibrous strands.

12. The assembly according to claim 11 , wherein a ratio of filler particles to secondary filler particles is no less than 0.5:1.

13. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the assembly has a static coefficient of friction, μ S , and a dynamic coefficient of friction, μ D , wherein μ S /μ D is less than 2.0.

14. A suspension assembly comprising:
a stanchion;
a receiver having a bore adapted to receive a portion of the stanchion, the receiver and stanchion being longitudinally translatable with respect to one another
a bearing disposed between the stanchion and the receiver; and
a lubricious fluid disposed within an internal cavity between the stanchion and the receiver,
wherein the bearing has a static coefficient of friction, μ S , as measured between the stanchion and the receiver, and a dynamic coefficient of friction, as measured between the stanchion and the receiver, and wherein μ S /μ D is less than 2.0, wherein the bearing comprises a filler including a plurality of filler particles, and wherein the filler particles having an average shape factor of no less than 0.75, wherein the filler particles comprise bronze.

15. The assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the assembly further comprises:
an internal cavity defined between the stanchion and the receiver; and
a lubricious fluid confined within the internal cavity,
wherein the bearing is disposed within the internal cavity in communication with the lubricious fluid.

16. The assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the lubricious fluid comprises an oil.

17. The assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the bearing has a zero-clearance condition between the stanchion and receiver.

18. The assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the stanchion comprises an aluminum, a magnesium, or a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Saint Gobain Performance Plastics Corp

Inventors

• Witting Nicholas F
• Dimartino Vincent

Classifications

• F16F2222/12

  Fluid damping · CPC title

• F16F2224/04

  Fluids · CPC title

• F16F9/366

  functioning as guide only, e.g. bushings · CPC title

• F16F2222/04

  Friction · CPC title

• B62K25/06

  with telescopic fork, e.g. including auxiliary rocking arms · CPC title