Spherical plain bearing with lubrication features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11982313-B2
Application number	US-202217850433-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2022
Priority date	Jun 29, 2021
Publication date	May 14, 2024
Grant date	May 14, 2024

Abstract

A spherical plain bearing includes an outer ring and an inner ring that are each coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the bearing. The outer ring has a first axial outer ring end, a second axial outer ring end, and an interior spherical concave bearing surface extending therebetween. The inner ring has a first axial inner ring end, a second axial inner ring end, and an interior cylindrical bearing surface defining a bore and an exterior spherical convex bearing surface extending therebetween. The exterior spherical convex bearing surface is in interfacial sliding engagement with the interior spherical concave bearing surface. A plurality of circumferential lubrication grooves and one or more curved lubrication channels are in the exterior spherical convex bearing surface. The curved lubrication channels are positioned to intersect each of the circumferential lubrication grooves. A plurality of profiled annular lubrication grooves circumferentially extend into the interior cylindrical bearing surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spherical plain bearing comprising:
an outer ring being coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the bearing, the outer ring having a first axial outer ring end, a second axial outer ring end opposing the first axial outer ring end, and an interior spherical concave bearing surface extending between the first axial outer ring end and the second axial outer ring end;
an inner ring being coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the bearing, the inner ring having a first axial inner ring end, a second axial inner ring end opposing the first axial inner ring end, an interior cylindrical bearing surface defining a bore extending between the first axial inner ring end and the second axial inner ring end, and an exterior spherical convex bearing surface extending between the first axial inner ring end and the second axial inner ring end, the exterior spherical convex bearing surface being located in interfacial sliding engagement with the interior spherical concave bearing surface of the outer ring;
a plurality of circumferential lubrication grooves in the exterior spherical convex bearing surface of the inner ring;
at least one curved lubrication channel in the exterior spherical convex bearing surface of the inner ring, the at least one curved lubrication channel being positioned to intersect each of the plurality of circumferential lubrication grooves; and
a plurality of profiled annular lubrication grooves circumferentially extending in the interior cylindrical bearing surface of the inner ring.

2. The spherical plain bearing of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first seal groove extending radially outward into the interior spherical concave bearing surface proximate the first axial outer ring end, a first annular seal disposed in the first seal groove; and
a second seal groove extending radially outward into the interior spherical concave bearing surface proximate the second axial outer ring end, a second annular seal disposed in the second seal groove.

3. The spherical plain bearing of claim 2 , wherein the first annular seal and the second annular seal comprise a rectangular central portion with flat sides and a lobe located at each corner of the rectangular central portion.

4. The spherical plain bearing of claim 2 , further comprising a first scraper groove located in the interior spherical concave bearing surface of the outer ring between the first seal groove and the first axial outer ring end, and a second scraper groove located in the interior spherical concave bearing surface of the outer ring between the second seal groove and the second axial outer ring end.

5. The spherical plain bearing of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third seal groove extending radially outward into the interior cylindrical bearing surface proximate the first axial inner ring end, a third annular seal disposed in the third seal groove; and
a fourth seal groove extending radially outward into the interior cylindrical bearing surface proximate the second axial inner ring end, a fourth annular seal disposed in the fourth seal groove.

6. The spherical plain bearing of claim 5 , wherein the third annular seal and the fourth annular seal each comprise a rectangular central portion with flat sides and a lobe located at each corner of the rectangular central portion.

7. The spherical plain bearing of claim 5 , further comprising at least one of:
a first vent port extending axially inward from the first axial inner ring end to a radially outermost end of the third seal groove; and
a second vent port extending axially inward from the second axial inner ring end to a radially outermost end of the fourth seal groove.

8. The spherical plain bearing of claim 7 , further comprising at least one of:
a first radial hole formed substantially perpendicular to and extending into the third seal groove and intersecting the first vent hole; and
a second radial hole formed substantially perpendicular to and extending into the fourth seal groove and intersecting the second vent hole.

9. The spherical plain bearing of claim 8 , wherein the first radial hole is formed on an inboard side of the third annular seal.

10. The spherical plain bearing of claim 8 , wherein the second radial hole is formed on an inboard side of the fourth annular seal.

11. The spherical plain bearing of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of profiled annular lubrication grooves comprises a contoured shape defined by a concave central portion and two opposing convex side portions.

12. The spherical plain bearing of claim 11 , wherein the concave central portion conforms substantially to a circular arc defined by a continuous first radius of curvature having a first center point on a line that is perpendicular to the interior cylindrical bearing surface, and each of the convex side portions conforms substantially to circular arcs defined by blend radii having a continuous second radius of curvature having second center points on lines that are perpendicular to the interior cylindrical bearing surface.

13. The spherical plain bearing of claim 12 , wherein the second radius of curvature is smaller in magnitude than a depth of the profiled annular lubrication groove.

14. The spherical plain bearing of claim 12 , wherein the first radius of curvature transitions into each of the second radius of curvature of the blended radii at a transition point.

15. The spherical plain bearing of claim 1 , further comprising at least one outer ring lubrication hole extending from an exterior surface of the outer ring to the interior spherical concave bearing surface of the outer ring, the at least one outer ring lubrication hole being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

16. The spherical plain bearing of claim 15 , wherein the at least one outer ring lubrication hole is radially aligned with one of the plurality of circumferential lubrication grooves.

17. The spherical plain bearing of claim 15 , further comprising a lubricant disposed at the location of interfacial sliding engagement of the interior spherical concave bearing surface of the outer ring and the exterior spherical convex bearing surface of the inner ring.

18. The spherical plain bearing of claim 1 , further comprising at least one inner ring lubrication hole extending from the exterior spherical convex bearing surface of the inner ring to the interior cylindrical bearing surface of the inner ring, the at least one inner ring lubrication hole being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

19. The spherical plain bearing of claim 18 , wherein the at least one inner ring lubrication hole is radially aligned with one of the plurality of profiled annular lubrication grooves.

20. The spherical plain bearing of claim 18 , further comprising a lubricant disposed at a location of interfacial sliding engagement of the interior cylindrical bearing surface of the inner ring and an exterior cylindrical bearing surface of a member received in the bore of the inner ring.

21. The spherical plain bearing of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of circumferential lubrication grooves extend continuously around the exterior spherical convex bearing surface of the inner ring.

Assignees

• Roller Bearing Co America Inc

Inventors

• Voisine James

Classifications

• F16C23/045 Primary

  for radial load mainly, e.g. radial spherical plain bearings · CPC title

• F16C33/102

  with grease as lubricant · CPC title

• F16C33/1065

  Grooves on a bearing surface for distributing or collecting the liquid · CPC title

• F16C33/726

  with means to vent the interior of the bearing · CPC title

• F16C33/74

  of sliding-contact bearings · CPC title