Abstract: A component for a bearing including a substrate having opposite major surfaces spaced apart by a thickness of the substrate, and a plurality of channels extending along the first surface, at least two of the plurality of channels extending in parallel with each other, wherein at least one of the plurality of channels is adapted to receive and secure a polymeric material to the substrate. A method of forming a bearing including providing a substrate having a opposite major surfaces spaced apart by a thickness, forming channels in the substrate, the channels each having a depth extending from the first major surface toward the second major surface, applying a polymeric material to at least a portion of the first major surface, wherein a portion of the polymeric material occupies at least a portion of at least one of the channels, and curing the polymeric material.

Abstract: A sliding bearing arrangement for a wind turbine and a method to service the bearing is provided. A sliding bearing arrangement of a wind turbine includes a first shaft and a second shaft, whereby a first radial sliding bearing is arranged between the shafts. The first radial sliding bearing includes bearing pads. The first shaft includes a collar, whereby the collar is arranged mainly perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and radially overlaps at least a part of a radial surface of the second shaft. The collar includes an opening to exchange the bearing pads of the first radial sliding bearing of the bearing arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shaft bearing support assembly for waterborne equipment, including: at least one bearing; at least one tapered forcing ring; a housing; and at least one adjusting device. The outer circumference of each of the at least one bearing is surrounded by one tapered forcing ring which is arranged inside the housing. The at least one adjusting device communicates with each of the at least one tapered forcing ring. A force generated by the at least one adjusting device is transmitted to the at least one tapered forcing ring to longitudinally move the at least one tapered forcing ring, causing the at least one bearing to constrict radially and to adapt to a desired clearance over a diameter of a shaft.

Abstract: A bearing unit for holding a shaft, the bearing unit having a housing and integral lands extending inwardly from the inner surface of the housing for tangentially engaging the rotating shaft, the bearing unit being made from a slippery polymer alloy comprising a heterogeneous composition of a thermoplastic in a continuous phase, a thermoplastic rubber compound dispersed in the thermoplastic and a lubricant dispersed in the thermoplastic.

Abstract: A bearing stave for use in a water-lubricated bearing having a discontinuous surface with a plurality of discrete, separated contact locations for contacting the shaft, the discontinuous surface being made of slippery polymer alloy.

Abstract: A bearing stave for use in a water lubricated bearing having a discontinuous surface with a plurality of discrete, separated contact locations for contacting the shaft, the discontinuous surface being made of slippery polymer alloy.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a water-lubricated drive shaft includes a plurality of load-bearing staves made from a composite material known as Slippery Polymer Alloy (SPA and a plurality of rubber staves. The composite staves are spaced circumferentially around the bearing housing on the inner wall. The rubber staves are also spaced circumferentially around the bearing housing, the rubber staves being located between adjoining composite staves and having compression force on their end portions to lock the composite staves in place.

Abstract: A bearing stave for use in a water lubricated bearing having a discontinuous surface with a plurality of discrete, separated contact locations for contacting the shaft, the discontinuous surface being made of slippery polymer alloy.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft of a ship wherein the shaft if generally to be supported by such bearing assembly in a horizontally extending position. The bearing assembly has a housing with a cylindrical shell mounted therein having a central bore with a longitudinally extending central axis. The shell has a plurality of circumferentially spaced staves provided therein which project into the central bore to support the drive shaft. The staves have transverse grooves provided therein.

Abstract: A Bearing and Bushing assembly where the operational mating surfaces of the bearing and bushing components are each formed with grooves, longitudinally extending the length of each component. The grooves formed in the bushing to be attached to a shaft are spiral, at least two in number, one being a reverse spiral to the other. The bearing assembly has a number of longitudinal, parallel grooves again extending the length of the bearing members. The bearing member is of composite construction. The inner component carrying the grooves being of hard rubber.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft includes a cylindrical housing, and a plurality of elastomeric bearing sections disposed within the housing. The bearing sections are bonded to the housing by first applying a pattern of alternating parallel lines of adhesive to the inner diameter of the housing, installing the bearing sections, and inflating an airbag within the housing to thereby apply a uniform radial pressure to the inside of the housing while the adhesive cures.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a water-lubricated drive shaft includes a plurality of load-bearing staves made from a composite material known as Slippery Polymer Alloy (SPA and a plurality of rubber staves. The composite staves are spaced circumferentially around the bearing housing on the inner wall. The rubber staves are also spaced circumferentially around the bearing housing, the rubber staves being located between adjoining composite staves and having compression force on their end portions to lock the composite staves in place.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft includes a cylindrical housing, and a plurality of elastomeric bearing sections disposed within the housing. The bearing sections are bonded to the housing by first applying a pattern of alternating parallel lines of adhesive to the inner diameter of the housing, installing the bearing sections, and inflating an airbag within the housing to thereby apply a uniform radial pressure to the inside of the housing while the adhesive cures.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft includes a cylindrical housing, and a plurality of elastomeric bearing sections disposed within the housing. The bearing sections are bonded to the housing by first applying a pattern of alternating parallel lines of adhesive to the inner diameter of the housing, installing the bearing sections, and inflating an airbag within the housing to thereby apply a uniform radial pressure to the inside of the housing while the adhesive cures.

Abstract: A water-lubricated bearing comprises a cylindrical shell and a resilient liner, said shell being formed from a hard plastics material by a casting process and including an integral outwardly radially-directed flange at one end region thereof. The bearing may be made by initially forming the liner from a curable plastics material and curing the said material and thereafter forming the shell by casting a settable material in situ about the liner.

Abstract: A bearing includes an annular rubber-like member having a metal sleeve bonded on the inside diameter. One or more collars are sweated onto a shaft and provide one component of a lug and groove torque connection, the metal sleeve providing the other component. In one embodiment, a polymer liner is cooled and then inserted into the stern tube. When the polymer liner warms to ambient temperature, it expands into engagement with the stern tube and provides a surface for bearing engagement with the rubber-like member. Liners of this type are easily removed by removing the bearing, drilling a hole through the side wall of the liner parallel to the axis of the bearing and then pulling the weakened liner from the stern tube.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft of a ship wherein the shaft is generally to be supported by such bearing assembly in a horizontally extending position. The bearing assembly has a housing with a cylindrical shell mounted therein having a central bore with a longitudinally extending central axis. The shell has a set of circumferentially spaced staves to support the drive shaft. All of the staves are comprised of a slippery polymer alloy and project into the central bore of the shell. The staves are held in place by gripping members comprised of an elastomeric member compressed by a rigid plate.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft as of a ship wherein the shaft is generally to be supported by such bearing assembly in a horizontally extending position. The bearing assembly has a housing with a cylindrical shell mounted therein having a central bore with a longitudinally extending central axis. The shell may either have a first set of circumferentially spaced staves that are not evenly spaced circumferentially to support the drive shaft, or have a first set and a second set of staves that are circumferentially spaced such that the first set contact the drive shaft while the second set do not contact the drive shaft under normal conditions of load. All of the staves have resilient elastomeric strips that project into the central bore of the shell.

Abstract: A bearing includes an annular rubber member having a metal sleeve bonded in the inside diameter. In one embodiment, the metal sleeve and shaft associated with the bearing provide a keyway having a key therein mounting the bearing for rotation with the shaft and limiting axial movement of the bearing relative to the shaft. The rubber member rotates relative to a metal sleeve or housing. The bearing can be removed and replaced from one end of the shaft-bearing structure so the bearing can be replaced without pulling the shaft from its surrounding housing. In another embodiment, a series of interfitting lugs and slots rotate the bearing with the shaft.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing constructed entirely of non-newtonian fluidic materials such as rubber, plastic and the like. The bearing is extrudable and includes a bearing pad support structure and a plurality of bearing pads formed with bearing pad support structure. The bearing pads may be formed of a material which is softer than the support structure. The bearing may also include a number of deflection control members fused to the bearing pads and/or the bearing pad support structure.The method of making the bearing inlcudes the steps of extruding one or more materials to form an uncured tubular extrusion, curing the tubular extrusion, cutting the tubular extrusion into bearing segments and sizing the bearing segments by machining the individual segments to the desired inner and outer diameters.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft, having a housing with a central bore in which is mounted a shell with a plurality of circumferential spaced staves defining water courses therebetween. Each of the staves have an outer layer made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and an inner layer made of an elastomeric material. The inner layer is grooved to receive a thin layer of low friction material such that surface of the low friction material is below the plane of the inner layer.

Abstract: A thermoplastic-rubber polymer alloy contains a tough, wear resistant low friction thermoplastic such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, a cured rubber compound such as nitrile rubber, and a lubricant such as graphite in effective amounts to produce a composition which has good wet and dry friction and wear properties. The ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is typically utilized in a sufficient amount so as to form a continuous phase with the thermoset rubber being present as particles dispersed throughout the polyethylene as a discontinuous phase. The polymer alloy is made by dry blending the thermoplastic compound with ground thermoset rubber whereby the rubber is coated, heating and mixing the composition to above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic compound and subsequently cooling under pressure. The alloy can be easily transfer molded because of the lubricating action of the heated, softened plastic.

Abstract: A multi-layered sleeve bearing supports the propeller shaft of a propeller-driven water craft, the layered sleeves comprising an outer fixed master housing, an intermediate removable bearing housing, and an innermost bearing sleeve press-fitted in the removable bearing housing, such that when the bearing sleeve is worn past use, it may be replaced under water by removing the propeller from its shaft and sliding the bearing housing along with the worn bearing sleeve off of the shaft, taking the bearing housing above water and replacing the bearing sleeve within the bearing housing, and then replacing the bearing housing within the master housing under water. The procedure avoids the removal of rudder shaft or rudder as well as the necessity of dry docking the craft.

Abstract: The article and method of manufacturing of a bearing assembly wherein the assembly has an inner cylindrical elastomeric sleeve reinforced with at least one ply of a fiber reinforced rubber adhered thereto, a flange with a hub of reduced diameter is mounted and secured onto one end of such sleeve. A fiber reinforced outer rigid plastic shell overlies and is secured to the hub and the rubber fiber reinforced sleeve.

Abstract: A water lubricated bearing assembly having a plurality of circumferentially spaced first set of bearing elements with substantially flat surfaces and water courses therebetween supporting a shaft for rotation. Certain ones or all of such bearing elements support a second set of bearing elements that are moveable radially into supporting engagement with the shaft such that either the first set or the second set of bearing elements are the prime supports for the shaft and wherein such first and second set of bearing elements have different coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A method of making a novel bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft, having a housing with a central bore in which is mounted a shell with a polygonal shaped opening which receives a plurality of circumferential spaced staves presenting a plurality of flat planar surface that tangentially contact a drive shaft. The staves have an outer layer made of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene material and an inner layer made of an elastomeric material. The outer layer is received by or may have a projection that is received by a corresponding recess in the shell which is made from a fiberglass material impregnated with an epoxy-resin.

Abstract: The article and method of manufacturing of a bearing assembly wherein the assembly has an inner cylindrical elastomeric sleeve reinforced with at least one ply of a fiber reinforced rubber adhered thereto, a flange with a hub of reduced diameter is mounted and secured onto one end of such sleeve. A fiber reinforced outer rigid plastic shell overlies and is secured to the hub and the rubber fiber reinforced sleeve.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft, having a housing with a central bore in which is mounted a shell with a polygonal shaped opening, a plurality of circumferential spaced staves are mounted in the polygonal opening presenting a plurality of flat planar surface that tengentially contact a drive shaft. The staves have a outer layer made of high molecular weight and an inner layer made of an elastomeric material. The staves are retained within the polygonal opening with the retainer rings. A method for manufacturing such a bearing assembly is disclosed, the method comprising placing a plurality of laminated, trapezoidal shaped staves about a polygonal shaped mandrel; wrapping a fiber fabric about the outer periphery and curing a resin coating placed thereon; and securing a pair of annular retainer rings thereabout to secure the staves to the cured shell.

Abstract: The method of making a non-metallic bearing assembly by initially molding a flat longitudinally extending sheet of rubber containing a ply or plies of fiberglass reinforced fabric therein, then cutting such sheet into a plurality of strips. The flat strips are then located around the periphery of a mandrel that is then wound with fabric which is impregnated with epoxy resin, then cured and machined to a cylindrical bearing.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for supporting a drive shaft, having a housing with a central bore in which is mounted a shell with a polygonal shaped opening, a plurality of circumferential spaced staves are mounted in the polygonal opening presenting a plurality of flat planar surface that tengentially contact a drive shaft. The staves have a outer layer made of high molecular weight and an inner layer made of an elastomeric material. The staves are retained within the polygonal opening with retainer rings.