Abstract: A bearing, plastic bearing material, and a method for the production thereof are described. The bearing comprises a continuous consolidated bearing material layer impregnated into a porous layer, which is in turn mounted on a backing material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flanged bush including a substantially cylindrical body portion, a radial flange portion, and an undercut region disposed within a surface of the body portion and the flange portion, wherein the undercut region is operable for relieving stresses present in the surface of the body portion and the flange portion. The present invention also provides a flanged bush including a substantially cylindrical body portion and a pair of substantially semi-circular members, wherein the pair of semi-circular members form a radial flange portion of the flanged bush. The present invention further provides a method for the manufacture of a flanged bush including providing a substantially cylindrical structure, bending an end portion of the structure 45 degrees, and bending the end portion 90 degrees. The method also including bending the end portion of the structure past 90 degrees and allowing the end portion to return to 90 degrees.

Abstract: A dry bearing (102, FIG. 2(f)) for a hinge pin or the like comprises a bush 402 mounted in a radially supportive housing (16), the bush being formed by a circumferentially discontinuous tubular form made by rolling a strip of steel-backed, bearing material having a filled polymer infiltrated sintered bronze (ISB) lining about a mandrel (FIG. 32, 2(c)). The tubular form is, after mounting and to provide a more uniform inside diameter, burnished by pushing therethrough a burnishing tool (50), having a cylindrical portion (51), of larger diameter than the mounted form. The bearing (and method of manufacture) differ from the art in that a minor part of the lining surface is, prior to passage of the burnishing tool and conveniently when still in strip form, compressed in part as depressions (troughs 442) arrayed over the surface.

Abstract: The bearing comprises a metal backing, a sintered layer on said metal backing, and a lining layer infiltrated into pores of the sintered layer and standing proud thereof to provide a bearing surface. The lining layer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene including 2 to 10% by volume of fibrillated aramid fibres.

Abstract: A plain bearing comprises a metal backing, a layer of a porous matrix of sintered metal on the backing and a filled PTFE infiltrated into the interstices of the sintered layer and standing proud of the sintered layer, wherein the PTFE is filled with 1-20% by volume fibrillated aramid fibres and 10-30% by volume glass. The glass is preferably E-glass present as milled filaments of length 0.05-0.30 mm and diameter 0.010-0.020 mm and coated with a silene sizing agent. The fibrillated aramid fibres provide reinforcement and improved load bearing capacity and the glass provides an abrasive filler which abrades asperities on a body and creates a smooth polished surface against which to bear, thereby improving its life. The PTFE preferably also includes ferric oxide and carbon black to about 1.5% and 1.2% by volume respectively which both pigment the polymer and act as fine abrasive and lubricant respectively. The carbon black content may be increased to about 10% to provide electrical conductivity.

Abstract: A bearing material and a method for the production thereof are described. The bearing material comprising a matrix of polytetrafluoroethylene having dispersed therein in volume %: a melt-processable fluoro-polymer in the range from 2 to 10; an inorganic particulate filler material in the range from 10 to 30; and, up to 5 of a ceramic particulate material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bearing material, a bearing material and a bearing having the bearing material on a strong backing are described.

Abstract: In a bearing assembly for a steering column assembly for example, the bearing assembly comprising an axially split bearing and elastomeric crown, the crown acting to close the split, there is disclosed an improved elastomeric crown. The crown includes a plurality of passageway extending through the crown. The crown also includes a plurality of ribs extending outwardly of the crown. The improved elastomeric crown allows more constant pressure fields and low torque variations of a shaft running in the bearing.

Abstract: A plain bearing comprises a metallic backing, a sintered porous metal layer bonded to the backing and a lining layer infiltrated into the pores of the porous metal layer and overlying the sintered metal layer, said lining layer comprising PTFE containing 10-30% by vol. of particulate wear-resistant filler, 2-10% by vol. fibrillated aramid fibers and 2-10% by vol. of a melt processable fluoropolymer. The melt processable fluoropolymer is a copolymer of the group tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkylvinylether and monofluoroalkoxy. Such a bearing exhibits superior cavitation erosion resistance and may, by increasing the temperature and/or duration of the sintering operation that is normally performed after the mixture of ingredients has been applied to a backing material, be made to exhibit significantly improved fatigue strength.