Abstract: A self-lubricating track roller and a method of making the self-lubricating track roller are disclosed. First, an inner ring is provided having a radially outwardly facing surface. A parting agent is applied onto the radially outwardly facing surface. Next, a self-lubricating material is applied over the radially outwardly facing surface. Then, an outer ring is formed around the self-lubricating material such that a radially inwardly facing surface of the outer ring is bonded to the self-lubricating material. A resilient tire is bonded onto the radially outwardly facing surface of the outer ring. In the resulting track roller, the radially outwardly facing surface of the inner ring has a surface profile that corresponds to a mating surface profile of the self-lubricating material that is bonded to the radially inwardly facing surface of the outer ring.

Abstract: The present invention provides a self-lubricating track roller and a method of making the self-lubricating track roller. First, an inner ring is provided having a radially outwardly facing surface. A parting agent is applied onto the radially outwardly facing surface. Next, a self-lubricating material is applied over the radially outwardly facing surface. Then, an outer ring is formed around the self-lubricating material such that a radially inwardly facing surface of the outer ring is bonded to the self-lubricating material. A resilient tire is bonded onto the radially outwardly facing surface of the outer ring. In the resulting track roller, the radially outwardly facing surface of the inner ring has a surface profile that corresponds to a mating surface profile of the the self-lubricating material that is bonded to the radially inwardly facing surface of the outer ring.

Abstract: A method of making a spherical bearing including the steps of forming an outer bearing member with an inner concave spherical bearing surface, forming a second member with an outer convex spherical bearing surface, cutting the second member along a diametric plane to provide first and second inner bearing segments respectively including first and second outer spherical bearing surface segments, inserting the first inner bearing segment within the outer bearing member so as to fully engage the first outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface, and inserting the second inner bearing segment within the outer bearing member so as to fully engage the second outer spherical bearing surface segment with the inner concave spherical bearing surface.

Abstract: A rotary-to-linear actuator includes a threaded rigid shaft, and a collar engaging the threads. The collar is formed from a low friction material reinforced by successive layers of parallel filaments. The filaments are oriented to lie across the outwardly convex projecting faces of the shaft threads.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a spherical bearing assembly including an outer race member including an inner concave spherical bearing surface, a first inner bearing member extending circumferentially within the outer race member and including an outer spherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material and engaging the inner bearing surface, and a second inner bearing member extending circumferentially within the outer race member and including an outer spherical bearing surface fabricated of self-lubricating material and engaging the inner bearing surface.

Abstract: A link chain comprising a first left side link including an end having therein an aperture, a first right side link laterally spaced from the first left link and including an end having therein an aperture in alignment with the aperture of the first left link, a bushing fixed in the apertures in the first left and right side links and including a bore having an axis, and an annular inwardly facing bearing surface, a second left side link located adjacent and axially outwardly of the end of the first left side link and including an end having therein an aperture located in axial alignment with the bore of the bushing, a second right side link laterally spaced from the second left side link, located adjacent and axially outwardly of the end of the first right side link, and including an end having therein an aperture located in axial alignment with the bore of the bushing, and a hinge pin fixed in the apertures of the second left and right side links, extending through the bore of the bushing, and including a c

Abstract: A bearing assembly comprising an outer non-rotating sub-assembly including an outer housing including a cylindrical bore, and an outer bearing including an outer cylindrical surface engaging the cylindrical bore of the outer housing, and a bore defined by a spherical inwardly facing bearing surface, and an inner rotating sub-assembly including an inner bearing including an outer surface defined by a spherical outwardly facing bearing surface engaging the inwardly facing bearing surface of the outer bearing, and an internal cylindrical bore adapted to receive a rotating member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a bearing assembly comprising an outer stationary assembly including a housing including an axial bore with an inwardly facing spherical surface, and an outer bearing member including an outwardly facing spherical surface received by the inwardly facing spherical surface of the housing, and a bore including an inwardly facing cylindrical bearing surface, and an inner rotating assembly including a rotating shaft, and a bearing sleeve fixed to the shaft for common rotation and including an axial bore receiving the shaft, and an outwardly facing composite fabric bearing having an outwardly facing cylindrical self-lubricating bearing surface received in the inwardly facing bearing surface of the outer bearing member.

Abstract: The invention provides a bearing including an inner bearing surface that is formed by a layer of self-lubricating material and that contains axially extending and circumferentially spaced apart lubrication grooves. The inner bearing surface and the grooves therein are formed by conforming the self-lubricating material to the outer surface of a mandrel that has elongated members supported thereon so that the elongated members form the lubrication grooves. An overlayment is then applied on the layer of self-lubricating material, the overlayment including a plurality of filaments wound around the layer of self-lubricating material, and a hardenable liquid to bond the layer of self-lubricating material to the overlayment.

Abstract: A method of making bearing including a substratum having a configured external surface to which a self-lubricating material is integrally bonded to provide a self-lubricating bearing surface, the method including; applying a layer of self-lubricating resin penetrable bearing material onto the configured external surface; providing a hardenable liquid resin to coat and penetrate the bearing material; applying an overlayment of filaments onto the layer of bearing material to exert a bonding pressure on the layer of bearing material sufficient to cause the layer of bearing material to conform and bond to the configured external surface; hardening the resin; and removing at least part of the overlayment of filaments after the resin has hardened to expose at least selected portions of the layer of self-lubricating bearing material.

Abstract: A process for making an individual thrust bearing assembly having an inner race and a filament wound outer race integrally formed on the inner race for rotation relative thereto and to resist axial thrust loads and the bearing made thereby. To perform the process a mandrel is provided. An inner race that includes an outer peripheral surface having a bearing quality finish and one or more annular inner race axial thrust resisting areas is mounted on the mandrel. The formation of the outer race is initiated by applying a hardenable thixotropic resin to the outer peripheral surface of the inner race to fill the annular inner race axial thrust resisting areas and to form outer race axial thrust resisting areas mating with the inner race axial thrust resisting areas.

Abstract: A process for making a replaceable socket having a body portion with a concave internal raceway and insertion slot structure to allow installation and removal of a spherical bearing and the replaceable socket made by that process.

Abstract: A bearing comprising a spherical ball removably mounted in an outer socket. The ball has a bore axis, an insertion axis and are orientation axis orthogonally arranged, an outer spherical bearing surface, diametrically opposed truncations on the outer spherical bearing surface parallel to the bore axis spaced apart a first dimension and end surfaces spaced apart on the bore axis a second axial dimension.

Abstract: A method of making a filament wound flat stock member and the filament wound flat stock member made by that method. A low fraction bearing surface is formed on a support having a flat surface by placing a self-lubricating material on the flat surface. A matrix is formed upon the self-lubricating material by winding thereon a resin-impregnated filamentous material. The winding is continued until a desired outer matrix dimension is obtained and the resin is cured to bond the materials together into a hardened stock member. The hardened stock member is removed from the flat of the support to provide a filament wound flat stock member having an exposed bearing surface of the self-lubricating material.

Abstract: A bearing comprising a substratum having a configured external surface to which a self-lubricating material is integrally bonded to provide a self-lubricating bearing surface produced by the method of: applying a layer of self-lubricating resin penetrable bearing material onto the configured external surface; providing a hardenable liquid resin to coat and penetrate the bearing material; applying an overlayment of filaments onto the layer of bearing material to exert a bonding pressure on the layer of bearing material sufficient to cause the layer of bearing material to conform and bond to the configured external surface; hardening the resin; and removing at least part of the overlayment of filaments after the resin has hardened to expose at least selected portions of the layer of self-lubricating bearing material.

Abstract: A method of producing a replaceable one piece annular outer race having an axial bore, an uninterrupted inner annular concave raceway facing into the bore and an outer surface. The method comprises the steps of applying an overlayment of filaments onto a cylindrical axially split mold assembly to form a one piece outer race substrate. The mold assembly includes first and second separable semi-cylindrical mold halves each having a semi-cylindrical convex outer mold surface, a mounting bore extending axially through the mold assembly, a removal axis normal to the mounting bore axis and a support removably mounted in the mold assembly mounting bore. A coat of hardenable liquid resin is applied to penetrate the filament overlayment substrate, after which the coated substrate is cured to form a hardened one piece outer race on the mold assembly. The cylindrical mold halves are removed from the hardened outer race to yield a single piece annular outer race.

Abstract: A process for producing a plurality of bearing members each of which has a bore defined by an inner bearing surface of self-lubricating material containing lubrication grooves that open into the bore. To perform the process a mandrel is provided having an axial length, spaced apart ends and an outer surface, and one or more rod members is affixed on the outer surface. A parting agent is applied to the mandrel outer surface and rod members and a layer of self-lubricating material is layered over the outer surface and rod members. A filament wound overlayment is applied on top of the layer of self-lubricating material along with a hardenable resin to bond the layer of self-lubricating material and overlayment together. The resin is hardened to form a rigid elongated tube member and the mandrel and rods are removed to expose the inner bearing surface and lubrication grooves. The rigid tube is then severed transversely into a plurality of individual bearing members.

Abstract: A process for making an individual thrust bearing assembly having an inner race and a filament wound outer race integrally formed on the inner race for rotation relative thereto and to resist axial thrust loads and the bearing made thereby. To perform the process a mandrel is provided. An inner race that includes an outer peripheral surface having a bearing quality finish and one or more annular inner race axial thrust resisting areas is mounted on the mandrel. The formation of the outer race is initiated by applying a hardenable thixotropic resin to the outer peripheral surface of the inner race to fill the annular inner race axial thrust resisting areas and to form outer race axial thrust resisting areas mating with the inner race axial thrust resisting areas.

Abstract: A method of integrally bonding self-lubricating material to an external surface of a substratum to form a self-lubricating surface thereon comprising the steps of: A. forming the substratum to provide an external surface thereon of desired configuration; B. applying a layer of self-lubricating material onto the surface; C. applying a plurality of filaments on the layer of self-lubricating material to form an overlayment thereon to exert a bonding pressure sufficient to cause the layer of self-lubricating material to conform and bond to the configured external surface; D. applying a hardenable liquid resin prior to, simultaneously with, or subsequent to the application of the self-lubricating material and filaments to coat the material and filaments and fill any interstices that exist; E. hardening the resin; and F. removing all or part of the overlayment after the resin has hardened to expose the layer of self-lubricating material or portions thereof on the external surface.

Abstract: A spherical bearing subassembly comprising a one-piece integrally formed annular socket member having an axis, axially spaced ends, an axially extending bore, a concave inner raceway facing into the bore and a convex generally spherical outer surface, and a spherical bearing mounted in the concave inner raceway.