Bushing

Abstract

A bushing utilizes a fabric reinforced thermoset composite sleeve incorporated within an outer shell in a construction enabling the sleeve to be press-fitted within the shell and held therein by a constriction in the shell bore which is embraced by the bearing liner. Following installation of the bearing sleeve, the sleeve bore may be reamed to provide a uniform inside diameter.

1 . A bushing comprising, in combination: 
 an outer shell having an inner cylindrical surface interrupted by a radially inwardly displaced wall portion;    an inner bearing sleeve disposed within the shell in a press-fit relationship and overlying the inwardly displaced wall portion;    that portion of the inner bearing sleeve overlying the inwardly displaced wall portion being of a sufficiently reduced wall thickness to provide a constant inside diameter for the inner bearing sleeve; and    the inside diameter of the inner bearing sleeve sized to provide a smooth running fit between the inner sleeve and a shaft extending through and supported in the bushing.    
   
   
       2 . The bushing of  claim 1  wherein the radially inwardly displaced portion extends circumferentially around the inside of the outer shell.  
   
   
       3 . The bushing of  claim 2  wherein said inwardly displaced portion comprises a discontinuous ring of circumferentially spaced apart ring segments.  
   
   
       4 . The bushing of  claim 2  wherein said inwardly displaced portion comprises a continuous circumferential rib projecting radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall of the sleeve.  
   
   
       5 . The bushing of  claim 1  wherein the radially inward displacement of the wall portion of the shell is greater than the running clearance between a shaft supported in the bearing and the inside diameter of the inner sleeve.  
   
   
       6 . The bushing of  claim 1  wherein the inner bearing sleeve is formed of a fiber reinforced plastic.  
   
   
       7 . The bushing of  claim 1  wherein the shell is relatively rigid and the inner sleeve is resiliently deformable to squeeze over the inwardly displaced wall portion of the shell when the inner sleeve is pressed coaxially into the shell.  
   
   
       8 . The bushing of  claim 1  wherein the shell is relatively rigid and the inner sleeve is resiliently deformable to squeeze over the inwardly displaced wall portion of the shell when the inner sleeve is pressed coaxially into the shell.  
   
   
       9 . The method of making a bushing comprising: 
 providing a relatively rigid shell having a cylindrical bore interrupted by a radially inwardly displaced wall portion forming a constriction in such bore;    providing a resilient bearing sleeve sized to be press fitted into said bore;    pressing said sleeve axially into said sleeve bore and beyond said constriction and causing the sleeve to embrace the constriction; and    reaming the sleeve bore to provide a uniform internal diameter.