US2012141052A1PendingUtilityA1

Self lubricated bearing compositions and methods of making the same

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Assignee: DREW GRANTPriority: Dec 5, 2010Filed: Nov 2, 2011Published: Jun 7, 2012
Est. expiryDec 5, 2030(~4.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Grant A. DrewRichard Soelch
F16C 2208/02F16C 33/104Y10T29/49636F16C 33/201F16C 33/103F16C 2326/43F16C 23/045F16C 2240/00F16C 2208/30
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Claims

Abstract

A self lubricated bearing contains a first member, a second member configured to slide against the first member, and a lubricating liner disposed in a sliding contact area between the first member and the second member. The lubricating liner contains at least one structural polymer and at least one lubricant with viscosity less than 5100 centistokes. A method is also provided for making the bearings, which includes adding the at least one lubricant with viscosity less than about 5100 centistokes to one or more components of the lubricating liner during the process of making the liner or bearing. The self lubricated bearing compositions of the invention have surprisingly long service lives versus prior art self lubricated bearings.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A self lubricated bearing, comprising:
 a first member;   a second member configured to slide against the first member; and   a lubricating liner disposed between the first member and the second member where the lubricating liner comprises at least one structural polymer and at least one lubricant with a viscosity less than 5100 centistokes.   
     
     
         2 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lubricant with viscosity below 5100 centistokes is a fluorinated polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lubricant has a viscosity less than 2000 centistokes. 
     
     
         4 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lubricant is a perfluoropolyether with a viscosity less than 5100 centistokes. 
     
     
         5 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating liner comprises at least one structural polymer and 0.1%-15% by weight of one lubricant with a viscosity less than 5100 centistokes. 
     
     
         6 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one structural polymer is a phenolic resin. 
     
     
         7 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one structural polymer is an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         8 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one structural polymer is a polyimide resin. 
     
     
         9 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one structural polymer is an acrylate resin. 
     
     
         10 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating liner additionally comprises a fibrous reinforcement. 
     
     
         11 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing is a ball bearing. 
     
     
         12 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing is a bushing. 
     
     
         13 . The self lubricated bearing of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding area between the sliding members is essentially a flat surface. 
     
     
         14 . A method to make a self lubricated bearing comprising a first member; a second member configured to slide against the first member; a lubricating liner disposed between the first member and the second member where the lubricating liner comprises at least one structural polymer and at least one lubricant with a viscosity less than 5100 centistokes wherein the at least one lubricant with a viscosity less than 5100 centistokes is vacuum impregnated into the lubricating liner after the lubricating liner is adhered to either the first member or the second member. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one lubricant is a perfluoropolyether. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one lubricant is a hydrocarbon lubricant. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one lubricant is a silicone lubricant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one lubricant is a fluorinated polymer with a viscosity less than 2000 centistokes. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one lubricant is a perfluoropolyether with a viscosity less than 2000 centistokes. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the lubricating liner comprises at least one structural polymer and 0.1%-15% by weight of at least one lubricant wherein the lubricant is a fluorinated polymer with a viscosity less than 5100 centistokes. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the lubricating liner comprises at least one structural polymer and 0.1%-15% by weight of at least one lubricant wherein the lubricant is a fluorinated polymer with a viscosity less than 2000 centistokes. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the lubricating liner comprises at least one structural polymer and 0.1%-15% by weight of at least one lubricant wherein the lubricant is a perfluoropolyether with a viscosity less than 2000 centistokes. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one structural polymer is a phenolic resin. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one structural polymer is an epoxy resin. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one structural polymer is a polyimide resin. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one structural polymer is a cured acrylate resin. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the lubricating liner additionally comprises a fibrous reinforcement. 
     
     
         28 . A self lubricated helicopter bearing comprising:
 a first member;   a second member configured to slide against the first member; and   a lubricating liner disposed between the first member and the second member where the lubricating liner comprises at least one structural polymer and at least one lubricant with a viscosity less than 5100 centistokes.   
     
     
         29 . The self lubricated helicopter bearing of  claim 28 , wherein the bearing is a helicopter main rotor bearing. 
     
     
         30 . The self lubricated helicopter bearing of  claim 28 , wherein the bearing is a helicopter tail rotor bearing.

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