Spherical bearing arrangement
View Patent ↗A spherical bearing arrangement comprising: a bearing housing; a plurality of split-ball portions which are together arranged in the housing to produce a composite ball having a spherical bearing surface, the composite ball having a bore passing therethrough, the bore having a central axis; and a bushing secured in the bore of the composite ball. A method of assembling a spherical bearing arrangement is also disclosed.
1. A spherical bearing arrangement comprising:
a bearing housing;
a plurality of split-ball portions which are together arranged in the housing to produce a composite ball having a spherical bearing surface, the composite ball having a cylindrical bore passing theretbrough, the bore having a central axis; and
a cylindrical bushing secured with a non-interference fit in the bore of the composite ball, the bushing having a stop located at each axial end;
wherein one of said stops comprises a threaded portion on an outer surface of the bushing proximate an axial end of the bushing, with which a respective nut is engaged, and the other of said stops comprises a flange that projects radially outwardly from the outer surface of the bushing proximate the other axial end of the bushing.
2. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein there is no separation between the split-ball portions.
3. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein there is separation between the split-ball portions.
4. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing is secured in the bore of the composite ball so as to prevent axial displacement of the bushing in the bore.
5. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 wherein movement between the respective nut and threaded portion is locked.
6. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the nut is locked to the threaded portion by a peg inserted in a hole at the interface of the nut and the threaded portion.
7. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said stops is a flange.
8. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the split-ball portions are substantially identical to each other.
9. A spherical bearing arrangement according claim 1 , wherein there are two split-ball portions.
10. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing comprises a material that is different than that of the composite ball.
11. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 10 , wherein a shaft is to be inserted into the bushing and the bushing comprises a material pre-selected so as to minimize wear between the bushing and shaft.
12. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the bushing is made of copper or a copper alloy.
13. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the composite ball is made of titanium or a titanium alloy.
14. A spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing is provided with at least one lobe to secure the bearing housing to another object.
15. A method of assembling a spherical bearing arrangement, the arrangement comprising a bearing housing; a plurality of split-ball portions; and a cylindrical bushing having a stop located at each axial end, one of said stops comprising a flange that projects radially outwardly from an outer surface of the bushing proximate one of said axial ends of the bushing, the method comprising:
inserting the plurality of split-ball portions into the bearing housing so as to define a composite ball having a cylindrical bore passing therethrough;
securing the bushing with a non-interference fit into the bore of the composite ball; and
engaging a nut on a threaded outer surface portion of the bushing proximate the other axial end of the bushing to form the other of said stops.
16. A method of assembling a spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of split-ball portions are inserted into the bearing housing sequentially, prior to securing the bushing in the bore.
17. A method of assembling a spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the bushing is secured in the bore of the composite ball so as to prevent axial displacement of the bushing in the bore.
18. A method of assembling a spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein there is no separation between the split-ball portions.
19. A method of assembling a spherical bearing arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein there is separation between the split-ball portions.