Spherical bearing having an axially offset inner member

1. A spherical bearing comprising:

an inner member arranged concentrically about a longitudinal axis thereof and having a spherical exterior surface facing radially outward away from the longitudinal axis and extending a first width between a first axial end and a second axial end thereof, the inner member having an inner member central plane located equidistant between the first axial end and the second axial end;

an outer member having a spherical inner surface facing radially inward towards the longitudinal axis and extending a second width between a receiving end and a retaining end thereof, the outer member having an outer member central plane located equidistant between the receiving end and the retaining end, the spherical inner surface defining an interior area and having a maximum inside diameter located at an apex plane, the inner member being disposed in the interior area of the outer member between the receiving end and the retaining end when the inner member is aligned relative to the outer member at a zero angle measured relative to the longitudinal axis;

the inner member central plane being coplanar with the apex plane and being axially offset from the outer member central plane towards the retaining end when the inner member is aligned relative to the outer member at the zero angle measured relative to the longitudinal axis; and

the first axial end of the inner member being located entirely in the interior area and axially inward from the receiving end when the inner member is angularly misaligned relative to the outer member at a non-zero angle measured relative to the longitudinal axis,

wherein the spherical inner surface has:

(a) a first slot formed therein, the first slot extending radially outward from the spherical inner surface away from the longitudinal axis and extending axially inward from the receiving end toward the retaining end and axially terminating between the outer member apex plane and the retaining end, and the first slot having a circumferential width that is greater than the first width of the inner member; and

(b) a second slot formed therein, the second slot extending radially outward from the spherical inner surface away from the longitudinal axis and extending axially inward from the receiving end toward the retaining end and axially terminating between the outer member apex plane and the retaining end, and the second slot having the same circumferential width as the first slot, the second slot being located opposite the first slot.

2. The spherical bearing of claim 1 , wherein the non-zero angle is up to 7 degrees.

3. The spherical bearing of claim 1 , wherein the inner member is removably disposed in the interior area of the outer member through the first slot and the second slot.

4. The spherical bearing of claim 1 , wherein the inner member comprises a composite material and the outer member comprises a metallic material.

5. The spherical bearing of claim 1 , wherein the spherical exterior surface slidingly engages the spherical inner surface.

6. The spherical bearing of claim 1 , further comprising a first lubricious liner secured to the spherical inner surface, the first lubricious liner slidingly engaging the spherical outer surface of the inner member.

7. The spherical bearing of claim 6 , wherein the inner member has a bore extending axially therethrough from the first axial end to the second axial end, the bore defining an inner bearing surface.

8. The spherical bearing of claim 7 , further comprising a second lubricious liner secured to the inner bearing surface.

9. The spherical bearing of claim 8 , further comprising a shaft extending into the bore, wherein the shaft is in at least one of axial and rotational sliding engagement with the second lubricious liner.

10. The spherical bearing of claim 7 , further comprising a shaft extending into the bore.

11. The spherical bearing of claim 10 , wherein the shaft is in at least one of axial and rotational sliding engagement with the inner bearing surface.

12. An assembly of a spherical bearing and a housing, the assembly comprising:

the housing extending axially from a housing receiving end to a housing retaining end thereof, the housing having a bearing receiving surface extending axially inward from the housing receiving end, the bearing receiving surface facing radially inward toward a longitudinal axis and terminating at an abutment surface that faces axially toward the housing receiving end, the and the abutment surface being formed on a lip extending radially inward from the housing proximate the retaining end;

the spherical bearing comprising an inner member arranged concentrically about the longitudinal axis thereof and having a spherical exterior surface facing radially outward away from the longitudinal axis and extending a first width between a first axial end and a second axial end thereof, the inner member having an inner member central plane located equidistant between the first axial end and the second axial end;

an outer member having a spherical inner surface facing radially inward towards the longitudinal axis and extending a second width between a receiving end and a retaining end thereof, the outer member having an outer member central plane located equidistant between the receiving end and the retaining end, the spherical inner surface defining an interior area and having a maximum inside diameter located at an apex plane, the inner member being disposed in the interior area of the outer member between the receiving end and the retaining end when the inner member is aligned relative to the outer member at the zero angle measured relative to the longitudinal axis;

the inner member central plane being coplanar with the apex plane and being axially offset from the outer member central plane towards the retaining end when the inner member is aligned relative to the outer member at a zero angle measured relative to the longitudinal axis;

the first axial end of the inner member being located entirely in the interior area and axially inward from the receiving end when the inner member is angularly misaligned relative to the outer member at a non-zero angle measured relative to the longitudinal axis;

the spherical bearing being positioned in the housing such that the retaining end of the outer member engages the abutment surface and the receiving end of the outer member is coplanar with the bearing receiving end of the housing; and

the second axial end of the inner member being located entirely in the housing and axially inward from the bearing retaining end of the housing when the inner member is angularly misaligned relative to the outer member at the non-zero angle measured relative to the longitudinal axis.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the non-zero angle is up to 7 degrees.

14. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the spherical inner surface has:

(a) a first slot formed therein, the first slot extending radially outward from the spherical inner surface away from the longitudinal axis and extending axially inward from the receiving end toward the retaining end and axially terminating between the outer member apex plane and the retaining end, and the first slot having a circumferential width that is greater than the first width of the inner member; and

(b) a second slot formed therein, the second slot extending radially outward from the spherical inner surface away from the longitudinal axis and extending axially inward from the receiving end toward the retaining end and axially terminating between the outer member apex plane and the retaining end, and the second slot having the same circumferential width as the first slot, the second slot being located opposite the first slot.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the inner member is removably disposed in the interior area of the outer member through the first slot and the second.

16. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the inner member comprises a composite material and the outer member comprises a metallic material.

17. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the spherical exterior surface slidingly engages the spherical inner surface.

18. The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a first lubricious liner secured to the spherical inner surface, the first lubricious liner slidingly engaging the spherical outer surface of the inner member.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the inner member has a bore extending axially therethrough from the first axial end to the second axial end, the bore defining an inner bearing surface.

20. The assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a second lubricious liner secured to the inner bearing surface.

21. The assembly of claim 20 , further comprising a shaft extending into the bore, wherein the shaft is in at least one of axial and rotational sliding engagement with the second lubricious liner.

22. The assembly of claim 19 , further comprising a shaft extending into the bore.

23. The assembly of claim 22 , wherein the shaft is in at least one of axial and rotational sliding engagement with the inner bearing surface.