Plastic universal bearings and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

Abstract THIS DISCLOSURE RELATES TO A PLASTIC UNIVERSAL OR SELFALIGNING BEARING OF THE BALL AND SOCKET TYPE AND THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF. THE BEARING IS FORMED IN A TWO-SHOT MOLDING PROCESS IN WHICH A PLASTIC BEARING MEMBER IS FIRST MOLDED AND THEREAFTER SWELLED BY INCREASING THE MOISTURE CONTENT THEREOF. THE SWELLED BY INCREASING THE MOISTURE CONTENT THEREOF. THE SWELLED PLASTIC BEARING MEMBER IS THEN INSERTED INTO A SECOND DIE CAVITY IN WHICH A SECOND MATERIAL, PLASTIC OR METAL, IS MOLDED INTO A SUITABLE SOCKET MEMBER WHICH ENTRAPS THE SWELLED INSERT THEREIN. ON SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF THE INSERT IS REDUCED, THUS CAUSING THE INSERT TO RETURN TO A SMALLER, OR INTIAL VOLUME. THIS CREATES A CLEARANCE BETWEEN SAID BEARING MEMBER AND SAID SOCKET MEMBER WHICH ACTS TO LESSEN ANY FRICTIONAL INTERFERENCE BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREOF.

Inventors

• 👤 Thomas J Membry

Bibliographic Details