Water lubricated stave bearing

Claim 2

A water lubricated bearing comprising housing means providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, said compliment of staves cooperating to define a a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, a plurality of rods removably mounted at their ends in said housing means and extending lengthwise of said staves, said rods mechanically securing said staves in position within said housing means, said staves being removable and replaceable in said housing means by endwise movement with respect to said housing means, said staves providing portions which extend between said inner housing surface and the associated rods.

Claim 3

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 1 wherein a shaft extends through said bearing with radial clearance, said staves being removable and replaceable in said housing means without removing said shaft, said staves cooperating to provide axially extending openings which allow expansion of the material of said staves in a peripheral direction.

Claim 4

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rods are spaced inwardly from said inner housing surface, and said staves are provided with axially extending surfaces which engage associated rods to secure said staves in proper position within said housing and support said staves along their length.

Claim 5

A water lubricated rubber bearing as set forth in claim 1 wherein each stave is formed with a radially extending recess extending along its length, and the associated rod is positioned in said recess.

Claim 6

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 4 wherein said recess is of sufficient depth to allow substantial peripherally directed thermal expansion as well as provIding a water groove for lubricating said bearing.

Claim 7

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 5 wherein said staves when unstressed are provided with an external radius of curvature different from the radius of curvature of said inner housing surface, and resilient means are provided to produce a peripherally directed force which deform said staves from their unstressed condition and causes them to seat against said inner housing surface.

Claim 8

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 6 wherein said resilient means includes an elastomeric insert positioned between at least two staves.

Claim 9

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 7 wherein an elastomeric insert is positioned between each pair of staves.

Claim 10

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 8 wherein said inserts resist entry of water into the interface between said staves and said inner housing surface.

Claim 11

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 7 wherein said elastomeric insert is operable to accommodate peripherally directed thermal expansion and contraction of said staves.

Claim 12

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 10 wherein said elastomeric insert is formed with an opening extending along its length to accommodate said expansion and contraction.

Claim 13

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing means includes a removable end cap which is operable to axially locate said staves in said housing means in at least one direction, said housing means providing means to locate said end cap, and said rods secure said end cap in its mounted position.

Claim 14

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 12 wherein a shaft is journaled in said bearing with clearance, and said rods and staves are axially removable without removing said shaft.

Claim 15

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 13 wherein said housing assembly includes a removable end cap at each end of said staves both of which are secured in their mounted position by said rods.

Claim 16

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 14 wherein said staves are formed entirely of elastomeric material, and said end caps confine said staves with axial clearance.

Claim 17

A water lubricated bearing comprising housing means providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, said compliment of staves cooperating to define a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, a plurality of rods removably mounted at their ends in said housing means and extending lengthwise of said staves, said rods mechanically securing said staves in position within said housing means, said staves being removable and replaceable in said housing means by endwise movement with respect to said housing means, said housing assembly including a tubular member providing said inner housing surface, a support member formed with an opening in which said tubular member is positioned with clearance, and castable material in said clearance supporting said tubular member in said support member in a predetermined position.

Claim 18

A water lubricated bearing comprising housing means providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, said compliment of staves cooperating to define a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, a plurality of rods removably mounted at their ends in said housing means and extending lengthwise of said staves, said rods mechanically securing said staves in position within said housing means, said staves being removable and replaceable in said housing means by endwise movement with respect to said housing means, said housing assembly including a tubular member providing said inner housing surface, a support member formed with an opening in which said tubular member is positioned with clearance, and castable material in said clearance supporting said tubular member in said support member in a predetermined position.

Claim 19

A water lubricated bearing comprising a housing assembly providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, a compliment of staves cooperating to define a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, and an elastomeric insert positioned between each pair of said staves providing a peripherally directed force which causes mating engagement between said inner housing surface and said outer stave surface portion.

Claim 20

A water lubricated bearing comprising a housing assembly providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, a compliment of staves cooperating to define a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, and an elastomeric insert positioned between each pair of said staves providing a peripherally directed force which causes mating engagement between said inner housing surface and said outer stave surface portion.

Claim 21

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 17 wherein said inserts resist eNtry of water and other foreign matter into the interface betwen said staves and said inner housing surface.

Claim 22

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 17 wherein said staves are formed of elastomeric material, and the elastomeric material of said insert is softer than the elastomeric material of said stave.

Claim 23

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 19 wherein said elastomeric insert is radially spaced from said inner bearing surface portions in a direction toward said inner housing surface.

Claim 24

A water lubricated bearing comprising a housing assembly providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, a compliment of staves cooperating to define a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, and an elastomeric insert positioned between at least two of said staves providing a peripherally directed force which causes mating engagement between said inner housing surface and said outer stave surface portions, said elastomeric insert being formed with an opening extending along its length to accommodate peripherally directed expansion and contraction of said staves.

Claim 25

A water lubricated bearing comprising a housing assembly providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, a compliment of staves cooperating to define a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, and an elastomeric insert positioned between at least two of said staves providing a peripherally directed force which causes mating engagement between said inner housing surface and said outer stave surface portions, said elastomeric insert being formed with an opening extending along its length to accommodate peripherally directed expansion and contraction of said staves.

Claim 26

A water lubricated bearing as set forth in claim 21 wherein said opening in said elastomeric insert is open to one end of said insert and is closed by an end wall adjacent to the other end of said insert, said end wall being engagable by a push member extending along said opening to elongate said insert for movement into position between adjacent staves.

Claim 27

A water lubricated bearing comprising a housing assembly providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, a compliment of staves cooperating to define a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, and an elastomeric insert positioned between at least two of said staves providing a peripherally directed force which causes mating engagement between said inner housing surface and said outer stave surface portions, said staves when unstressed being formed so that said outer stave surface portion has a different radius of curvature from said inner housing surface, and said elastomeric insert provides sufficient peripherally directed force to deform said staves from their unstressed condition until said outer stave surface portion is in mating engagement with said inner housing surface.

Claim 28

A water lubricated bearing comprising a housing assembly providing a generally cylindrical inner housing surface, a compliment of separate elongated staves each providing an inner bearing surface portion formed of elastomeric material and an outer stave surface portion engaging said inner housing surface, a compliment of staves cooperating to define a journal providing a plurality of inner bearing surface portions adapted to journal a shaft, and an elastomeric insert positioned between at least two of said staves providing a peripherally directed force which causes mating engagement between said inner housing surface and said outer stave surface portions, said staves when unstressed being formed so that said outer stave surface portion has a different radius of curvature from said inner housing surface, and said elastomeric insert provides sufficient peripherally directed force to deform said staves from their unstressed condition until said outer stave surface portion is in mating engagement with said inner housing surface.