Bearing

Claim 2

A resilient bearing member for rotatably supporting a tube concentrically within a cylindrical holder, the wall of said tube having a pair of diametrically opposed apertures therein, said bearing member having a wall with a cylindrical outer surface generally conforming to said cylindrical holder and an inner surface adapted to support said tube in concentric relation with said cylindrical holder, said bearing member wall having a pair of diametrically opposed projections extending radially inwardly from the inner surface thereof and formed integrally therewith, said projections being receivable within the apertures in the tube wall to retain said bearing member axially and rotatably rigid with said tube, the wall of said bearing member having an axially extending split therein between said projections and defined by adjacent edge portions, said bearing member wall further having at least one axially extending weakened section in the area between said projections opposite said split, said weakened section acting as a hinge to permit said edge portions to be moved apart from each other a distance sufficient to permit insertion of said bearing member radially into position on said tube, with the inwardly extending projections of the former received within the apertures in the wall of the latter.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said weakened section comprises an axially extending groove formed in the wall of said bearing member.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 2 wherein said groove is formed in the inner surface of said bearing member wall.

Claim 5

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said split is disposed substantially 90* circumferentially from the centers of said projections.

Claim 6

The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said bearing member wall has fOur, equally circumferentially spaced, axially extending weakened sections.

Claim 7

The invention defined in claim 5 wherein each of said weakened sections is disposed substantially 90* from the center of one of said projections.

Claim 8

A resilient bearing member for rotatably supporting a tube concentrically within a cylindrical holder, the wall of said tube having a pair of diametrically opposed apertures therein, said bearing member having a wall with a cylindrical outer surface generally conforming to said cylindrical holder and an inner surface adapted to support said tube in concentric relation with said cylindrical holder, said bearing member wall having a pair of diametrically opposed projections extending radially inwardly from the inner surface thereof and formed integrally therewith, said projections being receivable within the apertures in the tube wall to retain said bearing member circumferentially rigid with said tube, the wall of said bearing member having an axially extending split therein between said projections and defined by adjacent edge portions, said bearing member wall further having a first pair of circumferentially spaced, axially extending weakened sections in the area between said projections opposite said split, and a second pair of circumferentially spaced, axially extending weakened sections in the area between said projections including said split and on opposite sides of said split, said weakened sections acting as hinges to permit said edge portions to be moved apart from each other a distance at least as great as the outer diameter of said tube, whereby said bearing member can be inserted radially into position on said tube with the inwardly extending projections of the former received within the apertures in the wall of the latter.

Claim 9

A resilient bearing member for rotatably supporting a tube concentrically within a cylindrical holder, the wall of said tube having a pair of diametrically opposed apertures therein, said bearing member having a wall with a cylindrical outer surface generally conforming to said cylindrical holder and an inner surface adapted to support said tube in concentric relation with said cylindrical holder, said bearing member wall having a pair of diametrically opposed projections extending radially inwardly from the inner surface thereof and formed integrally therewith, said projections being receivable within the apertures in the tube wall to retain said bearing member circumferentially rigid with said tube, the wall of said bearing member having an axially extending split therein between said projections and defined by adjacent edge portions, said bearing member wall further having a first pair of circumferentially spaced, axially extending weakened sections in the area between said projections opposite said split, and a second pair of circumferentially spaced, axially extending weakened sections in the area between said projections including said split and on opposite sides of said split, said weakened sections acting as hinges to permit said edge portions to be moved apart from each other a distance at least as great as the outer diameter of said tube, whereby said bearing member can be inserted radially into position on said tube with the inwardly extending projections of the former received within the apertures in the wall of the latter.

Claim 10

The invention defined in claim 7 wherein said weakened sections are equally circumferentially spaced and each of said sections is disposed substantially 45* from the center of one of said projections.

Claim 11

The invention defined in claim 8 wherein said weakened sections are formed by axially extending grooves in the inner surface of said bearing member wall.

Claim 12

Bearing apparatus comprising: a mounting plate having an opening therein; a bearing holder mounted on said mounting plate and having a cylindrical bore communicating with the opening in said plate, said holder including a flanged portion extending radially between the periphery of the opening in said plate and the wall of the bore in said holder; a tube having an outer diameter less than the diameter of the bore in said holder, the wall of said tube having a pair of diametrically opposed apertures therein; a bearing member for rotatably supporting said tube concentrically within the bore in said holder and having a wall with a cylindrical outer surface generally conforming to the wall of the bore in said holder and an inner surface adapted to support said tube concentrically within the bore in said holder, said bearing wall having a pair of diametrically opposed, radially inwardly extending projections receivable within the apertures in said tube wall to lock said bearing member axially and rotatably to said tube, said bearing member wall further having an axially extending split, and an axially extending weakened section in the area between said projections opposite said split, said split being operative as a hinge to permit radial insertion of said bearing member on said tube with the projections of the former received within the apertures in the wall of the latter, said bearing holder being operative when supporting said bearing member and said tube to prevent removal of said bearing member from said tube; a washer on said tube and within the opening in said mounting plate, said washer being engageable with the flanged portion of said bearing holder; and means for limiting the axial movement of said washer relative to said tube whereby said washer is operable to transmit axial thrust loads imposed on said tube to said holder.

Claim 13

Bearing apparatus comprising: a mounting plate having an opening therein; a bearing holder mounted on said mounting plate and having a cylindrical bore communicating with the opening in said plate, said holder including a flanged portion extending radially between the periphery of the opening in said plate and the wall of the bore in said holder; a tube having an outer diameter less than the diameter of the bore in said holder, the wall of said tube having a pair of diametrically opposed apertures therein; a bearing member for rotatably supporting said tube concentrically within the bore in said holder and having a wall with a cylindrical outer surface generally conforming to the wall of the bore in said holder and an inner surface adapted to support said tube concentrically within the bore in said holder, said bearing wall having a pair of diametrically opposed, radially inwardly extending projections receivable within the apertures in said tube wall to lock said bearing member axially and rotatably to said tube, said bearing member wall further having an axially extending split, and an axially extending weakened section in the area between said projections opposite said split, said split being operative as a hinge to permit radial insertion of said bearing member on said tube with the projections of the former received within the apertures in the wall of the latter, said bearing holder being operative when supporting said bearing member and said tube to prevent removal of said bearing member from said tube; a washer on said tube and within the opening in said mounting plate, said washer being engageable with the flanged portion of said bearing holder; and means for limiting the axial movement of said washer relative to said tube whereby said washer is operable to transmit axial thrust loads imposed on said tube to said holder.