Method of fabricating an improved plastic bearing

Abstract

Abstract A REINFORCED PLASTIC BEARING COMPRISING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL STRUCTURE OF PLASTIC REINFORCED WITH GLASS FIBER, PROVIDED WITH A TUBULAR LAYER OF POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE FIBERS EMBEDDED AND SECURED IN THE PLASTIC. IN THE FABRICATION OF THIS BEARING, THE POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE FIBERS ARE INTERWINED AND FORMED INTO A CORD HAVING AN IRREGULAR OUTER SURFACE. THE INTERWINING BINDS THE FIBERS INTO POSITION TO INHIBIT RELATIVE MOTION THEREOF SUCH THAT THE CORD IS CHARACTERIZED BY MULTIPLE LENGTH PORTIONS OF THE FIBERS IN THE OUTER CORD SURFACE, HAVING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS ANCHORED IN POSITION. THIS CORD IS FORMED INTO A WOVEN FABRIC WHICH BECOMES SAID TUBULAR LAYER AND WHICH IS IMPREGNATED WITH THE AFORESAID PLASTIC IN LIQUID FORM, THE PLASTIC FLOWING INTO THE IRREGULARITIES AND INTERSTICES IN THE FABRIC AND CORD SO AS INTIMATELY TO ENROBE SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF THE CORDS AND FIBERS, THEREBY SECURING THEM IN POSITION RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER. RETENTION OF THE POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE FIBERS AGAINST DELAMINATION IS, IN ONE PREFERRED METHOD, MAXIMIZED BY USE OF A MANDREL HAVING A HIGHLY POLISHED LAYER OF POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE THEREON. IN REMOVING THE HARDENED BARING COMPOSITE FROM THE MANDREL, THE INTEGRITY OF THE PLASTIC MATRIX WHICH SECURES THE POLYETRAFLUOROETHYLENE FIBERS IN PLACE IS MAINTAINED.

Inventors

• 👤 S Shobert

Bibliographic Details