US 11,873,861 B2
Flanged bearing, assembly, and method of making and using the same
Gege Li, Shanghai (CN); Kaibo Su, Shanghai (CN); Hans-Juergen Jaeger, Huerth (DE); and Jan Fluegge, Cologne (DE)
Assigned to SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION, Solon, OH (US)
Filed by SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION, Solon, OH (US)
Filed on Dec. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/111,885.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/944,732, filed on Dec. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0172475 A1, Jun. 10, 2021
Int. Cl. F16C 17/10 (2006.01); F16C 33/20 (2006.01); F16C 33/14 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 33/14 (2013.01) [F16C 17/10 (2013.01); F16C 17/107 (2013.01); F16C 33/206 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bearing comprising:
a sidewall comprising an open metal substrate at least partially embedded in a low friction material such that low friction material overlies the metal substrate and forms the radially inner surface and radially outer surface of the sidewall, the sidewall further comprising:
a generally cylindrical body; and
a flange contiguous with and extending from an axial end of the generally cylindrical body, wherein at least one of 1) the flange comprises a multiple wall construction at least partially formed by folding the axial end of the sidewall toward an opposite axial end of the sidewall, wherein the flange comprises a plurality of flange sidewalls in contact with each other along at least 25% and no greater than 95% of a radial length of the flange, wherein the flange sidewalls contact each other in the radial direction, wherein the flange is located at an axial end of the bearing, or 2) wherein the open metal substrate is exposed on a radially inner side and a radially outer side at a single point along the sidewall.
 
12. An assembly comprising:
an inner component;
an outer component; and
a bearing disposed radially between the inner component and the outer component, wherein the bearing comprises:
a sidewall comprising an open metal substrate at least partially embedded in a low friction material such that low friction material overlies the metal substrate and forms the radially inner surface and radially outer surface of the sidewall, the sidewall further comprising:
a generally cylindrical body; and
a flange contiguous with and extending from an axial end of the generally cylindrical body, wherein at least one of 1) the flange comprises a multiple wall construction at least partially formed by folding the axial end of the sidewall toward an opposite axial end of the sidewall, wherein the flange comprises a plurality of flange sidewalls in contact with each other along at least 25% and no greater than 95% of a radial length of the flange, wherein the flange sidewalls contact each other in the radial direction, wherein the flange is located at an axial end of the bearing, or 2) wherein the open metal substrate is exposed on a radially inner side and a radially outer side at a single point along the sidewall.
 
13. A method comprising:
providing a blank comprising an open metal substrate at least partially embedded in a low friction material;
forming a bearing from the blank, the bearing comprising a sidewall such that low friction material overlies the metal substrate and forms the radially inner surface and radially outer surface of the sidewall, the sidewall further comprising:
a generally cylindrical body; and
a flange contiguous with and extending from an axial end of the generally cylindrical body, wherein at least one of 1) the flange comprises a multiple wall construction at least partially formed by folding the axial end of the sidewall toward an opposite axial end of the sidewall, wherein the flange comprises a plurality of flange sidewalls in contact with each other along at least 25% and no greater than 95% of a radial length of the flange, wherein the flange sidewalls contact each other in the radial direction, wherein the flange is located at an axial end of the bearing, or 2) wherein the open metal substrate is exposed on a radially inner side and a radially outer side at a single point along the sidewall.