COMPLIANT BRAIDED METAL BEARING FOR USE IN BUSHING APPLICATION

摘要

A compliant metal bearing for use in movable sockets is formed from a braide d or knitted metal wire mesh preform which is compressed in a die to achieve the desired shape. The surfaces of the compressed braided metal bearing are hardened, and may have a thermally stable lubricant embedded within the mesh. By selecting the metallic properties of the wire, the knit pattern, the compressed wire density, and the addition of other materials su ch as sheet metal to the preform, the radial and axial compliance properties of the braided or knitted metal wire bearings of the present invention may be selected and controlled for specifi c applications within a ball and socket joint, allowing ball and socket joints to be designed with reduced size and increased heat resistant properties.