ROLLING MILL OIL FILM BEARING SLEEVE WITH FILLED KEYWAY

摘要

A method of at least partially filling a keyway in the metal sleeve of a rolling mill oil film bearing comprises machining a pocket into the keyway. A metal key i s provided with a shape complimentary to that of the pocket, with at least one exterior dimension of the key exceeding a respective internal dimension of the pocket. The key is thermally shrunk to reduce its at least one external dimension to an extent sufficient to accommodate insertion of the key in the pocket. The thermally shrunk key is then inserted in the pocket, and allowed to thermally expand, thereby establishin g an interference fit between the key and the pocket.