| 摘要 |
A spherical bearing arrangement comprises a ball 3 and a bearing housing 2. The ball 3 is mounted in the bearing housing 2 with respective bearing surfaces 6, 7 of the ball 3 and the housing 2 being in sliding contact with one another. A recess 16 is provided for accommodating a seal 13 in one of the bearing surfaces 6, 7 and the other bearing surface 6, 7 is in sliding contact with an inner edge 11 of the recess 16 but not an outer edge 12. The outer edge 12 of the recess 16 is preferably proximate an axial end of the housing 2 and two recesses 16 may be present with lubricant held in the space provided between the recess 16. At least one of the edges 11, 12 of the recess 16 has a smooth transition which may have a non-constant radius or a constant radius of at least 0.1mm. The ball 3 or the housing 2 are preferably manufacture from titanium or a titanium alloy and may include a coating applied using physical vapour deposition. The arrangement reduces wear on the bearing surfaces. |
