| 摘要 |
A rotatable shaft (12) is supported by a split bearing mounted between the shaft and a fixed object (14). In a preferred embodiment, the split bearing includes a first bearing section (16a), an identical second bearing section (16b), and a removable retainer (18) for holding the bearing sections (16a, 16b) in place. Each bearing section has a concave inner surface (32a, 32b). The first bearing section (16a) and the second bearing section (16b) are fitted to the shaft so that the concave inner surface (32a) of the first bearing section (16a) and the concave inner surface (32b) of the second bearing section (16b) face the shaft. The retainer (18) is mounted on the shaft and includes an opening (40) for receiving and holding the bearing sections (16a,16b) adjacent to the shaft. Each bearing section (16a, 16b) is provided with a bushing (46a, 46b) that is received by bushing holes (42, 44) in the retainer (18). Cap screws (48, 49) extend through the bushings (46a, 46b) and bushing holes (42, 44) to secure the bearing to the fixed object (14). In an alternative embodiment, the elements of the first and second bearing sections (16a', 16b') correspond to elements of the first and second bearing sections (16a, 16b) in the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the retainer is omitted. The first and second bearing sections (16a', 16b') form an integral key (27) when joined so as to hold the bearing sections adjacent a shaft (12') and prevent the bearing sections (16a', 16b') from slipping relative to one another. The bearing sections (16a', 16b') are then mounted to a fixed object (14') by a pair of cap screws (48', 49'). Split bearings (60, 62, 64) formed in accordance with the present invention can be used in a wheelchair lift (51) that has a platform (50) for carrying a passenger, a carriage (54) that supports the platform (50), and a drive assembly (56) including a drive shaft (58) extending between opposite sides of the carriage (54) for moving the carriage (54) and platform(54), wherein the split bearings (60, 62, 64) are to support the drive shaft (58).
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