LUBRICATION GROOVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A JOURNAL BEARING

摘要

The invention is an improvement in a machine having a bushing-type journal bearing and a bearing-supported component relatively rotatable one to the other. The bearing has a surface contacting the component and at least one lubrication groove formed in such surface. The improvement comprises a plurality of lubrication grooves spaced along the surface and defining first and second groove sets. Each groove in at least the first set (and preferably in both sets) includes a segment angular to the direction of rotation so that lubricant is distributed both circumferentially and axially on the surface. Groove exit runners are provided so that grease is urged outward toward the bearing edges. The highly preferred embodiment is suitable for uni-directional or bi-directional rotation and other embodiments are disclosed which can be used for uni-directional rotation.