COMPOSITE AND SELF-LUBRICATING BUSHING

摘要

A composite and self-lubricating bushing (10) comprises a monolithic steel body (12) having a machined internal cylindrical surface (16) and a porous bearing layer (23) applied to the surface. The porous bearing layer (23) is formed by compacting and sintering a particulate bearing material. The steel body (12) may also include a cavity (14) for storing lubricant and at least one passageway (18) extending between the cavity and the internal cylindrical surface. The bushing may be fabricated by positioning the steel body concentrically over an elastomeric plug (48), charging the annular cavity between the body and the plug with a sinterable particulate, expanding the elastomeric plug diametrically to compact the particulate, removing the plug (48) and heating the bearing body and compacted particulate.