Convex back sleeve bearing

摘要

A journaled bearing assembly including a pair of semicircular half shells defining a sleeve bearing with an outer surface and an inner bearing surface with the surfaces extending axially between laterally spaced opposite ends and circumferentially between oppositely disposed parting faces with the bearing surface being concave and the outer surface being convex axially between the ends while in the free state and held at gage diameter. In the free state the terminal portions adjacent the parting faces are on a longer radius than the radius of the central portion. When held at gage diameter the terminal portions are on a radius equal to the radius of the central portion. The bearing sleeve is disposed in a bearing housing with the bearing surfaces in engagement with a journaled portion of a shaft. The bearing housing includes clamping members in clamping engagement with the outer surfaces of the half shells to apply radical forces to the half shells. These force the concave and convex surfaces into a substantially straight configuration axially between the ends thereof so that the stresses in the half shells are greatest along the circumferential center line and continuously decrease from the center line to the circumferential ends. This stress distribution causes the seating pressure between the bearing sleeve and the housing to be greatest along the circumferential center line of the outer surface of the bearing sleeve and continuously decrease to the portions of the outer surface adjacent the circumferential ends. The resulting pressure gradient allows any oil between the outer cylinderical surface of the bearing sleeve and the housing to follow the path of least resistance and flow from the circumferential center line out the ends from between the bearing sleeve and the housing. Thus, the protective coatings on the outer surface of the bearing which wears free and any build-up of oil oxides will be reduced by being continuously flushed out the ends of the bearing sleeve.