US 7,320,549 B2
Self-lubricating bushings, bearings and bearing assemblies
Masaaki Kubota, Sterling Heights, Mich. (US); Jun Osawa, Sterling Heights, Mich. (US); and Larry Mitchum, Sterling Heights, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Sankyo Dilless Industry, (USA) Corp., Sterling Heights, Mich. (US)
Filed on May 16, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/129,888.
Prior Publication US 2006/0257059 A1, Nov. 16, 2006
Int. Cl. F16C 29/02 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 384—283  [384/284] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bearing assembly which comprises:
an outer bushing having a main body portion that has a generally cylindrical shape defined by an annular wall having an inner surface and an outer surface and a central axis;
an inner bushing having a main body portion that has a generally cylindrical shape defined by an annular wall having an inner surface and an outer surface and a central axis, said inner bushing being configured to be received within the outer bushing so that the outer surface of the inner bushing is opposed to the inner surface of the outer bushing; and
a plurality of elongated lubricant inserts that have central axes, and are provided in bores formed in the main body of the outer bushing and aligned so that exposed side edge portions of the lubricant inserts are substantially flush with the inner surface of the main body of the outer bushing, said plurality of elongated inserts having a generally circular cross-sectional shape exclusive of the exposed side edge portions, said exposed side edge portions having a width which is less than the cross-sectional diameter of the elongated inserts.