Sleeve bearing assembly and method of construction

Abstract

A sleeve bearing assembly and method of construction therefor includes a woven inner portion bonded to an injection molded elastic outer portion. The inner portion includes a first yarn of lubricious yarn material and a second yarn of material that is different than the first yarn. The first yarn substantially provides an inner bearing surface and the second yarn substantially provides an outer surface that is bonded to the outer portion. The first and second yarns are woven together so that the first yarn is woven in one of a weft direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the journal bearing surface or a warp direction corresponding to an axial direction of the journal bearing surface to substantially provide the bearing surface and the second yarn is woven in a direction different than the first yarn to substantially provide the outer surface bonded to the outer portion.

1 . A method of constructing a sleeve bearing assembly having a generally cylindrical inner portion with a journal bearing surface and an outer portion extending at least partially about said inner portion, comprising:
 constructing the inner portion on a loom by weaving a plurality of yarns together to form the journal bearing surface, at least one of said yarns being provided as a lubricious yarn and being woven in one of a weft direction corresponding to a circumferential direction of the journal bearing surface or a warp direction corresponding to an axial direction of the journal bearing surface and other of said yarns being woven in a direction different than said at least one of said yarns;   disposing said inner portion in a mold cavity; and   molding the outer portion with an elastomeric material at least partially about said inner portion so that said outer portion bonds to said inner portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further including weaving said lubricious yarn in the weft direction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further including weaving said lubricious yarn in a weft-faced satin weave. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further including providing the yarns extending in the warp direction as polyester multifilaments. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further including weaving said inner portion on a narrow fabric needle loom. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further including applying an adhesive coating on an outer surface of said inner portion before said molding step. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further including weaving said lubricious yarn in the warp direction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further including weaving said lubricious yarn using a satin weave. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further including weaving said lubricious yarn using a twill weave. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further including using polyester multifilaments for the yarns extending in the weft direction.