BEARING LINER

1279346 Bearing liner SARGENT INDUSTRIES Inc 27 May 1970 [19 June 1969] 25558/70 Heading F2A [Also in Division E2] A bearing liner e.g. for a ball and socket joint, has a backing member 25 having an irregular surface on which is a lubricant layer 29 comprising a binding agent 35 and particles 37 of solid lubricant which are small enough to lodge within the irregularities of the surface, there being an adhesive layer 27 on the surface of the backing member remote from the irregular surface. The backing member is preferably a fabric comprising fibrous strands, the particles being lodged between the strands and between fibres in the strands. The lining 17 is secured to the race 13 of a ball joint 11. The lining is made by coating backing material 25 which is pulled from a storage reel 39 by tension rolls 41. The binding agent in which is dispersed solid lubricant is sprayed on to the strip while it is supported on a table 43. The thickness of the lubricant layer is controlled by a blade 47. The coated strip is passed through an oven 49 to dry but not to cure the adhesive, and is wound on to a reel 51. The adhesive on the reverse of the backing may be applied before or after the application of the lubricant layer. The lining is then cut to size and inserted in an unswaged ball race. The ball is inserted in the race, the race swaged, and the adhesive cured so as to secure the lining to the race.