Bearing & Friction
Any device with moving parts contains one or more points at which friction and wear must be guarded against. In addition, moving parts must be properly located to ensure proper function. RL Hudson supplies bushings, sleeves, spacers, inserts, washers, and slides in rubber, plastic, metal, and composite materials. Whether your application calls for a custom-designed component or one made to your print, our material experts and design engineers understand what it takes to meet your most demanding bearing and anti-friction requirements.
Design Despite their wide variety, all bearing and anti-friction products must resist wear while protecting other components from wear. Many must function without added lubrication. Temperatures may range from -40 °F to 300 °F or more, and water, steam, corrosives, solvents, and abrasives are often present. This ability to function in hostile environments is a major advantage, but these products are generally not suitable for high speeds or heavy loads. Here, rolling-element bearings (such as ball bearings) or oil-lubricated metal sleeve or shell bearings should be used.
BEARING AND
ANTI-FRICTION
APPLICATIONS
Appliances
Washing machines
Dishwashers
Ranges
Agricultural & Heavy Equipment
Control linkage pivots
Cable guides
Seat hinge pivots
Vehicles & Engines
Door guides
Anti-rattle bushings
Seat slides
Control linkage pivots
Marine
Control linkage pivots
Cable guides
Boat lift drum shaft bearings
Outdoor Power Equipment
Starter drum slides
Control lever pivots
Steering shaft bushings
Deck lift linkage bushings
Recreational Vehicles
Steering shaft bushings
Hood hinge points
Bushings are often used to support a shaft that turns or reciprocates. Sleeves protect moving shafts, linkages, hoses, and wiring harnesses against damage from stationary objects or the edges of openings. Spacers, inserts, and washers, which may also be required to absorb end thrust or lateral loads, are most often used to locate moving or stationary mechanical components. Whether short, and mounted to the moving component, or long, and mounted to the stationary component, slides can carry a load and/or locate a component in sliding or reciprocating motion.
Materials Bearing and anti-friction products can be made from a surprisingly wide range of materials, from simple, inexpensive polyethylene to costly, exotic ceramics, metal-infused plastics, metals, Graphalloy® metal-graphite composite, and high-temperature plastics such as Torlon® polyamide-imide and PEEK (polyetheretherketone). Many plastics, including polyethylene, nylon (polyamide), and Teflon® fluoroplastic are self-lubricating, while higher speeds or heavier loads may call for the addition of molybdenum or graphite. With few exceptions, rubber has a high coefficient of friction and cannot be used unlubricated, but it exhibits excellent vibration damping and easily tolerates misalignments. Rubber is often teamed with a metal or plastic bushing that contacts the moving component. If metal is required, oil-impregnated sintered bronze and sintered iron bearings have a very long history of use. Of course, if your application includes lubrication, your choice of materials is even broader.
LET US HELP RL Hudson supplies bearing and anti-friction products to some of the largest and most demanding manufacturing companies in the world. If we can be of service to you, please let us know. You can reach us at 1-800-722-6766.
