It has been suggested that Bushing be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Crankshaft, babbitt metal, plain bearing shells

A plain bearing is a bearing which carries load by sliding. A plain bearing is often called a 'bushing' or a 'babbitt' or 'journal bearing'. Plain bearings are very widely used and appear in most kinds of equipment, notably as crankshaft and connecting rod bearings in automobile piston engines. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... It has been suggested that Bush (mechanical) be merged into this article or section. ... plain bearing shells scan, upload by MH 12:22, 2004 Oct 8 (UTC) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... plain bearing shells scan, upload by MH 12:22, 2004 Oct 8 (UTC) This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... A bearing is a component used to reduce friction in a machine. ... It has been suggested that Bush (mechanical) be merged into this article or section. ... babbitt metal plain bearing shells Babbitt metal, also called white metal, is an alloy used to provide the bearing surface in a plain bearing. ... A bogie from a railroad car. ... Crankshaft, pistons, and flywheel Continental engine marine crankshafts, 1942 For the comic strip about an old, curmudgeonly bus driver, see Crankshaft (comic strip). ... piston + connecting rod In a reciprocating piston engine, the connecting rod or con rod connects the piston to the crank or crankshaft. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Components of a typical, four stroke cycle, DOHC piston engine. ... A colorized automobile engine The internal combustion engine is a heat engine in which the burning of a fuel occurs in a confined space called a combustion chamber. ...

A typical plain bearing is made of two parts. For example a rotary plain bearing can be just a shaft running through a hole. A simple linear bearing can be a pair of flat surfaces designed to allow motion, for example a drawer and the slides it rests on.

Plain bearings may carry load in one of several ways depending on their operating conditions, load, relative surface speed (shaft to journal), clearance within the bearing, quality and quantity of lubricant and temperature (affecting lubricant viscosity). If full-film conditions apply, the bearing's load is carried solely by a film of fluid lubricant, there being no contact between the two bearing surfaces. In this condition they are known as fluid bearings. In mix or boundary conditions, load is carried partly by direct surface contacts and partly by a film forming between the two. In a dry condition, the full load is carried by surface to surface contact. Fluid bearings, also called fluid dynamic bearings or hydrostatic or gas bearings, are bearings which support load on a thin layer of liquid or gas. ...

Plain bearings are relatively simple and hence inexpensive. They are also compact, light weight, straightforward to repair and have high load-carrying capacity. However, if operating in dry or boundary conditions plain bearings may wear faster and have higher friction than rolling element bearings. Dry and boundary conditions may be experienced even in a fluid bearing when operating outside of its normal operating conditions, i.e., at startup and shutdown. Fluid bearings, also called fluid dynamic bearings or hydrostatic or gas bearings, are bearings which support load on a thin layer of liquid or gas. ...

A common plain bearing design is to use a hardened and polished steel shaft and a soft bronze bushing. In such designs the softer bronze portion can be allowed to wear away, to be periodically renewed. The old steel cable of a colliery winding tower Steel is a metal alloy whose major component is iron, with carbon being the primary alloying material. ... Assorted ancient bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ...

Plain 'self-lubricating' bearings utilise porous journals within which a lubricant is held. As the bearing operates and lubricant is displaced from the bearing surface, more is carried in from non-wear parts of the bearing. Dry plain bearings can be made of a variety of materials including PTFE (Teflon) and ceramic. The ceramic is very hard, and sand and other grit which enter the bearing are simply ground to a fine powder which does not inhibit the operation of the bearing. PTFE based self-lubricating bearings were developed by the Glacier Metal Company in the United Kingdom, with DU material patented in 1956. Teflon is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a polymer of fluorinated ethylene. ... Fixed Partial Denture, or Bridge The word ceramic is derived from the Greek word κεραμικος (keramikos, having to do with pottery). The term covers inorganic non-metallic materials whose formation is due to the action of heat. ...

Plain bearings manufactured from high performance polymers are now replacing traditional metal plain bearings. The leading manufacturer in this field is igus, with a wide range of specially developed polymer materials for different applications.