Patent ID: 9422975
Filing Date: 2016-08-23
CPC Classification: F16C

Claim Text:
1. A system, comprising: a plain bearing assembly configured to enable rotation of a shaft about a bearing system axis of the shaft, wherein the plain bearing assembly comprises the shaft, a cylindrical intermediate bearing disposed about the shaft, and an external bearing disposed about the cylindrical intermediate bearing; wherein the plain bearing assembly is configured to facilitate oscillatory motion of the shaft relative to the external bearing such that, when the shaft rotates in a first direction about the bearing system axis, the cylindrical intermediate bearing rotates about the bearing system axis in the first direction, and when the shaft rotates in a second direction opposite the first direction about the bearing system axis, rotation of the cylindrical intermediate bearing about the bearing system axis is resisted or prevented, wherein the plain bearing assembly comprises a first sprag configured to engage with a first contact surface to facilitate rotation of the cylindrical intermediate bearing about the bearing system axis when the shaft is rotating in the first direction and to prevent rotation of the cylindrical intermediate bearing about the bearing system axis in the second direction when the shaft is rotating in the second direction, wherein the first contact surface comprises a wall oriented transverse to the bearing system axis.