Patent ID: 7407328
Filing Date: 2008-08-05
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A bearing housing to receive and be deformed around, in use, a ball having a predetermined radius R to form a bearing, the bearing housing having approximately circular symmetry around a central axis, and comprising: a cup portion having a centre of curvature of approximately the radius R and thereby shaped to seat closely, in use, a first portion of the ball placed in the bearing housing; an upstanding wall portion having a concave inner surface and extending from the cup portion, the inner surface including a conforming portion lying about a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis and that contains the centre of curvature of the cup portion, there being a first clearance between the conforming portion and the equator region of the ball, the first clearance being greater than a second clearance between the cup portion and the first portion of the ball, the bearing housing being shaped such that, when the bearing housing is deformed around the ball to form a bearing, in use, the bearing housing is deformed so that the inner surface matches closely the shape of the ball.