US Patent 7473035 Bearing assembly and method for manufacturing the same

A bearing assembly includes a spherical journal and a hemispherical bearing that is made of a fiber reinforced composite and has a bearing surface for establishing a spherical pair with the spherical journal. The fiber reinforced composite can be constructed by arranging a uni-directional prepreg, woven fiber prepregs and staple-fiber prepregs in a variety of configurations, and thermoplastic resin particles or self-lubrication particles are uniformly provided on the bearing surface. It is possible to alleviate stress concentration generated on the bearing surface by forming a plurality of air channels capable of imparting directivity on an outer surface of the hemispherical bearing.