Appeal No. 2002-0491
Application No. 09/287,081
The journal bearing 10 comprises an outer bearing
sleeve 11, which is mounted in the brake bridge 2, and
a bearing bushing 12, which is pressed into place in
said bearing sleeve 11, and is made of brass, bronze,
or a sintered metal which is suitable as a bearing
material. The bearing bushing 12 is fixed in position
by means of spacers 13 and spring or snap rings 14.
A circumferential, annular grease or lubricant
recess 15 is provided on the outside of the bearing
bushing at one end thereof; the grease recess 15 is
disposed partially under a grease fitting 16 provided
in the bearing sleeve 11. A plurality of, in the
illustrated embodiment 4, distributing channels 17
proceed from the grease recess 15 and open out at the
other end of the bearing bushing 12 into holes 18. On
the inner side of the bearing bushing 12, all of the
holes 18 are interconnected by a circumferential, first
annular channel 19. A plurality of, in the illustrated
embodiment 8, lubricating channels 20 proceed from the
first annular channel 19, and at the other end of the
bearing bushing 12 are connected to a circumferential,
second annular channel 21. A plurality of, in the
illustrated embodiment 2, outlet or discharge channels
22 are connected to the second annular channel 21
[column 2, line 47, through column 3, line 20].
The Baltare assembly, with its cam shaft support flange 44
constituting a removable bushing retainer, meets all of the
limitations in independent claims 1 and 14 except for those
requiring (1) the retainer to have a hole for allowing or
facilitating the flow of lubricant and (2) the bushing to be
removably connected to the retainer. Baltare does not disclose
retainer 44 as having such a hole and does not provide any
factual support for the examiner’s determination (see page 4 in
the answer) that bushing 72 is removably connected to the
retainer. On the other hand, Baltare’s apertured flange portion
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Last modified: November 3, 2007