Use of a transmission component of a metal matrix composite (MMC) material

Abstract

The present invention relates to use of a first transmission component ( 1 ), preferably an engine component, in a slide bearing application, said first transmission component ( 1 ) having at least one surface being ( 2; 3 ) arranged in a slide bearing relationship against a second transmission component ( 6; 7 ), wherein said surface ( 2;3 ) and at least a portion of the first transmission component ( 1 ) adjacent to said surface ( 2;3 ) being made of the same metal matrix composite material as the first transmission component ( 1 ). The invention also relates to a pair of transmission components.

1 . Use of a first transmission component ( 1 ), preferably an engine component, in a slide bearing application, said first transmission component ( 1 ) having at least one surface being ( 2 ;  3 ) arranged in a slide bearing relationship against a second transmission component ( 6 ;  7 ), characterised in said surface ( 2 ;  3 ) and at least a portion of the first transmission component ( 1 ) adjacent to said surface ( 2 ;  3 ) being made of the same metal matrix composite material.  
   
   
       2 . Use of a transmission component according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmission component ( 1 ) is substantially made of said metal matrix composite material.  
   
   
       3 . Use of a transmission component according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the surface ( 4 ; 5 ) of said second transmission component ( 6 ; 7 ), being arranged in the slide bearing relationship with the metal matrix composite material surface ( 2 ;  3 ) of the first transmission component ( 1 ), is made of a different material than the MMC material of the first transmission component ( 1 ).  
   
   
       4 . Use of a transmission component according to  claim 3 , wherein the surface of said second transmission component ( 6 ;  7 ), being arranged in the slide bearing relationship with the metal matrix composite material surface ( 2 ;  3 ) of the first transmission component ( 1 ), is made of a metal matrix composite material being different than the metal matrix composite material of the first transmission component ( 1 ).  
   
   
       5 . Use of a transmission component according to  claim 3 , wherein the surface of said second transmission component ( 6 ;  7 ), being arranged in the slide bearing relationship with the metal matrix composite material surface ( 2 ; 3 ) of the first transmission component ( 1 ), is made of a material other than a metal matrix composite material, preferably a steel or chromed steel material.  
   
   
       6 . Use of a transmission component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide bearing application is arranged with fluid-film lubrication or boundary lubrication.  
   
   
       7 . Use of a transmission component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said metal matrix composite material of the first transmission component ( 1 ) has a reinforcement content between 10% and 70%, preferably between 10% and 45%, most preferred between 15% and 40%.  
   
   
       8 . Use of a transmission component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcement of the metal matrix composite material of the first component ( 1 ) is selected from the group consisting of carbides, oxides or borides, preferably carbides.  
   
   
       9 . Use of a transmission component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said metal matrix material of the first component ( 1 ) comprises at lest one base substance selected from the group consisting of aluminium, titanium, magnesium and alloys thereof, preferably aluminium, titanium or alloys thereof.  
   
   
       10 . Use of a transmission component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first component ( 1 ) is a connecting rod and the second component ( 4 ; 5 ) is a crank pin and/or a gudgeon pin.  
   
   
       11 . Use of a transmission component according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcement of the metal matrix composite material of the first component ( 1 ) consists of particles having an average size less than 100 μm, preferably less than 15 μm, most preferred less than 5 μm, and/or having a hardness greater than 1200 MV, preferably greater than 2000 HV, most preferred greater than 2500 HV.  
   
   
       12 . A pair of first and a second transmission component ( 1 , 6 ;  1 , 7 ), preferably engine components, said first and second components ( 1 , 6 ;  1 , 7 ) having slide bearing surfaces ( 2 ,  4 ;  3 , 5 ) being correspondingly shaped to one another, enabling arrangement of said surfaces ( 2 ,  4 ;  3 , 5 ) against each other in a slide bearing relationship, wherein the slide bearing surface ( 2 ; 3 ) of said first component ( 1 ) and at least a portion of said transmission component adjacent to said surface is made of the same metal matrix composite material.  
   
   
       13 . A pair of transmission components according to  claim 12 , wherein the first component ( 1 ) is substantially made of the metal matrix composite material.  
   
   
       14 . A pair of transmission components according to  claim 12  or  13 , wherein the slide bearing surface ( 4 ; 5 ) of the second transmission component ( 6 ; 7 ) is made of a material different from the metal matrix composite material of the first component ( 1 ).  
   
   
       15 . A pair of transmission components according to  claim 14 , wherein the slide bearing surface ( 4 ; 5 ) of the second transmission component ( 6 ; 7 ) is made of a metal matrix composite material being different from the metal matrix composite material of the first transmission component ( 1 ).  
   
   
       16 . A pair of transmission components according to  claim 14 , wherein the slide bearing surface ( 4 ; 5 ) of the second transmission component ( 6 ; 7 ) is made of a material other than a metal matrix composite material, preferably a steel or a chromed steel material.  
   
   
       17 . A pair of transmission components according to any one of the  claims 12  to  16 , wherein said metal matrix composite material of the first component ( 1 ) has a reinforcement content between 10% and 70%, preferably between 10% and 45%, most preferred between 15% and 40%.  
   
   
       18 . A pair of transmission components according to any one of the  claims 12  to  17 , wherein the reinforcement of the metal matrix composite material of the first component ( 1 ) is selected from the group consisting of carbides, oxides or borides, preferably carbides.  
   
   
       19 . A pair of transmission component according to any one of the  claims 12  to  18 , wherein the first transmission component is a connecting rod and the second transmission component is a crank pin and/or a gudgeon pin.  
   
   
       20 . Method for arranging a connecting rod in an engine, comprising the step of arranging a connecting rod ( 1 ), having at least one surface ( 2 ; 3 ) being made of a metal matrix composite material, so that said surface ( 2 ; 3 ) is in slide bearing contact with a gudgeon pin ( 6 ) or a crank pin ( 7 ).  
   
   
       21 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein the surface ( 2 ; 3 ) being in slide bearing contact with the gudgeon pin ( 6 ) or the crank pin ( 7 ) and at least a portion of the connecting rod ( 1 ) adjacent to said surface is made of the same metal matrix composite material.