Bushing and method of manufacturing a bushing

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a bushing 100 is disclosed, in which the housing 20 of the bushing 100 is manufactured by additive manufacturing of metal continuously melted on an annular support 10 and about its central axis X. A bushing 100 having an annular support 10 and a metal housing 20 connected to the annular support 10 and extending about the central axis X of the annular support is also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a bushing and a bushing. Background Technology

[0002] Bushings, used to reduce friction between components that move relative to each other, are used in a wide range of applications in machinery, such as in vehicles, power plants, or manufacturing plants. They are designed to be mounted on at least one component of the respective equipment and to guide or secure a rotatable shaft, axle, or displacer (e.g., a rod or tube) to move axially (linearly). For this purpose, each bushing must have an inner diameter that matches the diameter of the shaft, axle, or displacer. Bushings are manufactured using different materials depending on their size, intended use, and expected characteristics.

[0003] Metal bushings are typically manufactured by casting molten material into a mold of appropriate size. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to improve the production of metal bushings.

[0005] This objective is achieved by the method according to claim 1 and the bushing according to claim 8. Advantageous embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims, the specification, and the drawings.

[0006] The method according to the invention is used to manufacture bushings. Here, the housing of the bushing is manufactured by additive manufacturing of metal (e.g., metal wire or metal powder) continuously melted on an annular support and around its central axis.

[0007] Specifically, the housing gradually lengthens in the axial direction to construct the housing. The terms "axial" and (in the following text) "radial" always refer herein to the central axis of the annular support (which extends about the central axis in a non-rotationally symmetric, rotationally symmetric, or eccentrically symmetric manner), which preferably coincides with the central axis of the housing.

[0008] The shell can be non-rotationally symmetric, rotationally symmetric, or thalassyl symmetric, particularly in a cylindrical design. Preferably, it is constructed with a uniform wall thickness.

[0009] The additive manufacturing method eliminates the need for casting molds suitable for various bushing sizes (especially the diameters of shafts, wheel axles, or displacement components), thus meaning a high degree of variability in producing a wide variety of bushings in the same manufacturing plant. Additive manufacturing also prevents defects from forming in the housing. Furthermore, corresponding bushings can be produced rapidly with minimal effort to achieve particularly thin walls according to specific needs, eliminating the need for warehousing a wide variety of bushings (which requires significant space and logistics) to ensure availability; instead, only the metal (i.e., possibly, wire or metal powder) and the annular support need to be kept in stock. Finally, if needed, bushings produced in this way, as well as those produced during casting, can be easily repaired by additive melting.

[0010] The bushing according to the invention comprises an annular support and a metal housing connected to the annular support (e.g., melted, bonded, or welded to it) and extending about its central axis. The housing may be particularly designed in a cylindrical manner. Preferably, it has a uniform thickness (i.e., wall thickness) measured in the radial direction. According to an advantageous embodiment, the housing of the bushing according to the invention is made of continuously melted metal additive manufacturing. In particular, the bushing according to the invention can be manufactured by one embodiment of the method according to the invention.

[0011] Bushings manufactured by the method according to the invention or bushings according to the invention can be, in particular, stern tube bushings for ships or bushings for seals (which can also be ships).

[0012] The annular support member may preferably be included in the method according to the invention or in the bushing according to the invention as a portion formed as an annular washer (in particular, integrally formed as an annular washer). Then, their opposing surfaces are preferably located in corresponding planes extending orthogonally relative to the central axis.

[0013] In the radial direction, the annular support of the bushing according to the invention can project inward and / or outward from the housing; similarly, the housing can be configured in the method according to the invention such that the annular support projects radially inward and / or outward from the housing. In particular, the bushing can therefore be formed as a flanged bushing, with the bushing opening at least partially formed by the annular support.

[0014] The annular support may be made at least partially of metal; the metal may be the same as or different from the metal that constitutes the housing.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention (preferably in a continuous construction process with a shell additive structure), a flange is also formed by metal additive manufacturing. This flange projects inwardly and / or outwardly from the shell and connects to, and preferably abuts, a surface of the annular support extending radially relative to the central axis. To distinguish it from other flanges, this flange is hereinafter also referred to as a "bottom flange." It provides the advantage of a particularly durable connection between the shell and the annular support. The bushing according to the invention preferably has a bottom flange integrally formed with the shell.

[0016] In such embodiments, the thickness (measured in the axial direction) of the bottom flange, at least in some areas, can be less than the thickness of the housing (measured radially, uniformly, or averagely). This achieves material savings and a particularly simple bushing formation, while still ensuring high stability due to the annular support connected to the bottom flange.

[0017] In embodiments where the bottom flange projects radially inward from the housing, it can preferably reach the radially inner boundary edge of the annular support, and in particular, can extend radially inward as far as the annular support. By utilizing the surface area of ​​the resulting annular support, the housing and the annular support can be connected to each other in a particularly robust manner by means of the bottom flange; furthermore, the inner boundary edge of the annular support and the inner edge of the bottom flange can together form a reinforcing guide for a shaft, axle, or displacement component to be passed through.

[0018] Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention (preferably in a continuous construction process with a housing additive structure), one or more flanges are formed by metal additive manufacturing. These flanges are axially spaced from the annular support relative to the central axis (i.e., the distance from the annular support is greater than zero), and here project radially inward and / or outward from the housing. Flanges arranged in this manner are hereinafter referred to as "overhanging flanges." At least one inwardly projecting overhanging flange can be particularly used to guide a shaft, axle, or rod to be passed through, and can prevent it from contacting the housing, resulting in particularly low friction during use, without requiring the housing to be internally smoothed; this implies a significant reduction in production costs. Therefore, the bushing according to the invention can have at least one such overhanging flange, which can then preferably be integrally formed with the housing.

[0019] In particular, embodiments of the invention are advantageous in which at least one such overhanging flange also projects radially inward from the housing as far as the annular support. The inner boundary edges of the overhanging flange and the annular support can thus be used together to form a guide for the shaft, axle, or rod to be passed through.

[0020] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the various elements and features may also be combined and / or configured differently from those shown. Attached Figure Description

[0021] In the accompanying drawing, schematically:

[0022] Figure 1a An axial sectional view shows a bushing prepared by an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, and

[0023] Figure 1b The bushing, manufactured using conventional methods, is shown in an axial sectional view. Detailed Implementation

[0024] Figure 1a A bushing 100 manufactured by an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown, and thus, in particular, the bushing 100 according to the invention has an annular support 10 as an annular washer formed around a central axis X and a housing 20 around the central axis X. In particular, the central axis X of the annular support 10 corresponds to the central axis of the (preferably cylindrical) housing 20. Figure 1a The bushing is shown in a cross-sectional view along the X-axis.

[0025] In this method, the housing 20 is additively manufactured by continuously melting metal (e.g., metal wire or metal powder) on the annular support 10 and around its central axis X in a manner following the axial construction direction R.

[0026] The bushing 100 also includes a bottom flange 21 that is attached (e.g., fused to) a surface of the annular support 10 that extends radially relative to the central axis X. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the bottom flange 21 also extends radially inward to the annular support 10, thus reaching the radially inner boundary edge 11 of the annular support 10. Its thickness (measured in the axial direction) is less than the thickness of the housing 20 measured in the radial direction.

[0027] exist Figure 1a In the exemplary embodiment shown, a stabilizing protrusion 22 that projects radially outward and is also connected to the annular support 10 is used to further reinforce the connection between the housing 20 and the support 10.

[0028] At the end opposite to the annular support 10 in the axial direction, the bushing 100 has an overhanging flange 23 that also extends radially inward from the housing to the annular support 10 and the bottom flange 21. This defines the diameter D that a shaft, axle, or displacement component (not shown) to be guided through the bushing 100 can have; furthermore, it ensures that such a shaft, axle, or displacement component does not abut against the radially inner surface 20 of the housing 20. i Therefore, on surface 20 i No friction occurs on it, which is why it doesn't need to be re-processed, especially not for smoothing to improve friction performance.

[0029] The annular support 10 protrudes radially outward beyond the housing 20 (and beyond the stabilizing protrusion 22); in particular, the bushing 100 is formed as a flange bushing, the collar of which is formed by the annular support 10.

[0030] on the contrary, Figure 1b A cross-sectional view along its central axis X is shown of a bushing 100' produced according to conventional manufacturing methods, particularly a bushing 100' cast in a suitable mold.

[0031] Bushing 100' is an integral design, comprising housing 20', with flange 24' molded onto housing 20'. Specifically, bushing 100' is also (i.e., similar to) Figure 1a The bushing 100 shown is formed as a flange bushing and is designed to pass through a shaft, axle, or displacement component (not shown) with a diameter of D. Compared to the bushing 100 according to the invention, the shaft, axle, or displacement component is flush with the inner wall 20' of the housing 20'. i Because of the contact, it must be reworked after casting, especially to make it smooth, in order to reduce frictional resistance.

[0032] from Figure 1a and 1b The comparison further shows that, compared with conventional methods, the production of the method according to the invention allows for a reduced shell thickness (shell thickness measured radially), which means savings in weight and materials.

[0033] A method for manufacturing a bushing 100 is disclosed, in which the housing 20 of the bushing 100 is manufactured by additive manufacturing of metal continuously melted on an annular support 10 and around its central axis X.

[0034] A bushing 100 is also disclosed, having an annular support 10 and a metal housing 20 connected to the annular support 10 and extending about the central axis X of the annular support.

[0035] List of reference numerals

[0036] 10 Circular Support

[0037] 11 Radial Inner Boundary Edge

[0038] 20, 20' shell

[0039] Inner wall of 20i and 20'I housings

[0040] 21 Bottom flange

[0041] 22 stable protrusions

[0042] 23 Overhanging flange

[0043] 24' flange

[0044] 100, 100' bushing

[0045] D is the diameter of the shaft, axle, or displacement component that needs to be guided through.

[0046] R Manufacturing Direction

[0047] X-axis center

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a bushing (100), wherein the housing (20) of the bushing is manufactured by additive manufacturing of metal continuously melted on an annular support (10) and about its central axis (X).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Additionally, the flange (21) (hereinafter referred to as the bottom flange) is formed by the metal additive manufacturing process, the flange protruding inward and / or outward from the housing (20) and connected to the surface of the annular support (10) that extends radially relative to the central axis (X).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein, The bottom flange (21) extends radially inward from the housing (20) and reaches as far as the radial inner boundary edge (11) of the annular support (10).

4. The method according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein, The bottom flange (21) has a smaller thickness than the housing (20).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, One or more flanges, referred to below as one or more flange overhang flanges (23), are formed by the metal additive manufacturing process. - Protruding radially inward and / or outward from the housing (20) relative to the central axis (X), and - It is spaced apart from the annular support (10) in the axial direction.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein, The overhanging flange (23) or at least one of the overhanging flanges is formed at the axial end of the housing (20) opposite to the annular support (10).

7. The method according to any one of claims 5 or 6, wherein, The overhanging flange (23) or at least one of the overhanging flanges protrudes radially inward from the housing (20) as far as the annular support (10).

8. A bushing (100) having an annular support (10) and a metal housing (20) connected to the annular support (10) and extending about the central axis (X) of the annular support (10).

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