Process for producing a bearing component

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for producing a bearing component (44) wherein a main body (50) having an at least partially roughened surface (52, 54) is provided and an at least partial and multilayered metal coating (34) is applied by means of a cold spraying process. A first layer (40) consists at least virtually entirely of a nickel bronze or an aluminium bronze and at least one further layer (42n) has a solid lubricant added to the plain bearing material.

Description

[0001] Method for manufacturing a bearing component

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a bearing component in which a base body with an at least partially roughened surface is provided and an at least partial and multilayer metal coating is applied by means of a cold-spray process.

[0004] From EP 3 933 067 Al, it is known to apply a surface layer to a gear or its tooth flanks using a cold-spray process. Cold spray is a thermal spraying process. This process is advantageous because the spray material used is neither melted nor fused, thus minimizing the thermal impact on the layer and substrate. Further references include WO 2012 / 012818 Al and US 2024 / 093730 AL.

[0005] In cold spraying, a process gas, e.g., nitrogen or helium, is advantageously supplied to a spray gun at high pressure, preferably 30 bar to 50 bar, and heated therein to a temperature preferably between 800°C and 1100°C. Subsequent expansion of the heated and compressed gas in a convergent-divergent nozzle to ambient pressure results in the process gas being accelerated to supersonic speeds and cooling to temperatures below approximately 100°C. Granular material, in particular powder, is injected into the convergent section of the nozzle by means of a conveying unit and a carrier gas, preferably of the same type, and accelerated in the main gas stream to particle velocities of advantageously 900 m / s to 1200 m / s. The powder particles impact an untreated or pretreated component surface in a highly focused spray jet.The process involves deformation of both the component surface and the powder particles themselves, resulting in the formation of a firmly adhering, dense, and low-oxide layer. The high kinetic energy of the powder particles and the associated high degree of deformation upon impact with the component enable the production of homogeneous and very dense layers with variable thicknesses ranging from 1 mm to several centimeters.

[0006] For plain bearings in planetary gearboxes for wind turbines, the service life requirement is now around 30 years, and the number of operating conditions with mixed friction is increasing. The plain bearings are expected to operate maintenance-free over the required service life. Conventionally, plain bearings made of bronze, for example with the alloy CuSn12Ni, are used. They are manufactured using centrifugal casting, which results in small grain sizes that exhibit lower wear rates compared to continuous casting. These plain bearings are installed with a bushing. Another type of plain bearing is made from the same material but is welded directly onto the planetary shaft using laser metal deposition (LMD). This reduces the required amount of expensive bronze and ensures a direct connection to the planetary shaft without any relative movement. There is a constant need to improve plain bearings in wind turbine gearboxes.For this purpose, it is advisable to use cold spray for the production of the sliding bearing.

[0007] The object of the invention is to demonstrate a method by which bearing components can be manufactured using cold spray.

[0008] The problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1.

[0009] Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims and the following description, each of which, individually or in combination, can represent an aspect of the invention. When a feature is presented in combination with another feature, this serves only to simplify the presentation of the invention and is in no way intended to imply that this feature cannot also be a further development of the invention without the other feature.

[0010] One embodiment relates to a method for manufacturing a bearing component, in which a base body with an at least partially roughened surface is provided and an at least partial and multilayer metal coating is applied by means of a cold-spray process, wherein a first layer consists at least almost entirely of nickel bronze or aluminum bronze, and a solid lubricant is added to at least a further layer of the sliding bearing material. By definition, nickel bronze or aluminum bronze is a sliding bearing material.

[0011] The proposed method is based on the idea of ​​introducing the solid lubricant into the bearing material using cold spraying. The base body is, for example, a steel planetary shaft of a wind turbine gearbox. The surface of the base material is at least partially prepared by a special treatment to ensure good adhesion between the bearing material and the base material. The first layer preferably consists of 100% bearing material. This also improves the bond between the bearing material and the base material. In subsequent layers, the proportion of solid lubricant in the bearing material is increased. This enhances the self-lubricating properties of the bearing component.

[0012] The process temperatures are significantly lower compared to casting or welding, so the solid lubricant is not destroyed. The advantage of cold spray is that small particle sizes can be achieved, ensuring low wear rates. Cold spray is thus comparable to centrifugal casting, although even smaller particle sizes can be achieved with cold spray. Typical solid lubricants used today, such as graphite or MoS2, are destroyed in LMD due to the high temperatures. Hexagonal bomitride (hBN) or nickel graphite abradable powders (nickel spheres containing graphite) can be used stably in a process at higher temperatures. Cold spray therefore reduces the risk of destroying solid lubricants and expands the application range of various solid lubricants.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the method, at least two further layers are applied, with the proportion of solid lubricant in the bearing material increasing with each layer applied. This addresses the requirement for good adhesion towards the base material of the bearing component and an increase in self-lubricating properties towards the component surface to achieve the desired coefficient of friction. Good self-lubricating properties can also result in improved emergency running characteristics, as the solid lubricant reduces the tendency to seize, which, if it occurs, can otherwise lead to the complete destruction of the bearing.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment of the process, the proportion of solid lubricant in the sliding bearing material increases in a graded manner across the at least two applied layers towards the component surface. Here, the term "graded" is to be understood in the sense of uniformly and continuously.

[0015] In advantageous specific embodiments, it may be provided that the sliding bearing material is designed as CuSn8Ni, CuSn6Ni8, CuA110Fe5Ni, AlSn20Cu, AlSn6Si4Cu, AlSnö or CuA19Fel.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment of the method, the surface of the workpiece is roughened by a processing step involving embossing, in particular knurling, particle blasting, in particular sandblasting, or laser texturing. It is advantageous if the roughening processing step produces a roughness with a mean roughness value Ra > 5 pm.

[0017] Furthermore, a preferred embodiment of the process as a solid lubricant includes, for example, at least one of the following substances: graphite, molybdenum disulfide, barium nitrite, hexagonal bomitrite.

[0018] The task is also solved by a bearing component with a multi-layered metal coating, the bearing component being manufactured as described.

[0019] Finally, the problem is solved by a planetary carrier axis consisting of a base body made of steel, wherein the base body is coated according to the method as described.

[0020] The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments, wherein the features shown below can represent an aspect of the invention, either individually or in combination. The drawings show:

[0021] Fig. 1: An exemplary device designed as a spray gun for carrying out a cold spray process and

[0022] Fig. 2: a schematic representation of a bearing component with a metal coating produced by cold spraying.

[0023] Figure 1 shows an exemplary device 10, designed as a spray gun, for carrying out the method according to the invention. A heated high-pressure chamber 12 and a heating element 14 are shown. A process gas 18, preferably nitrogen or helium, is supplied to the device 10 at high pressure and heated to a temperature between 800°C and 1100°C. For this purpose, the device 10 includes a pressure sensor 16, the heating element 14, and the heated high-pressure chamber 12. Furthermore, a nozzle 20 is provided in which the heated and pressurized process gas 18 advantageously expands to ambient pressure. The process gas 18 is accelerated to supersonic speed by the expansion and cooled to temperatures below 100°C. This is achieved, among other things, with a nozzle cooling system 22. Particles 24, in particular powders, are injected by means of a conveying unit 36 ​​and a carrier gas 38, wherein the carrier gas 38 is preferably similar to the process gas 18.This is advantageously achieved in the convergent region of nozzle 20.

[0024] In the main gas stream, the particles 24 are accelerated to velocities of preferably 900 m / s to 1200 m / s. A mixing unit 26 is also shown, in which a desired powder mixture of at least two powders PI and P2 is obtained. The first powder PI is stored, for example, in chamber Kl. The second powder P2 is stored, for example, in chamber K2. The powder stored in chamber Kl is, for example, a nickel bronze or an aluminum bronze. The powder stored in chamber K2 is, for example, a solid lubricant. Any number of powders, and thus more than the two chambers described, is also possible.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, a spray jet 28 causes a particle impact 30 on a surface 32 of a component 44, which is shown in Figure 1 as a flat surface 32, but can also be curved. In this way, a metal coating 34 is formed. Upon completion, the metal coating 34 has a first layer 40 and at least one second layer 42, as shown schematically in Figure 2.

[0026] Figure 2 schematically shows a component 44, which can, for example, be designed as a planetary shaft of a planetary gear for a wind turbine. A metal coating 34 is shown, which was applied to the surface 52 of a base body 50 using a cold-spray process and a device 10 as described in Figure 1. The metal coating 34 comprises a first layer 40, which consists at least almost entirely of nickel bronze or aluminum bronze, and three further layers 40i, 4Ü2, 40s, which additionally contain a solid lubricant added to the bearing material. The three further layers 40i, 4Ü2, 40s are characterized by the fact that the proportion of the solid lubricant in the bearing material increases with each applied layer 40i, 4Ü2, 40s, i.e., in the direction of the surface 32 of the component 44.The three layers 40i, 4Ü2, 40s represent one possible embodiment; a different number of layers 40 provided with a solid lubricant may also be provided.

[0027] In particular, it is provided that the proportion of solid lubricant in the sliding bearing material increases in a graduated manner across the three applied layers 40i, 4Ü2, 40s towards the component surface 32. This is illustrated in Figure 2 by a diagram with reference numerals 46 and 48. Reference numeral 46 denotes the quantity of solid lubricant added to a specific quantity of sliding bearing material. Reference numeral 48 denotes the position relative to the component 44, which, in the case of a round bearing component, is expediently a radial position relative to an axis of rotation. While the sliding bearing material is, for example, CuSn8Ni, CuSn6Ni8, CuA110Fe5Ni, AlSn20Cu, AlSn6Si4Cu, AlSnö, or CuA19Fel, the solid lubricant can comprise graphite, molybdenum disulfide, barium nitride, or hexagonal boron nitride.

[0028] The surface of the base body 50 is, in this case, at least partially provided with a roughened surface 52, the roughening being carried out, for example, by knurling, particle blasting, or laser texturing. The roughened surface is designated with the reference numeral 54. List of reference numerals

[0029] 10 Device

[0030] 12 high-pressure chamber

[0031] 14 Heating element

[0032] 16 Pressure measurement

[0033] 18 Process gas

[0034] 20 nozzle

[0035] 22 Nozzle cooling

[0036] 24 particles

[0037] 26 mixing units

[0038] 28 spray jet

[0039] 30 particle impact

[0040] 32 surface

[0041] 34 Metal coating

[0042] 36 conveying units

[0043] 38 Carrier gas

[0044] 40 shifts

[0045] 42 layers

[0046] 44 Component

[0047] 46 Quantity of solid lubricant

[0048] 48 Positions related to component

[0049] 50 basic shapes

[0050] 52 surface

[0051] 54 roughened surface

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for manufacturing a bearing component (44) in which a base body (50) with an at least partially roughened surface (52, 54) is provided and an at least partial and multilayer metal coating (34) is applied by means of a cold-spray process, wherein a first layer (40) consists at least almost entirely of a sliding bearing material formed by a nickel bronze or an aluminum bronze and at least one further layer (42 n ) a solid lubricant is added to the sliding bearing material.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two further layers (42i, 422) are applied, wherein the proportion of the solid lubricant in the sliding bearing material increases with each applied layer (42i, 42i). n ) increases.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the proportion of the solid lubricant in the sliding bearing material increases in a graded manner over the at least two applied layers towards the component surface (32).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sliding bearing material is designed as CuSn8Ni, CuSn6Ni8, CuA110Fe5Ni, AlSn20Cu, AlSn6Si4Cu, AlSnö or CuA19Fel.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the surface (52, 54) of the base body (50) is roughened by a processing step of embossing, in particular knurling, particle blasting, in particular sandblasting, or laser texturing.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that a roughness with a mean roughness value Ra > 5 pm is produced via the roughening processing step.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the Solid lubricant, for example, includes at least one of the following substances: graphite, molybdenum disulfide, barium nitrite, hexagonal boron nitrite.

8. Bearing component (44) with a multilayer metal coating (34), wherein the bearing component (44) is manufactured according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Planetary carrier axis comprising a base body (50) made of steel, wherein the base body (50) is coated according to the method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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