Chain Sliding Surface Hardening for Wear and Elongation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chains experience accelerated wear and elongation due to uneven surface hardening of sliding components, leading to reduced durability, increased vibration, and decreased drive efficiency, especially when contaminants are present in the lubricating oil.
Innovation Solution
The chain components, including pins and bushings, are formed with hardened surface layers containing Cr carbide, Ti carbide, V carbide, Nb carbide, Cr nitride, Ti nitride, or V nitride on their sliding surfaces, which minimizes wear and retards elongation by providing improved hardness and surface roughness retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If surface hardening is applied to only one chain component, then the hardness of that component is improved, but wear resistance deteriorates due to increased aggressiveness to the other component
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface hardening locally and selectively to specific sliding surfaces of chain components. Instead of uniformly hardening all components, it targets only those surfaces that require enhanced wear resistance while maintaining appropriate toughness in other areas. This selective local hardening resolves the contradiction by providing hardness where needed without creating excessive aggressiveness against mating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface hardness parameter of chain components through controlled surface hardening processes. By adjusting hardening parameters (temperature, time, medium) to achieve specific hardness values, the patent optimizes the balance between strength and wear resistance. The surface hardness is increased to resist wear while controlling the degree of hardening to prevent excessive aggressiveness that would accelerate mating component wear.
2Reliability
If surface hardening is applied to chain components, then wear resistance is improved, but chain elongation increases due to accelerated wear from sliding contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface hardening to specific sliding surfaces of pins and bushings where wear occurs during operation. By localizing the hardening treatment to these critical contact areas, the patent enhances wear resistance precisely where needed to prevent chain elongation, while avoiding unnecessary hardening in non-sliding areas that would not contribute to preventing elongation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure with a hardened surface layer on chain components. This composite construction provides a hard, wear-resistant surface that resists abrasive wear from contaminants, thereby preventing chain elongation, while the underlying softer material maintains toughness and ductility. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between wear resistance and elongation control.
3Reliability
If surface roughness is reduced on sliding surfaces, then wear resistance is improved, but lubricating oil retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface hardening to specific sliding surfaces while controlling surface roughness parameters. By selectively hardening only the critical wear zones and maintaining appropriate surface finish in those areas, the patent achieves wear resistance without completely eliminating surface texture. The localized approach allows lubricant retention in non-hardened areas while providing hard, smooth surfaces in hardened zones where wear resistance is prioritized.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly reduces wear and elongation, maintains lubrication, and prevents contamination-induced wear, ensuring better meshing with sprockets, reduced vibration, and improved drive efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the pins and mutually sliding chain components sliding against the pins being formed with a hardened surface layer containing one of Cr carbide, Ti carbide, V carbide, Nb carbide, Cr nitride, Ti nitride, V nitride, and Nb nitride on part or all of respective sliding surfaces
Implementation Method 2
Chain components without surface hardening have a sliding surface hardness (HV) in the range of 800 to 1000, for example. Therefore, contaminants such as silicon or alumina particles, if contained in the lubricating oil, may accelerate wear on the sliding surfaces of the chain components having a lower hardness than silicon or alumina
Implementation Method 3
Chain components without surface hardening have a sliding surface hardness (HV) in the range of 800 to 1000, for example. Therefore, contaminants such as silicon or alumina particles, if contained in the lubricating oil, may accelerate wear on the sliding surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention aims at providing a chain with excellent wear resistance, which minimizes chain elongation, reduces vibration and noise, and improves drive efficiency. The chain according to the present invention includes at least a plurality of link plates and a plurality of pins as chain components. The pins and mutually sliding chain components sliding against the pins are formed with a hardened surface layer containing one of Cr carbide, Ti carbide, V carbide, Nb carbide, Cr nitride, Ti nitride, V nitride, and Nb nitride on part or all of respective sliding surfaces. In the case where the chain includes bushings as chain components and the bushings are the mutually sliding chain components, the bushings are formed with the hardened surface layer on part or all of their sliding surfaces.