Hardened Sliding Surface Chain for Wear and Elongation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chains experience increased wear and elongation due to uneven surface hardening of sliding components, leading to reduced drive efficiency and increased vibration and noise, exacerbated by contaminants in lubricating oil.
Innovation Solution
The chain components, including pins and bushings, are coated with hardened surface layers of Cr carbide, Ti carbide, V carbide, Nb carbide, Cr nitride, Ti nitride, or V nitride to minimize wear and retain lubricating oil, preventing chain elongation and improving durability.
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 selectively to specific sliding surfaces of chain components. The hardened surface layer is formed on parts that require enhanced wear resistance, such as the sliding surfaces of pins and bushings, while leaving other areas with different properties. This localized treatment resolves the contradiction by providing hardness exactly where needed without making the entire component overly aggressive to mating parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies surface hardening to both mating chain components (pins and bushings) to create homogeneous hardness distribution across the sliding interface. This balanced approach prevents one component from being excessively aggressive to the other, thereby improving mutual wear resistance while maintaining compatibility between mating parts.
2Manufacturing precision
If surface treatment is applied to improve surface roughness, then the surface quality is improved, but lubricating oil retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface hardening selectively to specific sliding surfaces where wear resistance is critical, while maintaining appropriate surface roughness characteristics in other areas. The hardened surface layer is applied with controlled thickness and properties to achieve the right balance between smoothness for wear resistance and sufficient texture for lubricant retention.
3Reliability
If surface hardening is applied to increase hardness, then resistance to contaminant wear is improved, but chain elongation accelerates due to increased aggressiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies surface hardening to both mating chain components to create a balanced hardness distribution. This homogeneous treatment of both parts prevents one component from being excessively hard and aggressive to the other, thereby reducing chain elongation while still providing adequate resistance to contaminant wear through the hardened surface layers.
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
The hardened surface layers reduce wear and elongation, ensuring correct meshing with sprockets, reducing vibration and noise, and maintaining drive efficiency by effectively releasing contaminants and retaining lubricating oil.
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
Data Source
AI summary
A chain with excellent wear resistance, which minimizes chain elongation, reduces vibration and noise, and improves drive efficiency; the chain 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.