Abstract: A flat shaped spring may include a spring element. The spring element may have, in a longitudinal section along a central longitudinal axis extending along an axial direction, two profile halves disposed on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis. The two profile halves may each have a first profile portion and a second profile portion. The first profile portion may have a curvature opposed to the second profile portion. Two outer ends of the spring element facing away from the central longitudinal axis, and which lie opposite one another in a longitudinal direction extending perpendicularly to the axial direction, may be connected to one another via at least one connection element such that the spring element and the at least one connection element collectively form a closed profile in the longitudinal section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a sliding bearing composite material (10), having a support layer (14), in particular made of steel, a bearing metal layer (18) made of a lead-free aluminum base alloy containing magnesium, and a running layer (22), wherein the aluminum base alloy ultimately comprises 0.5-5.5% by weight magnesium, optionally one or more alloy components from the group comprising zinc, copper, silicon, iron, manganese, chromium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, nickel, cobalt, cerium, and alloy components resulting from impurities, the sum of the latter not exceeding 1% by weight, and the remainder being aluminum, wherein the aluminum base alloy is copper-free or contains at most 3% by weight copper, the total content of zinc, copper, and nickel does not exceed 8% by weight, and the total content of all alloy components does not exceed 12% by weight.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a sliding bearing composite material (10), having a support layer (14), in particular made of steel, a bearing metal layer (18) made of a lead-free aluminum base alloy containing magnesium, and a running layer (22), wherein the aluminum base alloy ultimately comprises 0.5-5.5% by weight magnesium, optionally one or more alloy components from the group comprising zinc, copper, silicon, iron, manganese, chromium, titanium, zirconium, vanadium, nickel, cobalt, cerium, and alloy components resulting from impurities, the sum of the latter not exceeding 1% by weight, and the remainder being aluminum, wherein the aluminum base alloy is copper-free or contains at most 3% by weight copper, the total content of zinc, copper, and nickel does not exceed 8% by weight, and the total content of all alloy components does not exceed 12% by weight.

Abstract: A sliding bearing for engine applications, in particular a sliding bearing shell for the mounting of the crankshaft or the camshaft or for use as a connecting-rod bearing shell, has a metallic supporting layer and, applied on top of that, a bearing metal layer of aluminum alloy, copper alloy or brass, the bearing metal layer having an 8-20 ?m thick PTFB-free PAI-based coating applied on top of it, the PAI-based coating having 5-15% by weight zinc sulphide, 5-15% by weight graphite and 5-15% by weight TiO2 with the ratio of zinc sulphide and graphite respectively to TiO2 in terms of their percentage by weight being 0.6-1.4 and the zinc sulphide and TiO2 being present in a particle size of ?0.7 ?m.

Abstract: A process for hardening an annular groove of a piston head of a piston of an internal combustion engine by means of laser beams, in which, at least the annular groove to be hardened is provided before or directly during the hardening process with a coating which absorbs the energy of laser beams. The coating is subsequently irradiated by the laser beams. The absorbing layer can be a manganese phosphate coating or is formed in situ by treating the component surface with a process gas comprising oxygen and inert gas. Furthermore, the laser beams are directed at the piston during hardening at an oblique angle to the direction of rotation. The advantages achieved are avoidance of reflections and undesirable hardening of the bottom of the groove, an increased degree of absorption and reduced distortion of the piston.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding bearing for engine applications, in particular a sliding bearing shell for the mounting of the crankshaft or the camshaft or for use as a connecting-rod bearing shell, with a metallic supporting layer and, applied on top of that, a bearing metal layer of aluminium alloy, copper alloy or brass, the bearing metal layer having an 8-20 ?m thick PTFB-free PAI-based coating applied on top of it, comprising 5-15% by weight zinc sulphide, 5-15% by weight graphite and 5-15% by weight TiO2, and the ratio of zinc sulphide and graphite respectively to TiO2 in terms of their percentage by weight being 0.6-1.4 and the zinc sulphide and TiO2 being present in a particle size of ?0.7 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for hardening an annular groove of a piston head (1) of a steel piston of an internal combustion engine by means of laser beams (4), in which, according to the invention, at least the annular groove to be hardened is provided before or directly during hardening with a coating which absorbs the energy of laser beams (4) and the coating is subsequently irradiated with the laser beams (4). The absorbing layer is preferably a manganese phosphate coating or is formed in situ by treating the component surface with a process gas comprising oxygen and inert gas. Furthermore, the laser beams are directed at the piston during hardening at an oblique angle to the direction of rotation. The advantages achieved are: avoidance of reflections and undesirable hardening of the bottom of the rotation. The advantages achieved are: avoidance of reflection and undesirable hardening of the bottom of the groove, an increased degree of absorption and reduced distortion of the piston.