Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminium alloy for an anti-friction element containing respectively, as a % by weight, 4.2% to 4.8% Zn, 3.0% to 7.0% Si, 0.8% to 1.2% Cu, 0.7% to 1.3% Pb, 0.12% to 0.18% Mg, 0% to 0.3% Mn and 0% to 0.2% Ni. Also incorporated, based on % by weight, are 0.05% to 0.1% Zr, 0% to 0.05% Ti, 0% to 0.4% Fe, 0% to 0.2% Sn. The rest is formed by Al with the usual incidental impurities depending on the melt.

Abstract: A slide bearing for an internal combustion engine having a bearing bore (3) provided in a bearing box (2) is described which is contoured in the form of grooved recesses (8) distributed over the axial length and running in a peripheral direction, and provided with a bearing layer forming a running surface (9) for taking up a bearing journal. In order to create advantageous structural conditions it is proposed that the running surface (9) of the bearing layer (4) applied to the bearing bore (3) has a contour with respect to spacing matching the contour of the bearing bore (3) in the form of grooved recesses (10) distributed over the axial length and running in a peripheral direction.

Abstract: A method for monitoring slide bearings (8, 10, 11) of a crank mechanism (12) of a piston engine is described, comprising at least one cylinder (1) whose piston (2) is drivably connected with a crankshaft (4) via a connecting rod (5) which is loaded alternatingly under tension and under pressure by the piston (2) in the zone of a dead center of the crank mechanism (12) depending on the cycle of the piston engine, with an operating parameter which changes on the occurrence of bearing damage being repeatedly measured and evaluated. In order to provide advantageous conditions for the method it is proposed that the piston position is measured at the dead center of the crank mechanism (12) under pressure load of the connecting rod (5) on the one hand and under tensile load of the connecting rod (5) on the other hand and the difference between the piston positions for the tensile and pressure load is evaluated.

Abstract: A method is described for monitoring slide bearings (10, 6, 9), especially of a piston engine, with a forced feed lubrication (12) comprising a forced-oil line (16) and branch lines (17) branching off from the forced-oil line (16) for the supply with oil of at least one slide bearing (10, 6, 9), with an operating parameter which changes on the occurrence of bearing damage being repeatedly measured and evaluated. In order to provide advantageous process conditions it is proposed that the rates of oil flow and/or the oil pressures in the branch lines (17) are measured and temporal changes to said operating parameters are evaluated for monitoring the bearing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum alloy, to a plain bearing and to a method of manufacturing a layer, particularly for a plain bearing, to which there is added as a main alloy component tin (14) and a hard material (15) from at least one first element group containing iron, manganese, nickel, chromium, cobalt, copper or platinum, magnesium, or antimony. Added to the aluminum alloy from the first elementary group is a quantity of elements for forming inter-metallic phases, e.g. aluminide formation, in the boundary areas of the matrix, and further at least one further element from a second element group containing manganese, antimony, chromium, tungsten, niobium, vanadium, cobalt, silver, molybdenum of zirconium, for substituting a portion at least of a hard material of the first element group in order to form approximately spherical or cuboid aluminides (7).

Abstract: A process for galvanic depositing of a dispersion layer on a surface of a work piece, in particular a contact layer on a plain bearing half liner, is described, where an electrolyte with the dispersed phase finely distributed therein is moved opposite the work piece surface to be coated with formation of a flow component parallel to the surface. In order to create advantageous processing conditions, the surface of the work piece to be coated is profiled prior to coating with an average minimum profile depth of 5 &mgr;m and is then coated transversely to a salient profile direction in a flow component of the electrolyte opposite the work piece surface.

Abstract: A method for monitoring slide bearings (8, 10, 11) of a crank mechanism (12) of a piston engine is described, comprising at least one cylinder (1) whose piston (2) is drivably connected with a crankshaft (4) via a connecting rod (5) which is loaded alternatingly under tension and under pressure by the piston (2) in the zone of a dead center of the crank mechanism (12) depending on the cycle of the piston engine, with an operating parameter which changes on the occurrence of bearing damage being repeatedly measured and evaluated. In order to provide advantageous conditions for the method it is proposed that the piston position is measured at the dead center of the crank mechanism (12) under pressure load of the connecting rod (5) on the one hand and under tensile load of the connecting rod (5) on the other hand and the difference between the piston positions for the tensile and pressure load is evaluated.

Abstract: A method is described for monitoring slide bearings (10, 6, 9), especially of a piston engine, with a forced feed lubrication (12) comprising a forced-oil line (16) and branch lines (17) branching off from the forced-oil line (16) for the supply with oil of at least one slide bearing (10, 6, 9), with an operating parameter which changes on the occurrence of bearing damage being repeatedly measured and evaluated. In order to provide advantageous process conditions it is proposed that the rates of oil flow and/or the oil pressures in the branch lines (17) are measured and temporal changes to said operating parameters are evaluated for monitoring the bearing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminium alloy, in particular for a layer of a friction bearing, for example, which, apart from aluminium and smelt-related impurities, additionally contains soft-phase formers, e.g. Sn, Pb, Bi, Sb or similar. The alloy contains added quantities of at least one element from the group of elements consisting of Sc, Y, Hf, Nb, Ta, La, lanthanides and actinides in a maximum of 10% by weight, preferably 4% by weight, in particular between 0.015% by weight and 3.25% by weight, relative to 100% by weight of alloy, the remainder being aluminium with smelt-related impurities.

Abstract: The invention relates to an intermediate layer, in particular a bonding layer, made from an alloy with an aluminium base, for multi-layered materials with layers of differing composition, in particular friction bearings. The alloy contains added quantities of at least one element from a group of elements consisting of Sc, Y, Hf, Nb, Ta, La, lanthanides and actinides in a maximum of 10% by weight, preferably 4% by weight, in particular between 0.015% by weight and 3.25% by weight, relative to 100% by weight of alloy, the remainder being aluminium with smelt-related impurities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an antifriction element (6), by means of which a coating is applied to at least one surface (10) of the antifriction element (6) under vacuum, by guiding the antifriction element (6) through a particle flow (4), which at least partially forms the coating, in a rotary motion about an axis perpendicular to the particle flow longitudinal median axis (5) or parallel with a length of a device containing the coating substance (2).

Abstract: A slide bearing for an internal combustion engine having a bearing bore (3) provided in a bearing box (2) is described which is contoured in the form of grooved recesses (8) distributed over the axial length and running in a peripheral direction, and provided with a bearing layer forming a running surface (9) for taking up a bearing journal. In order to create advantageous structural conditions it is proposed that the running surface (9) of the bearing layer (4) applied to the bearing bore (3) has a contour with respect to spacing matching the contour of the bearing bore (3) in the form of grooved recesses (10) distributed over the axial length and running in a peripheral direction.

Abstract: A process for galvanic depositing of a dispersion layer on a surface of a work piece, in particular a contact layer on a plain bearing half liner, is described, whereby an electrolyte with the dispersed phase finely distributed therein is moved opposite the work piece surface to be coated with formation of a flow component parallel to the surface. In order to create advantageous processing conditions it is proposed that the surface of the work piece to be coated is profiled prior to coating with an average minimum profile depth of 5 &mgr;m and is then coated transversely to a relevant profile direction in a flow component of the electrolyte opposite the work piece surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing an antifriction element (6), by means of which a coating is applied to at least one surface (10) of the antifriction element (6) under vacuum, by guiding the antifriction element (6) through a particle flow (4), which at least partially forms the coating, in a rotary motion about an axis perpendicular to the particle flow longitudinal median axis (5) or parallel with a length of a device containing the coating substance (2).

Abstract: There is described an electrodeposited alloy layer, in particular an overlay (2) of a plain bearing, comprising a layered alloy having at least one alloying element in addition to a base metal (3), in whose matrix containing the alloying element in a finely crystalline form inorganic particles with a diameter smaller than 2 &mgr;m are incorporated finely divided. To ensure the finely crystalline structure of the alloying element deposited in the alloy matrix, it is proposed that the inorganic particles used as nucleating agents with a diameter of 0.01 to 1 &mgr;m should have a crystal form at least substantially corresponding to the form of crystallization of the alloying element.

Abstract: There is described a copper-based sliding layer comprising a matrix of copper or a copper alloy with softer metallic inclusions of at least 10 wt-% which form particles having sectional areas separate from each other with respect to an observation plane parallel to the layer. To combine favorable strength values with good tribological properties, it is suggested that when adding up the sectional areas of the particles starting with the smallest sectional area and proceeding according to ascending area size the sectional area (F.sub.50) of that particle which completes the subtotal of the sectional areas up to its own area size to 50% of the final total corresponds to a maximum of ten times the sectional area (F.sub.5) of the particle completing the subtotal to 5% of the final total, but at least one fifth of the largest individual sectional area (F.sub.100).

Abstract: A sliding surface bearing comprising a backing shell and a roll-clad sliding surface layer consisting of an aluminum alloy containing dispersed soft interstitial elements has an improved fatigue strength because the sliding surface layer is provided on a layer consisting of a precipitation-hardenable or precipitation-hardened aluminum alloy.

Abstract: In the described process of manufacturing a sliding surface bearing comprising a backing shell of steel, a bearing metal layer on the backing shell, and a copper-containing sliding surface layer, which has been electrodeposited over said bearing metal layer, the backing shell is provided throughout its rear surface, which constitutes the rear surface of the bearing, with a tin-containing corrosion-resisting layer after the sliding surface layer has been deposited. To prevent a separation of the corrosion-resisting layer, it is proposed that the rear surface of the bearing is covered with an electrodeposited nickel layer before the sliding surface layer is deposited on the bearing metal layer or on an intermediate layer of nickel provided on the bearing metal layer.

Abstract: In a one-half part of a sliding surface bearing comprising a bearing half-shell (1) and at least one stop collar (2), the stop collar (2) constitutes a separate end flange and has mounting extensions (5), which protrude toward the bearing half-shell (1) and extends into fitting openings (3) of the bearing half-shell (1), which openings are open at the end face.To permit relatively large radii at the transition between the bearing half-shells (1) and the stop collar (2), the fitting openings (3) have an undercut (4), which is effective in an axial direction, and the mounting extensions (3) of the stop collar (2) extend behind the undercuts (4) and are axially aligned.

Abstract: In a sliding surface bearing for high loads, comprising a sliding layer (2), which has physically been applied in a vacuum directly to a bearing metal layer (1) and consists of a base material with finely divided inclusions (6), which are substantially insoluble in the base material at the operating temperature, substantial freedom from wear and a minimum tendency to mixing by rubbing are to be ensured in that all inclusions (6) have a lower hardness than the base material, which has been crystallized to form columns having a preferred orientation at right angles to the sliding surface (4).