Abstract: A machine, such as a hauler at a mining site, includes one or more bolted (clamped) joints. Friction coatings are applied to surfaces of two or more materials being clamped to reduce clamp load loss. The friction coatings include one or more coated surfaces and one or more interstitial spaces between the coated surfaces. Various materials may be used as the friction coating including, but not limited to, a tungsten/carbide or stellite/carbide alloy, iron base alloys such as POLYMET alloys, including PMET 290 (an alloy of iron, chromium, boron, manganese, silicone, and nickel), a nickel chromium alloy, e.g., Ni-20Cr, aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particles, and various combinations of these and other suitable materials.

Abstract: An example bushing has three portions along its radial direction including an inner portion most proximal to a central hole of the bushing, an outer portion most distal from the center hole, and a core portion between the inner portion and the outer portion. The core portion has a hardness that is less than the hardness of the inner portion or the outer portion of the bushing. The bushing may be formed using high carbon steel, which in some cases may be spheroidal cementite crystal structure. A rough bushing may be formed using the high carbon steel, followed by a direct hardening process, and an induction hardening process on the inner surface most proximal to the central hole of the bushing. The induction hardening on the inner surface may harden the outer portion while tempering the core portion of the bushing.

Abstract: An example track shoe, cutting edge, or other component of a machine is formed in a heated process, such as hot-rolling followed by air-hardening. The air-hardening process involves cooling the component by flowing air over the component (e.g., air cooling), such that the component is cooled at a controlled rate. During the air-cooling process, such as in the range of about 250° C. to about 1100° C., the component may be machined, such as by shearing, punching, drilling, etc. The machining may form the final shape of the component. As the air-hardening process is completed, and the component approaches room temperature, the component may have at least 5% bainitic crystal composition, and as high as greater than 80% bainitic crystal composition, resulting in relatively high hardness and fracture toughness. The final track shoe may have a hardness between about 40 HRC and 55 HRC.

Abstract: An example bushing has three portions along its radial direction including an inner portion most proximal to a central hole of the bushing, an outer portion most distal from the center hole, and a core portion between the inner portion and the outer portion. The core portion has a hardness that is less than the hardness of the inner portion or the outer portion of the bushing. The bushing may be formed using high carbon steel, which in some cases may be spheroidal cementite crystal structure. A rough bushing may be formed using the high carbon steel, followed by a direct hardening process, and an induction hardening process on the inner surface most proximal to the central hole of the bushing. The induction hardening on the inner surface may harden the outer portion while tempering the core portion of the bushing.

Abstract: A method of producing a forged steel part is disclosed. The method includes providing a steel billet that can be selectively hardened to different hardness levels by varying the air cooling rate. The method also includes heating the steel billet to an austenization temperature of the steel billet. The method further includes hot forging the steel billet to form the steel part including a first region and a second region. The method yet further includes selectively cooling the hot forged steel part by air cooling the first region at a first cooling rate and air cooling the second region at a second cooling rate that is less than the first cooling rate.

Abstract: A method of producing a forged steel part is disclosed to include providing a steel billet having a composition including 0.25-0.40 wt. % C, 1.50-3.00 wt. % Mn, 0.30-2.00 wt. % Si, 0.00-0.150 wt. % V, 0.02-0.06 wt. % Ti, 0.010-0.04 wt. % S, 0.0050-0.0150 wt. % N, 0.00-1.00 wt. % Cr, 0.00-0.30 wt. % Mo, 0.00-0.003 wt. % B, and a balance of Fe and incidental impurities. The method may further include heating the steel billet to an austenization temperature of approximately 1150 degrees C. to 1350 degrees C., hot forging the steel billet to form the steel part, and controlled air cooling the forged steel part after the hot forging. The method may still further include induction heating select portions of the forged steel part after the controlled air cooling to increase the hardness of the select portions of the forged steel part, followed by quenching and tempering before the final machining.

Abstract: A method of producing a forged steel part is disclosed. The method includes providing a steel billet that can be selectively hardened to different hardness levels by varying the air cooling rate. The method also includes heating the steel billet to an austenization temperature of the steel billet. The method further includes hot forging the steel billet to form the steel part including a first region and a second region. The method yet further includes selectively cooling the hot forged steel part by air cooling the first region at a first cooling rate and air cooling the second region at a second cooling rate that is less than the first cooling rate.

Abstract: A steel article is provided for improved wear resistance due to optimized hardness, toughness and temper resistance. In one exemplary embodiment, the steel article may have a composition including about 0,2 to 0.43 percent by weight of carbon, about 0.5 to about 3.0 percent by weight of silicon, about 0.01 to about 3.0 percent by weight of chromium, and 0.43 to about 2.5 percent by weight of vanadium.

Abstract: A method of producing a forged steel part is disclosed to include providing a steel billet having a composition including 0.25-0.40 wt. % C, 1.50-3.00 wt. % Mn, 0.30-2.00 wt. % Si, 0.00-0.150 wt. % V, 0.02-0.06 wt. % Ti, 0.010-0.04 wt. % S, 0.0050-0.0150 wt. % N, 0.00-1.00 wt. % Cr, 0.00-0.30 wt. % Mo, 0.00-0.003 wt. % B, and a balance of Fe and incidental impurities. The method may further include heating the steel billet to an austenization temperature of approximately 1150 degrees C. to 1350 degrees C., hot forging the steel billet to form the steel part, and controlled air cooling the forged steel part after the hot forging. The method may still further include induction heating select portions of the forged steel part after the controlled air cooling to increase the hardness of the select portions of the forged steel part, followed by quenching and tempering before the final machining.

Abstract: A cylinder liner for an engine includes a hollow cylindrical sleeve, with an inner surface and an outer surface, that extends from a first end to a second end along a longitudinal axis. The cylinder liner may also include an annular cuff-ring groove, with a radiused fillet region, on the inner surface proximate the first end. The cylinder liner may further include a hardened case formed on the inner surface of the sleeve. The case may extend under a base of the fillet region of the cuff-ring groove.

Abstract: An engine exhaust aftertreatment system including a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. The SCR system includes a reductant injection system configured to introduce a reductant into a exhaust stream of a engine, a SCR catalysts configured to reduce NOx in the presence of a reductant, and a SCR monitoring system configured to determine temperatures associated with the SCR system. The SCR system also includes a heat source configured to raise the temperature of the exhaust stream and a controller configured to operate the heat source to reach exhaust stream temperatures in the SCR system of at least about 400 degrees Celsius based on the temperature associated with the SCR system.

Abstract: An exhaust gas recirculation system for a power source, has at least one inlet port configured to receive at least a portion of a flow of exhaust produced by the power source. The exhaust gas recirculation system also has an electrode disposed upstream of the at least one inlet port and configured to charge particulate matter in the flow of exhaust. The exhaust gas recirculation system further has at least one collection surface configured to allow the at least one electrode to repel the charged particulate matter away from the at least one inlet port towards the at least one collection surface.

Abstract: An electrical connection element for providing an electrical connection to a porous material may include a first electrically conductive plate disposed on at least a portion of a first side of the porous material. A second electrically conductive plate may be disposed on at least a portion of a second side of the porous material, opposite to the first side. An electrically conductive material may impregnate the porous material in a region between the first and second electrically conductive plates, and an electrical connector may be attached to at least one of the first and second electrically conductive plates.

Abstract: A method for treating a surface of a first component wherein at least a portion of the surface of the first component contacts a surface of a second component. The method includes forming a compound layer at at least a portion of the surface of the first component by a thermochemical diffusion treatment and isotropically finishing the at least a portion of the surface of the first component that contacts the surface of the second component.

Abstract: A method for treating a surface of a first component wherein at least a portion of the surface of the first component contacts a surface of a second component. The method includes forming a compound layer at at least a portion of the surface of the first component by a thermochemical diffusion treatment and isotropically finishing the at least a portion of the surface of the first component that contacts the surface of the second component.