Abstract: A cylinder liner cast into a reciprocating piston engine made of a supereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy which is free of mixed-in particles of hard material and which is composed in such a way that fine silicon primary crystals and intermetallic particles automatically form from the melt as hard particles. A blank is allowed to grow from finely sprayed melt droplets by spray compaction, with a fine distribution of hard particles being produced by setting the spray for small melt droplets. The blank can then be formed by cold extrusion to create a shape approximating the cylinder lining. After premachining, the surface is fine machined, honed in at least one stage and then the hard particles lying at the surface are mechanically or chemically exposed, forming plateau areas of hard particles which project above the remaining surface of the base microstructure of the alloy.

Abstract: Described is a surface element (10) which is provided for controlledly transporting moisture and for the storage of moisture and which has an air-permeable carrier (14) provided with an adsorbent. The surface element (10) also has an absorbent, moisture-storing fleece layer (12), wherein the adsorber carrier (14) and the fleece layer (12) are connected together in areal relationship by needling (16) to give an air-permeable composite material (22; 22'). The needling (16) is oriented from the fleece layer (12) towards the adsorber carrier (14). The fiber barbs (18) of the needling (16) extend from the fleece layer (12) to the adsorber carrier (14) and through the adsorber carrier (14). The fiber barbs (18) provide a wick action for the moisture, whereby moisture transport to the fleece layer (12) is optimized. Particularly upon saturation of the fleece layer (12) excess moisture is stored in the adsorbent of the adsorber carrier (14).

Abstract: A coating for a cylinder bore of a reciprocating engine with an iron, aluminum, or magnesium base comprises a hypereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy. The alloy is applied to a cylinder wall by thermal spraying.

Abstract: A cylinder-liner blank which preferably consists of a hypereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy and is cast into a crankcase. A special surface treatment achieves better material bonding of the liner in the crankcase. The blank has a roughness of 30 to 60 .mu.m on its outside, in the form of pyramid-like or lancet-like protruding material scabs or material accumulations. To obtain this roughness, the surface is blasted with particles which are broken so as to have sharp edges and consist of a brittle hard material, preferably high-grade corundum, with an average grain size of about 70 .mu.m. A fine fraction is formed and is continuously separated off. The average grain size is maintained by adding new particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder liner sealed into a reciprocating piston engine comprising a supereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy which is free of mixed-in particles of hard material and which is composed in such a way that fine silicon primary crystals and intermetallic particles automatically form from the melt as hard particles. A blank is allowed to grow from finely sprayed melt droplets by spray compaction, with a fine distribution of hard particles being produced by setting the spray for small melt droplets. The blank can then be formed by cold extrusion to create a shape approximating the cylinder lining. After premachining, the surface is fine machined, honed in at least one stage and then the hard particles lying at the surface are mechanically exposed, is forming plateau areas of hard particles which project above the remaining surface of the base microstructure of the alloy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder liner, cast into a reciprocating piston engine, of a highly hypereutectic aluminum/silicon alloy which is free of hard material particles independent of the melt and has such a composition that fine primary silicon crystals and intermetallic phases automatically form from the melt as hard particles. By spray-compacting, a blank of finely sprayed melt droplets is caused to grow, a fine distribution of the hard particles being produced by controlled introduction of small melt droplets. The blank can be transformed by an extrusion step into a form approximating the cylinder liner. After subsequent premachining with chip removal, the running surface is precision-machined and subsequently honed in at least one stage, after which the hard particles located in the running surface are exposed, plateau faces of the particles being formed, which faces protrude from the remaining surface of the matrix structure of the alloy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piston, particularly of light metal, for internal combustion engines, comprising a piston skirt substantially closed in the peripheral direction, pin bosses set back with respect to the piston skirt diameter in the direction of the piston axis, and two supporting skirt wall sections which thus remain on the piston skirt on the thrust and the counter-thrust side. The supporting skirt wall section on the thrust side is larger at least in the peripheral direction of the skirt than the supporting skirt wall section on the counter-thrust side.In order to divert the lateral forces acting on the supporting surfaces to the entire supporting structure in an elastically cushioned but safe manner, the two wall sections of the skirt connecting the supporting wall sections are respectively continuously curved convexly outwards as seen along the periphery of the piston skirt at least at the open skirt end beneath the pin bosses.

Abstract: An electrical push-button switch in which the push button has a shank extending through a passage in the switch housing for engaging an electrical contact set. The passage through which the shank extends has a series of notches around the periphery for receiving one end of a pair of springs, the other end of each spring is attached to the shank. The springs have an N-shaped configuration with an extension at one end of the N. A pair of complimentary stationary portions of the switch housing extend in the path of and engage the extended portions of the springs after the push button is depressed. The initial depression of the push button causes the shank to move against the tension of the springs until a changeover point is reached, thereafter the push button movement is assisted by the springs for a further period of travel.