Abstract: In order to improve conformability of a sliding surface of a sliding member in an early state of sliding, there is provided a sliding member in which a plurality of holes are formed on a sliding surface, and the diameters (or the opening area) of the holes on the sliding surface are arranged so as to become gradually large as it gets closer to both ends in an axial direction from the center side in the axial direction. This feature decreases the pressurized area as it gets closer to the ends of the sliding surface so that it wears at an early stage, whereby a conformed surface following the deflection of a mating member is provided.

Abstract: A lubricant which is non-polluting and substitutable for conventional lubricants and which is excellent in lubrication characteristics, particularly having low frictional characteristics comprises an aqueous solution containing a saccharide in an amount of 0.5–30% by mass based on the total amount of the aqueous solution the saccharide comprising mainly a sucrose and a disaccharide caramel in an amount of 0.2–20% by mass based on the amount of the sucrose. As the sucrose, granulated sugar or crystal sugar is preferred, and coffee sugar containing previously a disaccharide caramel can also be used. More preferably, the lubricant contains sodium laurate and/or potassium laurate in an amount of 0.001–1% by mass. Furthermore, it is desired that the lubricant contains potassium sorbate in an amount of 0.1–3% by mass as a preservative and benzotriazole or an alkali metal salt thereof in an amount of 0.1–3% by mass as a rust inhibitor.

Abstract: A bearing with an oil film thickness measuring device in which sensor portions at distal ends of four common optical fibers are connected to sensor mounting portions formed at four positions in an axial direction of a bearing body. A lubricating oil containing a fluorescent agent is supplied to a sliding surface of the bearing body. A laser beam generated from a laser beam generator is branched into four beams, which are applied to an oil film on a sliding surface through each of sensor portions. Fluorescence generated by the fluorescent agent in the oil film, passing through a return-route optical fiber, is introduced into a photomultiplier tube, and is detected. Since the fluorescence intensity detected by the photomultiplier tube is proportional to the thickness of oil film, the absolute value of oil film thickness can be measured. In this case, the oil film thickness can be measured at four positions.

Abstract: The invention provides a sliding member including a plurality of holes formed on a sliding surface thereof, which sliding surface is adapted to slide on a mating member, at least one of the holes having an enlarged portion in at least a portion between an opening end and a bottom end thereof, the enlarged portion being larger than the opening end on the sliding surface.

Abstract: A sliding member includes a substrate, a porous layer provided on the surface of the substrate and a sliding layer with which the porous layer is impregnated and coated. The sliding layer contains polybenzimidazole, 1–70 vol % of a solid lubricant and 0.1–10 vol % of hard particles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multilayer material including a back metal and a metal plate made from a metal differing from the back metal is disclosed. The method includes heating powder of the metal formed into the metal plate in a reducing atmosphere so that an oxide on a surface of the metal powder is deoxidized, and spreading the deoxidized metal powder onto the back metal and irradiating laser beam having an energy density of 10 to 100 kW/cm2 onto the metal powder spread on the back metal so that the metal powder is partially heated to be melted, while the laser beam is moved relative to the spread metal powder, and quenching the melted part of the metal powder at an underside of the back metal so that the melted part is rapidly solidified, whereupon the multilayer material has a dendritic structure in which the metal plate extends substantially vertically from a surface of the back metal, and the dendritic structure has a crystal grain size equal to or smaller than 0.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a coat on an inner surface of a bearing, in which a jig 13 is attached to a rotor 2 while holding four bearings 12 for example, so as to form those in a cylinder shape. Then, while the rotor 2 is rotated at a circumferential speed of 0.3 m/sec, a nozzle 8 for airless spraying is inserted into the rotor 2, so that the nozzle 8 injects a coating material 30 from the inside of the bearings 12 toward an inner surfaces of the bearings 12 to apply the coating material thereon. Because the coating material 30 is injected from the nozzle 8 without using compressed air, the fly amount of the coating material is made less as compared to air spray painting.

Abstract: In a cylindrical sliding bearing, a radial rigidity of an inner circumferential surface of a sliding layer against a radial compression force applied to the inner circumferential surface by a shaft varies in a circumferential direction so that the inner circumferential surface includes a relatively-high radial rigidity bearing area and a relatively-low radial rigidity bearing area.

Abstract: A copper base alloy suitable for use as a material for a sliding member used under severe sliding conditions such as a floating bush bearing of a turbocharger used in automobiles is disclosed. The alloy comprises, by mass %, 15 to 25% Zn, 4.2 to 10% Di, 2 to 7% Mn, 1 to 3% Si and balance of Cu and unavoidable impurities, the alloy having a structure of which matrix is composed of ?-single phase, wherein a eutectic structure of the ?-phase and an Mn—Si compound and Bi particle are distributed throughout the matrix.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a coat on an inner surface of a bearing, in which a jig 13 is attached to a rotor 2 while holding four bearings 12 for example, so as to form those in a cylinder shape. Then, while the rotor 2 is rotated at a circumferential speed of 0.3 m/sec, a nozzle 8 for airless spraying is inserted into the rotor 2, so that the nozzle 8 injects a coating material 30 from the inside of the bearings 12 toward an inner surfaces of the bearings 12 to apply the coating material thereon. Because the coating material 30 is injected from the nozzle 8 without using compressed air, the fly amount of the coating material is made less as compared to air spray painting.

Abstract: A copper-based sliding material comprising sintered copper or sintered copper alloy, and 0.1 to 5 vol. % hard substance particles harder in hardness than said copper or copper alloy, said hard substance particles being substantially evenly dispersed so that, when at least one, randomly selected surface portion or sectional portion of said sintered copper or sintered copper alloy is partitioned into squares each having a side of 20 ?m, at least one particle exists in each of squares not less than 80% of the whole squares. The copper-based sliding material has good anti-seizure property and superior resistance to fatigue without containing any lead.

Abstract: A plain bearing comprising a backing alloy made of copper alloy or aluminum alloy, a coat layer of synthetic resin formed on the surface of a backing alloy, and a thin film of polytetrafluoroethylene formed on the surface of the coat layer has a lower coefficient friction, improved conformability and distinguished sliding characteristics.

Abstract: A sliding bearing includes a bearing alloy layer having a sliding surface and a resin surface layer formed on the sliding surface of the bearing alloy layer and containing polybenzimidazole and a solid lubricant. In manufacturing the sliding bearing, a resin surface layer composition is applied to a roughened surface of a bearing alloy layer. The resin surface layer composition contains polybenzimidazole and a solid lubricant. The resin surface layer composition is heated so as to be hardened to be formed into a resin surface layer.

Abstract: Bush 1 comprises back metal layer 2 made from a steel plate and porous sintered metal layer 4 made from copper, provided on the surface of back metal layer 2 through copper plating layer 3 and impregnated and coated with sliding material 5 within and on the surface of porous sintered metal layer 4, where sliding material 5 comprises PTFE as the main component (not less than 50 vol. % of the entire material), 3-40 vol. % of Bi particles and/or Bi alloy particles, 1-40 vol. % of injection moldable fluororesin such as PFA, etc., 0.1-20 vol. % of hard particles such a W, Al2O3, etc., and 0.1-20 vol. % of a solid lubricant such as graphite, etc. The sliding material based on PTFE as the main component is free from lead and can further improve the wear resistance, while maintaining good sliding characteristics.

Abstract: A method of producing a copper-base sintered bearing material is provided so that it is sintered with high thermal efficiency. As a heat source for a sintering furnace, an electric resistance heater which heats a furnace atmosphere and/or a high frequency induction heater, is provided, and also a microwave oscillating device which irradiates microwaves to copper alloy powder to be sintered is provided therewith. A steel sheet, which is a steel backing metal, can be heated by an electric resistance heater and/or a high frequency induction heater, and the copper alloy powder can be heated directly by microwaves.

Abstract: In order to improve conformability of a sliding surface of a sliding member in an early state of sliding, there is provided a sliding member in which a plurality of holes are formed on a sliding surface, and the diameters (or the opening area) of the holes on the sliding surface are arranged so as to become gradually large as it gets closer to both ends in an axial direction from the center side in the axial direction. This feature decreases the pressurized area as it gets closer to the ends of the sliding surface so that it wears at an early stage, whereby a conformed surface following the deflection of a mating member is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides a sliding member including a plurality of holes formed on a sliding surface thereof, which sliding surface is adapted to slide on a mating member, at least one of the holes having an enlarged portion in at least a portion between an opening end and a bottom end thereof, the enlarged portion being larger than the opening end on the sliding surface.

Abstract: There is provided a multi-layer sliding material, comprising a back metal layer, a bearing alloy layer bonded onto the back metal layer, and a coating layer bonded onto the bearing alloy layer, said coating layer being made of an alloy consisting of 20 to 80 mass % Pb, at least one optional element not more than 10 mass % in total selected from the group consisting of In, Sb, Sn and Ag, and the balance Cu and incidental impurities. The material may further comprise a conforming layer made of an alloy containing not less than 80 mass % Pb.

Abstract: A copper-based sliding material comprising sintered copper or sintered copper alloy, and 0.1 to 5 vol. % hard substance particles harder in hardness than said copper or copper alloy, said hard substance particles being substantially evenly dispersed so that, when at least one, randomly selected surface portion or sectional portion of said sintered copper or sintered copper alloy is partitioned into squares each having a side of 20 &mgr;m, at least one particle exists in each of squares not less than 80% of the whole squares. The copper-based sliding material has good anti-seizure property and superior resistance to fatigue without containing any lead.

Abstract: There are provided a copper-based sintered sliding material comprising a steel back metal layer, and a sintered layer made of Cu or a Cu-based alloy which is bonded onto the steel back metal layer, the steel back metal layer having a hardness not less than 160 Hv and an elongation not less than 10%, the sintered layer having a hardness not more than 130 Hv and crystal grains each provided with a grain size not more than 45 &mgr;m, a method of producing the sliding material, and a sliding bearing formed of the sliding material.