US 5,398,791 A · Method for crown plating a camplate and a metal-plated camplate formed thereby

Abstract

A method is provided for improving the load distribution on a ramp-surface of a clutch mechanism, such as the camplate of an overrunning clutch for the turbocharger of a locomotive diesel engine. In addition, an improved camplate produced by such a method is also provided in accordance with this invention. The method involves an electroplating process in which the electrostatic field is uniquely shaped so as to concentrate the electrostatic flux at a central region of the ramp surface, such that a greater amount of plating metal is deposited in the central region of the ramp surface as compared to the edges of the ramp surface. As a result, the ramp surface has a crowned contour as defined by the plating alone, and does not require a pre- or post-plating crown grind operation. The crowned contour serves to advantageously distribute a load over the ramp surface, so as to promote a longer service life for the camplate.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for electroplating a camplate of an overrunning clutch, the method comprising the steps of:

circumscribing a load bearing surface formed on a surface of the camplate with a mask, such that said mask substantially masks edge regions of said load bearing surface and such that said mask defines an opening which is aligned with an intermediate region of said load bearing surface, said intermediate region being that portion of said load bearing surface which is intermediate said edge regions, said intermediate region and said edge regions defining a width of said load bearing surface;
positioning an electrode adjacent said opening in said mask so as to shape an electrostatic field generated by said electrode and thereby concentrate electrostatic flux at said intermediate region of said load bearing surface;
and
electroplating the camplate such that a greater thickness of metal is deposited on said intermediate region of said load bearing surface than said edge regions of said load bearing surface, so as to more uniformly distribute a bearing load imposed on said load bearing surface by a roller bearing disposed widthwise across said load bearing surface.

1 more element

A method for electroplating an annular-shaped camplate of an overrunning clutch for a turbocharger of a locomotive diesel engine, wherein the camplate has a plurality of ramps defined at an outer perimeter of the camplate, each of said plurality of ramps having an intermediate region which is intermediate a pair of edge regions and constitutes about 50 to about 70 percent of each of said plurality of ramps, said intermediate region and said edge regions defining a width of each of said plurality of ramps, the method comprising the steps of:

circumscribing said plurality of ramps of the camplate with a mask such that said mask substantially masks said edge regions of each of said plurality of ramps and such that said mask defines an annular-shaped opening which is aligned with said intermediate region of each of said plurality of ramps;
positioning an electrode adjacent said opening in said mask so as to shape an electrostatic field generated by the electrode and thereby concentrate electrostatic flux at said intermediate region of each of said plurality of ramps;
and
electroplating said plurality of ramps of the camplate such that a greater thickness of metal is deposited on the intermediate region of said plurality of ramps than said edge regions of said plurality of ramps so as to more uniformly distribute a bearing load imposed on each of said plurality of ramps by roller bearings disposed widthwise across each of said plurality of ramps.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for crown plating a camplate and a metal-plated camplate formed thereby

Life of this patent

Method for crown plating a camplate and a metal-plated camplate formed thereby

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20