Concave sliding element and production process therefor

Abstract

A curved sliding element for a plain bearing and a method of producing same. The sliding element includes a generally semi-circular backing member having a central apex and a concave surface. At least one, and preferably two, intermediate layers are applied to the concave surface of the backing member. A dispersion alloy overlay is applied to the exposed intermediate layer using an electron beam vaporizer. The electron beam vaporizer evenly deposits the dispersion alloy over an angular segment, approximately 70.degree. on either side of the apex, in a such controlled manner that the thickness of the overlay deviates less than 15% across the entire angular segment. The vaporizer is moved during the overlay deposition in a linear path relative to the backing member while maintaining the distance from the linear path of the vaporizer to the apex between 150 to 350 mm. The relative speed between the vaporizer and the backing member can be varied to enhance deposition characteristics, such as by reducing the speed as the backing member nears the vaporizer and increasing the speed as the backing member moves away from the vaporizer. It may also be beneficial to position a screen between the linear path and the backing member. The screen includes a face presented toward the vaporizer which is maintained at a temperature above the melting point of the dispersion alloy.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.