Sliding bearing having multilayer lead-free overplate and method of manufacture
AssigneeFederal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
InventorsBrian L. Bank, James R. Toth
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multilayer engine bearing (10) includes a steel backing (12) having a liner (18) of bearing metal of either copper-lead or aluminum alloys formed on the backing (12) to define a base lining member (20) of the bearing (10). A multilayer overplate (22, 122) is formed on the base lining member (20,120) and includes multiple lead-free soft layers (24,124) separated by lead-free hard layers (26,126). The relative thicknesses of the overplate layers may be controlled to provide a macro hardness gradient across the thickness of the overplate (122) such that, for example, the overplate (122) may be softer near its top region (130) as compared to its bottom region (132).
Claims12
A multilayer sliding bearing comprising:
- a base lining member including a rigid metal backing and a lining of bearing metal provided on said backing layer;
- and
- a lead-free multilayer overplate comprising a plurality of alternating soft and hard micro-thin overplate layers of lead-free metal materials electroplated onto said base lining member each having a thickness of about half or less of said overall thickness of said overplate.
A multilayer sliding bearing comprising:
- a base lining member including a rigid metal backing and a liner of bearing metal provided on said backing layer;
- and
- a lead-free multilayer overplate applied to said base lining member having a plurality of lead-free soft layers of tin-based material separated by one or more intervening lead-free hard layers of at least one material selected from the group of materials consisting of nickel, copper, tin-nickel, cobalt, iron, and lead-free alloys thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.