The present invention relates a gear for a power transmission mechanism, and more particularly to a gear which improves a transmission efficiency.
Generally, gears have been employed in various power transmission mechanisms. Representative gears for vehicle transmission mechanisms are mainly made by steel, such as carburized steel, carbonitrided steel, and chromium molybdenum steel.
Such gears for vehicle transmission mechanisms are required to reduce friction generated at the mesh between the gears in order to improve an output power and a fuel consumption of a vehicle. More specifically, there are a large number of meshes of gears in a planetary mechanism or speed reduction mechanism, and therefore, it has been strongly desired to decrease the frictions at the meshes of the gears in view of improving a power transmission efficiency of such mechanisms.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved gear which performs an excellent power transmission efficiency by decreasing friction on the tooth surface of the gear.
An aspect of the present invention resides in a gear which comprises a tooth surface and a hard carbon film formed on at least a part of the tooth surface.
The other objects and features of this invention will become understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Gears are generally slidingly contacted with each other during the revolution under an engaged (meshed) state with other gear. Therefore, reducing friction at tooth surfaces of gears is preferable in view of improving a power transmission efficiency of the gears.
A gear of the present invention is constructed such that a hard carbon film (coating) is formed on at least a part of the gear. This hard carbon film is a film of amorphous carbon or hydrogen containing amorphous carbon which is referenced as a-C:H (amorphous carbon or hydrogen containing amorphous carbon), i-C (i carbon) and DLC (diamond-like carbon).
It is known that such a hard carbon film has a low friction coefficient when slides on the other surface under a dry condition (no lubricating condition). Although the principle of having such a low friction coefficient has not been completely elucidated, it can be assumed that a solid lubrication performance and properties such as a low Young's modulus and a high hardness of the hard carbon film attain the reduction of the friction coefficient.
On the other hand, when the hard carbon film is used in lubricant, the friction coefficient of the film in lubricant becomes different from that in the dry condition. A normal hard carbon film is made of carbon and unavoidable impurity, or of carbon, hydrogen and unavoidable impurity. A reactivity of a surface of the hard carbon film is low, and this property relates to a low-friction and a low-abrasion thereof. However, since the hard carbon film has a weak interaction relative to a base oil and additives in lubricant, a reduction merit of the friction coefficient in lubricant is relatively small as compared with that in the dry condition.
The present invention has been achieved by thorough study as to a hard carbon film having a low-friction coefficient in lubricant, a preferable lubricant, and an additive component.
First, a hard carbon film is formed on a tooth surface of a gear. The hard carbon film may be formed on a whole surface of the tooth surface of the gear or a partial surface of the tooth surface. Generally, there is a tendency that a forming of a film on a bottom portion of each gear tooth is not easy as compared with that on a top portion of each gear tooth. However, it is not necessary to forcibly form the hard carbon film on the uneasy forming portion, since the merit obtained by the hard carbon film is obtained according to a ratio of the film formed area. Further, even if a part of the film is worn out in use, the merit of the hard carbon film is maintained according to a size of the remaining hard carbon film.
Although gears are actually used by combining two or more gears, the hard carbon film may be formed on the whole of the tooth surface or may be formed on a part of the tooth surface. A film forming area of the hard carbon film may be properly determined upon taking account of a production cost, a productivity and a degree of the obtained merit.
Although a base metal of the gear is not basically limited, a carburized steel and a chromium molybdenum steel are preferably used to ensure an impact strength and a bending fatigue strength necessary for a gear. Further, carbonitrided steel is preferably used to suppress the softening of the base metal due to the semi-high-temperature condition during the film production process. An intermediate layer may be formed between the base metal and the hard carbon film to decrease the strain between the base metal and the hard carbon film and to improve the adherence of the film relative to the base metal. A commonly known method may be employed to form the intermediate layer.
The hard carbon film can be produced by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process or physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. Generally, a hard carbon film formed by CVD process contains hydrogen due to raw materials of organic compound, and the hydrogen amount of such produced film ranges from 15 to 40 atom % (atomic percent). On the other hand, PVD process is capable of producing the hard carbon film with and/or without hydrogen. Various processes of PVD have been proposed and put in practical use. The hard carbon film of the gear according to the present invention is preferable to be formed by means of an arc ion plating or spattering, in view of the adherence of the film on the base metal.
It is preferable that the hydrogen amount in the hard carbon film for the gear is as small as possible since the decrease of the hydrogen amount in the hard carbon film decreases the friction of the gear. Therefore, the hydrogen amount of the hard carbon film of the gear according to the present invention is set to be smaller than 1 atom %, and preferably smaller than 0.3 atom %. That is, it is preferable that the hard carbon film is formed by means of physical vapor deposition (PVC) process. The hydrogen amount in the hard carbon film is capable of being measured by a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) or Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS).
The gear according to the present invention exhibits an excellent characteristic, particularly when it is used in or with lubricant. When the gear according to the present invention is used in lubricant, the lubricant may be properly selected from a lubricant using mineral oil or synthetic oil as base oil, such as gear oil, vehicle engine oil, turbine oil and spindle oil. Further, when poly-α-olefin is used as base oil of the lubricant, the friction decreasing merit is further improved. The reason thereof may be thought to be that poly-α-olefin oil has a property of easy adherence (deposition) onto the hard carbon film formed on the tooth surface of the gear.
Further, it is preferable that a compound including hydroxy group is added to lubricant as an additive, to further improve the friction reducing merit. The reason thereof is guessed that the said additive adheres on to the hard carbon film on the tooth surface of the gear through the hydroxy group. Further, it is preferable that the number of the hydroxy groups included in a molecular of the additive is as large as possible, in view of increasing the adsorption strength. However, if the number of the hydroxy groups is too large, there causes a possibility that the additive is separated from the base oil due to the excessive hydrophilicity. Therefore, the molecular structure of the additive should be designed upon taking account of the above-discussed points. Further it is preferable that the molecular structure of the additive is designed such that the hydroxy groups are located as near as possible in the molecular structure in case that the number of the hydroxy groups in one molecular is the same. A typical molecular for the additive is secondary alcohol (dihydric alcohol) and tertiary alcohol (trihydric alcohol). Although the additive amount of the additive may be properly varied according to a usage pattern of the lubricant relative to the gear, it is preferable that the additive amount relative to the lubricant is within a range from 0.5 to 8 weight %. If the additive amount is too small, the friction reducing merit becomes small. If too large, there is a possibility that the additive is separated from the base oil.
As an additive of the lubricant, ester is preferable, and monoester of glycerin is more preferable. It is preferable that the number of carbon atoms of fatty acid constructing glycerin monoester is greater than or equal to 8, and preferably greater than or equal to 12. If the molecule size of the fatty acid consisting the ester in the additive is small, a film directly formed on a surface of the hard carbon film due to the additive becomes too thin, and therefore the friction reducing merit is decreased thereby. Polyhydric alcohol except for glycerin may be employed as an ingredient for the fatty ester additive of the lubricant although it is disadvantageous in cost.
Generally lubricant is obtained by adding proper additives in base oil such as mineral oil or synthetic oil. However, according to the usage condition and the usage circumstance of gears, lubricant including a hydroxy compound as a main component may be used instead of the above-discussed lubricant. If the lubricant including hydroxy compound is employed, the power transmission efficiency is largely improved.
Alcohol is preferable as the above-discussed hydroxy compound, and particularly, glycerin performs a large friction reducing effect. Further, when the gear slides in ethylene glycol, the excellent friction reducing merit is ensured thereby subsequent to a case that glycerin is used as lubricant for gears.
It is not necessary to construct the whole of the lubricant by the hydroxy compound. In response to the request and in correspond to usage such as wear prevention, rust prevention, viscosity control and anti-oxidation, various known additives may be added in lubricant. The total amount of such additives in lubricant is normally set to be smaller than or equal to 15 vol. %.
Further, in case that the gear according to the present invention is employed in a mechanism having a lot of mesh portions of gears, such as a planetary gear mechanism and a speed reducing mechanism, the performance of improving the power transmission efficient thereby is clearly ensured. In case that a planetary gear mechanism is employed in a speed reduction mechanism, it is possible to obtain a large speed reduction ratio while suppressing the size of the speed reduction mechanism. However, setting the speed reduction ratio at a large value radically degrades the power transmission efficiency. Accordingly, by using the gear according to the present invention as at least one of a sun gear, planetary gears and a ring gear of a planetary gear mechanism for a speed reduction mechanism, the degradation of the power transmission efficiency in the speed reduction mechanism is suppressed.
Hereinafter, there is discussed Examples according to the present invention and Comparative Examples thereof.
Chromium molybdenum steel defined as SCM420H in JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) was employed as material of the gear of Example 1. The material was machined into a gear defined by the following specifications, and the carburizing, quenching and tempering processes were applied to the machined gear.
<Specifications of Gear>
Type of gear: spur gear
Module: 4 mm
Number of gear teeth: 60 (that of meshed gear: 40)
Face width: 10 mm
The above discussed gear of Example 1 was surfaced and degreased. Subsequently, a hard carbon film was formed on a tooth surface of the gear of Example 1 by arc ion plating (AIP) process. A thickness of the hard carbon film at a center portion of each tooth was 1.2 μm. The hydrogen amount in the hard carbon film was 0.1 atom % (atomic percent) as a result of the measurement using a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS).
The tooth surface of the gear coated by the hard carbon film was polished to remove droplets of the hard carbon film and to smoothen the surface thereof. A surface roughness Ra of the polished tooth portion was 0.04 μm. A gear (drive gear) meshed with the film coated gear was not coated with the hard carbon film. A surface roughness Ra of a tooth surface of the meshed (counter) gear was 0.17 μm. Hereinafter, as far as it is not specifically explained, tooth portions of Examples and Comparative Examples were finished such that a surface roughness Ra of the gear coated with DLC (diamond-like carbon) ranged from 0.02 μm to 0.06 μm, and a surface roughness Ra of the gear without DLC ranged from 0.1 μm to 0.3 μm. Since it is difficult to further smoothen the surface of the gear coated with DLC by the polishing due to the property of DLC film, the gear coated with DLC was previously grinded and polished to be smoothed before DLC is formed on the surface of the gear. The surface roughness Ra is explained as Ra75 in JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard) B0601(:2001).
The power transmission efficiency of the gear was measured using a power circulation type gear test equipment. In order to separately obtain a loss of a drive gear and bearings and a loss of the tested gear, it is necessary to execute various adaptations such as a special design of the drive gear (counter gear) and a separate measurement of the bearing loss. However, since it is possible to determine the advantages gained by the hard carbon film from the magnitude of the total loss without executing the separate detection of the losses of the total loss, the evaluations of Examples and Comparative Examples have been made from the transmission efficiency corresponding to the total loss.
More specifically, using the power circulation type gear test equipment, the total loss of the tested gear was measured under a condition that the tested gear and the counter gear were wholly soaked in poly-alfa(α)-olefin (PAO) oil and that the drive gear meshed with the tested gear was rotated at a speed of 6000 rpm (the revolution speed of the drive gear).
On the other hand, the gear of Comparative Example 1 was the same in shape and in material as that of Example 1 except that no hard carbon film was formed on the gear of Comparative Example 1. The total loss of Comparative Example 1 was measured under the condition as same as that of Example 1.
Chromium molybdenum steel defined as SCM440H in JIS was employed as material of the gear of Example 2. The material was machined into a gear defined by the following specifications, and the carburizing, quenching and tempering processes were applied to the machined gear.
<Specifications of Gear>
Type of gear: spur gear
Module: 2 mm
Number of gear teeth: 60 (that of meshed gear: 20)
Face width: 3 mm
The above discussed gear of Example 2 was degreased and set in a vacuum chamber. A hard carbon film was formed on a tooth surface of the gear of Example 2 by arc ion plating (AIP) process in the vacuum chamber. A thickness of the hard carbon film at a center portion of each tooth was 1.4 μm. The hydrogen amount in the hard carbon film was 0.1 atom % as a result of the measurement using a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The tooth surface was polished to remove droplets of the hard carbon film and to smoothen the surface. A gear (drive gear) meshed with the film coated gear was not coated with the hard carbon film.
Using the power circulation type gear test equipment, the total loss of the tested gear was measured under a condition that the tested gear and the counter gear were wholly soaked in poly-alfa-olefin (PAO) oil and that the tested gear meshed with the drive gear was rotated at a speed of 6000 rpm (the revolution speed of the drive gear). A kinetic viscosity of the employed poly-alfa-olefin was 4.0 cSt at 100° C. Hereinafter, the evaluation of examples and comparative examples was executed using the poly-alfa-olefin as same as that employed in Example 2.
On the other hand, the gear of Comparative Example 2 was the same in shape and in material as that of Example 2 except that no hard carbon film was formed on the gear of Comparative Example 2. The total loss of Comparative Example 2 was measured under the condition as same as that of Example 2.
Chromium molybdenum steel defined as SCM420H in JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) was employed as material of the gear of Example 3. The material was machined into a gear defined by the following specifications, and the carburizing, quenching and tempering processes were applied to the machined gear. Thereafter, a finishing touch was applied to the processed gear.
<Specifications of Gear>
Type of gear: spur gear
Module: 6 mm
Number of gear teeth: 120 (that of meshed gear: 40)
Face width: 12 mm
The above discussed gear of Example 3 was degreased and set in a vacuum chamber. A hard carbon film was formed on a tooth surface of the gear of Example 3 by arc ion plating (AIP) process in the vacuum chamber. A thickness of the hard carbon film at a center portion of each tooth was 0.9 μm. The hydrogen amount in the film was 0.2 atom % as a result of the measurement using a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The tooth surface was polished to remove droplets of the hard carbon film and to smoothen the surface. A gear (drive gear) meshed with the coated gear was not coated with the hard carbon film.
Using the power circulation type gear test equipment, the total loss of the tested gear was measured under a condition that the tested gear and the counter gear were wholly soaked in poly-alfa-olefin (PAO) oil and that the tested gear meshed with the drive gear was rotated at a speed of 9000 rpm (the revolution speed of the drive gear).
On the other hand, the gear of Comparative Example 3 was the same in shape and in material as that of Example 3 except that no hard carbon film is formed on the gear of Comparative Example 3. The total loss of Comparative Example 3 was measured under the condition as same as that of Example 3.
Chromium molybdenum steel defined as SCM420H in JIS was employed as material of the gear of Example 4. The material was machined into a gear defined by the following specifications, and the carburizing, quenching and tempering processes were applied to the machined gear. Thereafter, a finishing touch was applied to the processed gear.
<Specifications of Gear>
Type of gear: spur gear
Module: 6 mm
Number of gear teeth: 120 (that of meshed gear: 40)
Face width: 12 mm
The above discussed gear of Example 4 was degreased and set in a vacuum chamber. A hard carbon film was formed on a tooth surface of the gear of Example 4 by the magnetron spattering process in the vacuum chamber. A thickness of the hard carbon film at a center portion of each tooth was 1.3 μm. The hydrogen amount in the film was 0.1 atom % as a result of the measurement using a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The tooth surface was polished to remove droplets of the hard carbon film and to smoothen the surface. A gear (drive gear) meshed with the coated gear was not coated with the hard carbon film.
Using the power circulation type gear test equipment, the total loss of the tested gear was measured under a condition that the tested gear and the counter gear were wholly soaked in poly-alfa-olefin (PAO) oil and that the tested gear meshed with the drive gear was rotated at a speed of 9000 rpm (the revolution speed of the drive gear).
On the other hand, the gear of Comparative Example 4 was the same in shape and in material as that of Example 4 except that no hard carbon film was formed on the gear of Comparative Example 4. The total loss of Comparative Example 4 was measured under the condition as same as that of Example 4.
Chromium molybdenum steel defined as SCM440H in JIS was employed as material of the gear of Example 5. The material was machined into a gear defined by the following specifications, and the carburizing, quenching and tempering processes were applied to the machined gear. Thereafter, a finishing touch was applied to the processed gear.
<Specifications of Gear>
Type of gear: spur gear
Module: 2 mm
Number of gear teeth: 60 (that of meshed gear: 20)
Face width: 3 mm
The above discussed gear of Example 5 was degreased and set in a vacuum chamber. A hard carbon film was formed on a tooth surface of the gear of Example 5 by a plasma CVD process in the vacuum chamber. Gas employed in the CVD process was cyclohexane. A thickness of the hard carbon film at a center portion of each tooth was 3.0 μm. The hydrogen amount in the hard carbon film was 25 atom % as a result of the measurement using a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The tooth surface was polished to remove droplets of the hard carbon film and to smoothen the surface. A gear (drive gear) meshed with the coated gear was not coated with the hard carbon film.
Using the power circulation type gear test equipment, the total loss of the tested gear was measured under a condition that the tested gear and the counter gear were wholly soaked in poly-alfa-olefin (PAO) oil and that the tested gear meshed with the drive gear was rotated at a speed of 6000 rpm (the revolution speed of the drive gear).
On the other hand, the gear of Comparative Example 5 was as same in shape and in material as that of Example 5 except that no hard carbon film is formed on the gear of Comparative Example 5. The total loss of Comparative Example 5 was measured under the condition as same as that of Example 5.
Chromium molybdenum steel defined as SCM420H in JIS was employed as material of the gear of Example 6. The material was machined into a gear defined by the following specifications, and the carburizing, quenching and tempering were applied to the machined gear.
<Specifications of Gear>
Type of gear: helical gear
Module corresponding to spur gear: 4 mm
Number of gear teeth: 60 (that of meshed gear: 60)
Face width: 20 mm
Helix angle: 12°
The above discussed gear of Example 6 was surfaced (finished) and degreased. Subsequently, the gear for Example 6 was set in a vacuum chamber, and a hard carbon film was formed on a tooth surface of the gear of Example 6 by arc ion plating (AIP) process in the vacuum chamber. A thickness of the film at a center portion of each tooth was 1.0 μm. The hydrogen amount in the film was 0.1 atom % as a result of the measurement using a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS).
The tooth surface was polished to remove droplets of the hard carbon film and to smoothen the surface. A gear (drive gear) meshed with the coated gear was not coated with the hard carbon film.
Using the power circulation type gear test equipment, the total loss of the tested gear was measured under a condition that the tested gear and the counter gear were wholly soaked in poly-alfa-olefin (PAO) oil and that the tested gear meshed with the drive gear was rotated at a speed of 6000 rpm (based on the drive gear).
On the other hand, the gear of Comparative Example 6 was as same in shape and in material as that of Example 6 except that no hard carbon film was formed on the gear of Comparative Example 6. The total loss of Comparative Example 6 was measured under the condition as same as that of Example 6.
Chromium molybdenum steel defined as SCM440H in JIS was employed as material of the gear of Example 3. The material was machined into a gear defined by the following specifications, and the carburizing, quenching and tempering processes were applied to the machined gear. Thereafter, a finishing touch was applied to the processed gear.
<Specifications of Gear>
Type of gear: spur gear
Module: 2 mm
number of gear teeth: 60 (that of meshed gear: 20)
Face width: 3 mm
The above discussed gear of Example 7 was degreased and set in a vacuum chamber. A hard carbon film was formed on a tooth surface of the gear of Example 7 by arc ion plating (AIP) process in the vacuum chamber. A thickness of the hard carbon film at a center portion of each tooth was 1.1 μm. The hydrogen amount in the film was 0.1 atom % as a result of the measurement using a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The tooth surface was polished to remove droplets of the film and to smoothen the surface. A gear (drive gear) meshed with the coated gear was also coated with the hard carbon film. A thickness of the hard carbon film at a center portion of each tooth of the drive gear was 1.0 μm. The hydrogen amount in the hard carbon film of the drive gear was 0.1 atom %.
Using the power circulation type gear test equipment, the total loss of the tested gear was measured under a condition that the tested gear and the counter gear were wholly soaked in poly-alfa-olefin (PAO) oil and that the tested gear meshed with the drive gear was rotated at a speed of 6000 rpm (the revolution speed of the drive gear).
On the other hand, the gear of Comparative Example 7 was as same in shape and in material as that of Example 7 except that no hard carbon film is formed on the gear of Comparative Example 7. The total loss of Comparative Example 7 was measured under the condition as same as that of Example 7.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 8 and Comparative Example 8 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing an ester component which was fatty monoglyceride (a main component of fatty acid is oleic acid) of 3 weight % of the total of the lubricant with poly-alfa-olefin. The other conditions of Example 8 and Comparative Example 8 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 8 and Comparative Example 8 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 9 and Comparative Example 9 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing an ester component which was fatty monoglyceride (a main component of fatty acid is palmitic acid) of 2 weight % in the total of the lubricant with poly-alfa-olefin. The other conditions of Example 9 and Comparative Example 9 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 9 and Comparative Example 9 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 10 and Comparative Example 10 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing an ester component which was fatty monoglyceride (a main component of fatty acid is stearic acid) of 7 weight % in the total of the lubricant with poly-alfa-olefin. The other conditions of Example 10 and Comparative Example 10 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 10 and Comparative Example 10 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, Lubricant employed in Example 11 and Comparative Example 11 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing an ester component which was butyl stearate of 2 weight % in the total of the lubricant with poly-alfa-olefin. The other conditions of Example 11 and Comparative Example 11 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 11 and Comparative Example 11 were also the same as that of Example 2.
Chromium molybdenum steel defined as SCM440H in JIS (Japan Industrial Standard) was employed as material of the gears of Example 12. The material was machined into gears defined by the following specifications, and the carburizing, quenching and tempering processes were applied to the machined gears. Thereafter, a finishing touch was applied to the processed gear. The gears were assembled into a planetary gear mechanism of 2K-H type. In the evaluation of the gears, a sun gear functioning as an input gear, a ring gear was fixed, and a carrier of planetary gears functioning as an output.
<Specifications of gear>
Type of gear: spur gear
Module: 2 mm
Number of gear teeth of sun gear: 60
Number of gear teeth of planetary gear: 24
Number of gear teeth of ring gear: 144
Number of planetary gears: 3
Face width: 6 mm
The sun gear and the planetary gears of Example 12 were degreased and set in a vacuum chamber. Hard carbon films were formed on tooth surfaces of the gears by arc ion plating (AIP) process in the vacuum chamber. A thickness of the film at a center portion of the sun gear was 1.7 μm. The hydrogen amount in the film was 0.1 atom % as a result of the measurement using a secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The tooth surfaces were polished to remove droplets of the film and to smoothen the surface. The ring gear was not coated with the hard carbon film.
Using the power circulation type gear test equipment, the total loss of the tested gear was measured under a condition that the tested gears were wholly soaked in poly-alfa-olefin (PAO) oil and that the tested gear was rotated at a speed of 6000 rpm (the revolution speed of the sun gear).
On the other hand, the gears of Comparative Example 12 were the same in shape and in material as those of Example 12 except that no hard carbon film was formed on the gears of Comparative Example 12. The total loss of Comparative Example 12 was measured under the condition as same as that of Example 12.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, Lubricant employed in Example 13 and Comparative Example 13 was JIS industrial gear oil specified by type 2 and viscosity classification ISO VG 220. The other conditions of Example 13 and Comparative Example 13 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 13 and Comparative Example 13 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 14 and Comparative Example 14 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing an ester component which was fatty monoglyceride (a main component of fatty acid is stearic acid) of 5 weight % in the total of the lubricant with JIS industrial gear oil specified by viscosity classification ISO VG 220 type 2. The other conditions of Example 14 and Comparative Example 14 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 14 and Comparative Example 14 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 15 and Comparative Example 15 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing an ester component which was fatty monoglyceride (a main component of fatty acid is stearic acid) of 4 weight % in the total of the lubricant with JIS industrial turbine oil specified by JIS-2213K type 2. The other conditions of Example 15 and Comparative Example 15 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 15 and Comparative Example 15 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 7 and Comparative Example 7 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, Lubricant employed in Example 16 and Comparative Example 16 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing an ester component which was fatty monoglyceride (a main component of fatty acid is stearic acid) of 7 weight % with poly-alfa-olefin, as same as that employed in Examples 10 and 11. The other conditions of Example 16 and Comparative Example 16 were the same as those of Example 7. The evaluation of Example 16 and Comparative Example 16 were also the same as that of Example 7 and Comparative Example 7.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 17 and Comparative Example 17 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing an ester component which was fatty diglyceride (a main component of fatty acid is stearic acid) of 2 weight % with poly-alfa-olefin. The other conditions of Example 17 and Comparative Example 17 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 17 and Comparative Example 17 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 18 and Comparative Example 18 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing pinacol having two hydroxy groups in one molecular at 0.8 weight % with poly-alfa-olefin. The other conditions of Example 18 and Comparative Example 18 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 18 and Comparative Example 18 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 19 and Comparative Example 19 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing 1,10-decandiol of 2.0 weight % and poly-alfa-olefin. The other conditions of Example 19 and Comparative Example 19 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 19 and Comparative Example 19 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 20 and Comparative Example 20 was lubricant obtained by fully mixing dodecyl alcohol of 2.0 weight % with poly-alfa-olefin. The other conditions of Example 20 and Comparative Example 20 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 20 and Comparative Example 20 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 21 and Comparative Example 21 was glycerin. No additive was added in glycerin. The other conditions of Example 21 and Comparative Example 21 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 21 and Comparative Example 21 were also the same as that of Example 2.
The gears of Example 2 and Comparative Example 2 were evaluated under the different test conditions. More specifically, lubricant employed in Example 22 and Comparative Example 22 was ethylene glycol. No additive was added in ethylene glycol. The other conditions of Example 22 and Comparative Example 22 were the same as those of Example 2. The evaluation of Example 22 and Comparative Example 22 were also the same as that of Example 2.
As to Examples 1 through 22 and Comparative Examples 1 through 22, the measurement results of the power transmission efficiencies thereof were shown in Table 1 together with the specifications of the gears, such as material, module, teeth number, film forming method, hydrogen amount in the hard carbon film, and a kind of lubricant.
As is apparent from Table 1, it was recognized that the gears of Examples 1 through 22 according to the present invention performed excellent power transmission efficiencies as compared with Comparative Examples 1 through 22, respectively. Specifically, Example 21 performed the excellent power transmission efficiency. Further, Example 16 is subsequently preferable in case that the selection of lubricant is limited such that the lubricant is commonly used in the other sliding pair. In case that both of cost and power transmission efficiency are balancedly minded, Example 8 through 10 are subsequently preferable.
With the thus arranged gear according to the present invention, by film the hard carbon film on al least a part of tooth face of the gear, it becomes possible to largely decrease the friction of the gear relative to the counter gear (meshed gear). Further, by employing a specifically blended lubricant, the friction of the gear is further preferably decreased. This provides the gear further improved in power transmission efficiency. Specifically, in case that lubricant may be freely selected, a largely improved power transmission efficiency is obtained by a lubricant wherein alcohol group is used as a main component of the lubricant. Further, the gear according to the present invention is preferably adapted to a mechanism which has a lot of gear meshing portions, such as a planetary gear mechanism and speed reduction mechanism. When the gear is employed in such mechanisms, the power transmission efficiency is further improved.
This application is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2003-204238 filed on Jul. 31, 2003 and No. 2004-127632 filed on Apr. 23, 2004 in Japan. The entire contents of these Japanese Patent Applications are incorporated herein by reference.
Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teaching. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2003-204238 | Jul 2003 | JP | national |
2004-127632 | Apr 2004 | JP | national |
The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/902,303, filed Jul. 30, 2004, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. This application has the following related applications: U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/545,181 based on Japanese Patent Application Hei-11-102205 filed on Apr. 9, 1999; Ser. No. 10/468,713 which is the designated state (United States) application number of PCT Application JP02/10057 based on Japanese Patent Application 2001-117680 filed on Apr. 17, 2001; Ser. No. 10/355,099 based on Japanese Patent Application 2002-45576 filed on Feb. 22, 2002; Ser. No. 10/682,559 based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-302205 filed on Oct. 16, 2002; and Ser. No. 10/692,853 based on Japanese Patent Application 2002-322322 filed on Oct. 16, 2002.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1461 | Day | Dec 1839 | A |
2339715 | Woods et al. | Jan 1944 | A |
2609342 | Clark et al. | Sep 1952 | A |
2716972 | Famy et al. | Sep 1955 | A |
2982733 | Wright et al. | May 1961 | A |
3211647 | O'Halloran et al. | Oct 1965 | A |
3790315 | Emanuelsson et al. | Feb 1974 | A |
3846162 | Bloom | Nov 1974 | A |
3932228 | Sugiyama et al. | Jan 1976 | A |
4031023 | Musser et al. | Jun 1977 | A |
4367130 | Lemelson | Jan 1983 | A |
4385880 | Lemelson | May 1983 | A |
4538929 | Ehrentraut et al. | Sep 1985 | A |
4554208 | MacIver et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
4645610 | Born et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
4702808 | Lemelson | Oct 1987 | A |
4712982 | Inagaki et al. | Dec 1987 | A |
4755237 | Lemelson | Jul 1988 | A |
4755426 | Kokai et al. | Jul 1988 | A |
4783368 | Yamamoto et al. | Nov 1988 | A |
4834400 | Lebeck | May 1989 | A |
4842755 | Dunn | Jun 1989 | A |
4859493 | Lemelson | Aug 1989 | A |
4874596 | Lemelson | Oct 1989 | A |
4919974 | McCune et al. | Apr 1990 | A |
4933058 | Bache et al. | Jun 1990 | A |
4943345 | Asmussen et al. | Jul 1990 | A |
4960643 | Lemelson | Oct 1990 | A |
4974498 | Lemelson | Dec 1990 | A |
4980021 | Kitamura et al. | Dec 1990 | A |
4980610 | Varga | Dec 1990 | A |
4981717 | Thaler | Jan 1991 | A |
4988421 | Drawl et al. | Jan 1991 | A |
4992082 | Drawl et al. | Feb 1991 | A |
5000541 | DiMarcello et al. | Mar 1991 | A |
5021628 | Lemelson | Jun 1991 | A |
5032243 | Bache et al. | Jul 1991 | A |
5036211 | Scott | Jul 1991 | A |
5040501 | Lemelson | Aug 1991 | A |
5067826 | Lemelson | Nov 1991 | A |
5077990 | Plath | Jan 1992 | A |
5078848 | Anttila et al. | Jan 1992 | A |
5087608 | Chan et al. | Feb 1992 | A |
5096352 | Lemelson | Mar 1992 | A |
5110435 | Haberland | May 1992 | A |
5112025 | Nakayama et al. | May 1992 | A |
5127314 | Swain | Jul 1992 | A |
5131941 | Lemelson | Jul 1992 | A |
5132587 | Lemelson | Jul 1992 | A |
5142785 | Grewal et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
5143634 | Quinga et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
5148780 | Urano et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
5187021 | Vydra et al. | Feb 1993 | A |
5190807 | Kimock et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5190824 | Itoh | Mar 1993 | A |
5202156 | Yamamoto et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5205188 | Repenning et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
5205305 | Yamakita | Apr 1993 | A |
H1210 | Jansen | Jul 1993 | H |
5232568 | Parent et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
5237967 | Willermet et al. | Aug 1993 | A |
5249554 | Tamor et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
5255783 | Goodman et al. | Oct 1993 | A |
5255929 | Lemelson | Oct 1993 | A |
5284394 | Lemelson | Feb 1994 | A |
5288556 | Lemelson | Feb 1994 | A |
5295305 | Hahn et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
5299937 | Gow | Apr 1994 | A |
5317938 | de Juan, Jr. et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
5326488 | Minokami et al. | Jul 1994 | A |
5332348 | Lemelson | Jul 1994 | A |
5334306 | Dautremont-Smith et al. | Aug 1994 | A |
5349265 | Lemelson | Sep 1994 | A |
5358402 | Reed et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
5359170 | Chen et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
5360227 | Lemelson | Nov 1994 | A |
5380196 | Kelly et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
5401543 | O'Neill et al. | Mar 1995 | A |
H1461 | DiVita et al. | Jul 1995 | H |
5432539 | Anderson | Jul 1995 | A |
5433977 | Sarin et al. | Jul 1995 | A |
H1471 | Braun et al. | Aug 1995 | H |
5443032 | Vichr et al. | Aug 1995 | A |
5447208 | Lund et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
5456406 | Lemelson | Oct 1995 | A |
5458754 | Sathrum et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5461648 | Nauflett et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5462772 | Lemelson | Oct 1995 | A |
5464667 | Köhler et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5466431 | Dorfman et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5479069 | Winsor | Dec 1995 | A |
5482602 | Cooper et al. | Jan 1996 | A |
5491028 | Sarin et al. | Feb 1996 | A |
5497550 | Trotta et al. | Mar 1996 | A |
5509841 | Winsor | Apr 1996 | A |
5516729 | Dawson et al. | May 1996 | A |
5529815 | Lemelson | Jun 1996 | A |
5531878 | Vadgama et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
5541566 | Deeney | Jul 1996 | A |
5547716 | Thaler | Aug 1996 | A |
5551959 | Martin et al. | Sep 1996 | A |
5552675 | Lemelson | Sep 1996 | A |
5568391 | Mckee | Oct 1996 | A |
5593719 | Dearnaley et al. | Jan 1997 | A |
5616372 | Conley et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
5619889 | Jones et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
5628881 | Lemelson | May 1997 | A |
5630275 | Wexler | May 1997 | A |
5630953 | Klink | May 1997 | A |
5641731 | Baumgart et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
5653300 | Lund et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
5669144 | Hahn et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5672054 | Cooper et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5688557 | Lemelson et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5707409 | Martin et al. | Jan 1998 | A |
5714202 | Lemelson et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5719109 | Tokashiki et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5723207 | Lettington et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5731046 | Mistry et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5735769 | Takemura et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5740941 | Lemelson | Apr 1998 | A |
5775817 | Gottemoller et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
5786038 | Conley et al. | Jul 1998 | A |
5790146 | Anderson | Aug 1998 | A |
5793390 | Claflin et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
5794801 | Lemelson | Aug 1998 | A |
5799549 | Decker et al. | Sep 1998 | A |
5806557 | Helge | Sep 1998 | A |
5824387 | Boutaghou et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
5834708 | Svetal et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5840662 | Nibert et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5843571 | Sho | Dec 1998 | A |
5851962 | Kaga | Dec 1998 | A |
5866195 | Lemelson | Feb 1999 | A |
5871805 | Lemelson | Feb 1999 | A |
5881444 | Schaefer et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5901021 | Hirano et al. | May 1999 | A |
5910940 | Guerra | Jun 1999 | A |
5927897 | Attar | Jul 1999 | A |
5937812 | Reedy et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5939149 | Jang et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5940975 | Decker et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5945214 | Ma et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5947710 | Cooper et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5952102 | Cutler | Sep 1999 | A |
5958261 | Offer et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5960762 | Imai | Oct 1999 | A |
5967250 | Lund et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5968596 | Ma et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5975686 | Hauck et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
5976707 | Grab | Nov 1999 | A |
5992268 | Decker et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
5993938 | Tsukuda et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6006415 | Schaefer et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6015597 | David | Jan 2000 | A |
6016000 | Moslehi | Jan 2000 | A |
6023979 | Bills et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6028393 | Izu et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6051298 | Ko et al. | Apr 2000 | A |
6056443 | Koike et al. | May 2000 | A |
6059460 | Ono et al. | May 2000 | A |
6059830 | Lippincott, III et al. | May 2000 | A |
6071597 | Yang et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6083313 | Venkatraman et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6083570 | Lemelson et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6095690 | Niegel et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6099541 | Klopotek | Aug 2000 | A |
6099976 | Lemelson et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6100628 | Coll et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6106919 | Lee et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6124198 | Moslehi | Sep 2000 | A |
6139964 | Sathrum et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6142481 | Iwashita et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6145608 | Lund et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6156439 | Coffinberry | Dec 2000 | A |
6159558 | Wolfe et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6160683 | Boutaghou | Dec 2000 | A |
6165616 | Lemelson et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6170156 | Lev et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6171343 | Dearnaley et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6173913 | Shafer et al. | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6190514 | Ma et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6193906 | Kaneko et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6197120 | David | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6197428 | Rogers | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6203651 | Järvenkylä et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6205291 | Hughes et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6207625 | Ogano et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6227056 | Bills et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6237441 | Nishioka et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6237852 | Svetal et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6238839 | Tomita et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6255262 | Keenan et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6261424 | Goncharenko et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6273793 | Liners et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6274220 | Tsukuda et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6289593 | Decker et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6293648 | Anderson | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6296552 | Boutaghou et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6299425 | Hirano et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6303547 | Balasubramaniam | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6305416 | Snel et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6309283 | Liners et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6311524 | Brennan, III et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6316392 | Heimann et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6316734 | Yang | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6322431 | Schaenzer et al. | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6322719 | Kaneko et al. | Nov 2001 | B2 |
6324060 | Hsu | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6325385 | Iwashita et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6329328 | Koganei et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6333298 | Waddoups et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6338881 | Sellschopp et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6340245 | Horton et al. | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6358123 | Liners et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6367705 | Lee et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6368676 | Gaudreau et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6377422 | Boutaghou et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6379383 | Palmaz et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6385987 | Schlom et al. | May 2002 | B2 |
6386468 | Neuberger et al. | May 2002 | B1 |
6399215 | Zhu et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6401058 | Akalin et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6439845 | Veres | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6439986 | Myoung et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6452752 | Boutaghou | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6465399 | Koishikawa et al. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6468642 | Bray et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6471979 | New et al. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6494881 | Bales et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6523456 | Kobayashi et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
6524212 | Ushijima et al. | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6534141 | Hull, Jr. et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6537310 | Palmaz et al. | Mar 2003 | B1 |
6537429 | O'Donnell et al. | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6543394 | Tinney | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6544308 | Griffin et al. | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6553957 | Ishikawa et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6557968 | Lee et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6562445 | Iwamura | May 2003 | B2 |
6562462 | Griffin et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6570172 | Kim et al. | May 2003 | B2 |
6572651 | DeScheerder et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6572935 | He et al. | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6572937 | Hakovirta et al. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6585064 | Griffin et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6586069 | Dykes et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6589640 | Griffin et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6592519 | Martinez | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6592985 | Griffin et al. | Jul 2003 | B2 |
6601662 | Matthias et al. | Aug 2003 | B2 |
6626949 | Townley | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6629906 | Chiba et al. | Oct 2003 | B1 |
6637528 | Nishiyama et al. | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6638569 | McLaughlin et al. | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6645354 | Gorokhovsky | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6656329 | Ma et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6658941 | Bills et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6666328 | Sykora | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6666671 | Olver et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6684513 | Clipstone et al. | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6684759 | Gorokhovsky | Feb 2004 | B1 |
6695865 | Boyle et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6699706 | Myoung et al. | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6701627 | Korb et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6715693 | Dam et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6726993 | Teer et al. | Apr 2004 | B2 |
6729350 | Schick | May 2004 | B2 |
6729527 | Sonnenreich et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6733513 | Boyle et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6739214 | Griffin et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6739238 | Ushijima et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6740393 | Massler et al. | May 2004 | B1 |
6745742 | Meyer | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6749033 | Griffin et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6753042 | Bakounine et al. | Jun 2004 | B1 |
6753635 | Kuhlmann-Wilsdorf | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6761532 | Capone et al. | Jul 2004 | B2 |
6761736 | Woo et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
6780177 | Shafirstein et al. | Aug 2004 | B2 |
6797326 | Griffin et al. | Sep 2004 | B2 |
6799468 | Borenstein | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6806242 | Shirahama et al. | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6818029 | Myoung et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6820676 | Palmaz et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6821189 | Coad et al. | Nov 2004 | B1 |
6821624 | Utsumi et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6822788 | Blitstein | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6849085 | Marton | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6855237 | Kolpakov et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6855791 | Van Doren et al. | Feb 2005 | B2 |
6861098 | Griffin et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6861137 | Griffin et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6865952 | Bills et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6866894 | Trankiem et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6871700 | Gorokhovsky | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6872203 | Shafirstein et al. | Mar 2005 | B2 |
6878447 | Griffin et al. | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6880469 | Frost | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6882094 | Dimitrijevic et al. | Apr 2005 | B2 |
6883476 | Nohara et al. | Apr 2005 | B1 |
6886521 | Hamada et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
6887585 | Herbst-Dederichs | May 2005 | B2 |
6890700 | Tomita et al. | May 2005 | B2 |
6893720 | Nakahigashi et al. | May 2005 | B1 |
6969198 | Konishi et al. | Nov 2005 | B2 |
7086362 | Mabuchi et al. | Aug 2006 | B2 |
20010036800 | Liners et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20020026899 | McLaughlin et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020031987 | Liners et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020034631 | Griffin et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020034632 | Griffin et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020051286 | Blitstein | May 2002 | A1 |
20020055440 | Balasubramaniam | May 2002 | A1 |
20020070357 | Kim et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020074168 | Matthias et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020089571 | Lee et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020090155 | Ushijima et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020090578 | Schaefera et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020130219 | Parseghian et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20020148430 | Kano et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020155015 | Esumi et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020175476 | Chinou et al. | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20030012234 | Watson et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030019111 | Korb et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030019332 | Korb et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030021995 | Griffin et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030034182 | Griffin et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030035957 | Griffin et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030035958 | Griffin et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030036341 | Myoung et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030037640 | Griffin et al. | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20030069632 | De Scheerder et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
20030108777 | Gunsel et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030114094 | Myoung et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030128903 | Yasuda et al. | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20030159919 | Fairbairn et al. | Aug 2003 | A1 |
20030162672 | Shirahama et al. | Aug 2003 | A1 |
20030168323 | Frost | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030180565 | Herbst-Dederichs | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20030199741 | Martinez | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20030234371 | Ziegler | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20030235691 | Griffin et al. | Dec 2003 | A1 |
20040003638 | Schaefer et al. | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040008406 | Blitstein | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040010068 | Doren et al. | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040011900 | Gebhardt et al. | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20040027018 | LeBlanc et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040035375 | Gibisch et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040074467 | Hamada et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040092405 | Konishi et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
20040105806 | Griffin et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040109621 | Frost | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040115435 | Griffin et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040133301 | Van Doren et al. | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040154570 | Mabuchi et al. | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20040168326 | Korb et al. | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20040184687 | Morales et al. | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20040223256 | Feng et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
20040241448 | Kano et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20040242435 | Nishimura et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20040244539 | Korb et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20040261614 | Hamada et al. | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20050001201 | Bocko et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050005892 | Nishimura et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
20050035222 | Hamada et al. | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20050037879 | Murata et al. | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20050056241 | Nomura et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050061291 | Nishimura et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050061636 | Frost et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050064196 | Martin et al. | Mar 2005 | A1 |
20050082139 | Ishikawa et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050084390 | Ueno et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050089685 | Hamada et al. | Apr 2005 | A1 |
20050098134 | Nishimura et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
20050100701 | Hamada et al. | May 2005 | A1 |
20050115744 | Griffin et al. | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050188942 | Hamada et al. | Sep 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2009582 | Aug 1990 | CA |
87101001 | Oct 1988 | CN |
1077736 | Oct 1993 | CN |
1166864 | Dec 1997 | CN |
1171809 | Jan 1998 | CN |
1046759 | Nov 1999 | CN |
1385552 | Dec 2002 | CN |
643 034 | Mar 1937 | DE |
19507086 | Sep 1996 | DE |
19507086 | Sep 1996 | DE |
197 04 224 | Aug 1997 | DE |
198 15 989 | Oct 1999 | DE |
198 25 860 | Dec 1999 | DE |
19825860 | Dec 1999 | DE |
100 17 459 | Oct 2000 | DE |
100 61 397 | May 2002 | DE |
101 58 683 | Jun 2003 | DE |
103 18 135 | Nov 2003 | DE |
10337559 | Mar 2005 | DE |
0 286 996 | Oct 1988 | EP |
0 291 006 | Nov 1988 | EP |
0 299 785 | Jan 1989 | EP |
0308143 | Mar 1989 | EP |
0 333 416 | Sep 1989 | EP |
1109196 | May 1990 | EP |
0378378 | Jul 1990 | EP |
0384772 | Aug 1990 | EP |
0388800 | Sep 1990 | EP |
0392125 | Oct 1990 | EP |
0398985 | Nov 1990 | EP |
407977 | Jan 1991 | EP |
0 435 312 | Jul 1991 | EP |
0474369 | Mar 1992 | EP |
0 500 253 | Aug 1992 | EP |
0511153 | Oct 1992 | EP |
0 529 327 | Mar 1993 | EP |
0392125 | Mar 1993 | EP |
0546824 | Jun 1993 | EP |
0308143 | Nov 1993 | EP |
0573943 | Dec 1993 | EP |
0619504 | Oct 1994 | EP |
0621136 | Oct 1994 | EP |
0624353 | Nov 1994 | EP |
0624354 | Nov 1994 | EP |
0378378 | Jan 1995 | EP |
0651069 | May 1995 | EP |
0652301 | May 1995 | EP |
0656458 | Jun 1995 | EP |
0 661 470 | Jul 1995 | EP |
0396603 | Jun 1996 | EP |
0388800 | Dec 1996 | EP |
0 759 519 | Feb 1997 | EP |
0474369 | Mar 1997 | EP |
0 818 622 | Jan 1998 | EP |
0652301 | Jan 1998 | EP |
0826790 | Mar 1998 | EP |
10-088369 | Apr 1998 | EP |
0842754 | May 1998 | EP |
0 870 820 | Oct 1998 | EP |
0816112 | Oct 1998 | EP |
0882759 | Dec 1998 | EP |
0893677 | Jan 1999 | EP |
0624353 | Feb 1999 | EP |
0656458 | Feb 1999 | EP |
0 905 221 | Mar 1999 | EP |
0 905 419 | Mar 1999 | EP |
0647318 | Mar 1999 | EP |
0651069 | Mar 1999 | EP |
0 731 190 | May 1999 | EP |
0949200 | Oct 1999 | EP |
0845154 | Nov 1999 | EP |
0582676 | Mar 2000 | EP |
1063085 | Dec 2000 | EP |
1 067 211 | Jan 2001 | EP |
0850126 | Jan 2001 | EP |
1076087 | Feb 2001 | EP |
1078736 | Feb 2001 | EP |
0778902 | Sep 2001 | EP |
1 154 012 | Nov 2001 | EP |
0826790 | Nov 2001 | EP |
1034320 | Dec 2001 | EP |
0893677 | Jan 2002 | EP |
1184480 | Mar 2002 | EP |
1190791 | Apr 2002 | EP |
1219464 | Jul 2002 | EP |
1 233 054 | Aug 2002 | EP |
0971812 | Oct 2002 | EP |
1018291 | Oct 2002 | EP |
1281513 | Feb 2003 | EP |
1 300 608 | Apr 2003 | EP |
0850133 | May 2003 | EP |
0950123 | May 2003 | EP |
0882759 | Jun 2003 | EP |
1 338 641 | Aug 2003 | EP |
1340605 | Sep 2003 | EP |
1365141 | Nov 2003 | EP |
1083946 | Dec 2003 | EP |
1078736 | Jan 2004 | EP |
1378271 | Jan 2004 | EP |
0757615 | Mar 2004 | EP |
0842754 | Mar 2004 | EP |
1 411 145 | Apr 2004 | EP |
0862395 | Apr 2004 | EP |
1 418 353 | May 2004 | EP |
1440775 | Jul 2004 | EP |
1445119 | Aug 2004 | EP |
1475557 | Nov 2004 | EP |
1481699 | Dec 2004 | EP |
1482190 | Dec 2004 | EP |
1498597 | Jan 2005 | EP |
1 510 594 | Mar 2005 | EP |
1311885 | Mar 2005 | EP |
1512781 | Mar 2005 | EP |
1183470 | Apr 2005 | EP |
2 669 689 | May 1992 | FR |
768226 | Feb 1957 | GB |
1005638 | Oct 1988 | GB |
0624354 | Dec 1999 | GB |
2338716 | Dec 1999 | GB |
0990532 | Mar 2001 | IE |
62-111106 | May 1987 | JP |
63-21209 | Jan 1988 | JP |
63-288994 | Nov 1988 | JP |
02-189393 | Jul 1990 | JP |
5-70879 | Mar 1993 | JP |
5-36004 | May 1993 | JP |
5-42616 | Jun 1993 | JP |
6-264993 | Sep 1994 | JP |
06-293891 | Oct 1994 | JP |
6-294307 | Oct 1994 | JP |
7-63135 | Mar 1995 | JP |
07-090553 | Apr 1995 | JP |
7-103238 | Apr 1995 | JP |
07-118832 | May 1995 | JP |
7-41386 | Oct 1995 | JP |
7-286696 | Oct 1995 | JP |
07-305082 | Nov 1995 | JP |
8-14014 | Jan 1996 | JP |
8-61499 | Mar 1996 | JP |
9-20981 | Jan 1997 | JP |
52006318 | Jan 1997 | JP |
253770 | Sep 1997 | JP |
10-265790 | Oct 1998 | JP |
10-298440 | Nov 1998 | JP |
11-22423 | Jan 1999 | JP |
11-190406 | Jul 1999 | JP |
11-292629 | Oct 1999 | JP |
11-294118 | Oct 1999 | JP |
11-333773 | Dec 1999 | JP |
2000-02315 | Jan 2000 | JP |
2000-88104 | Mar 2000 | JP |
2000-119843 | Apr 2000 | JP |
2000-504089 | Apr 2000 | JP |
2000-297373 | Oct 2000 | JP |
2000-327484 | Nov 2000 | JP |
2000-339083 | Dec 2000 | JP |
2001-62605 | Mar 2001 | JP |
2001-64005 | Mar 2001 | JP |
2001-93141 | Apr 2001 | JP |
2001-172766 | Jun 2001 | JP |
2001-192864 | Jul 2001 | JP |
2001-269938 | Oct 2001 | JP |
2001-280236 | Oct 2001 | JP |
2001-316686 | Nov 2001 | JP |
2002-265968 | Sep 2002 | JP |
2002-309912 | Oct 2002 | JP |
2002-332571 | Nov 2002 | JP |
2003-13163 | Jan 2003 | JP |
2003-13799 | Jan 2003 | JP |
2003-25117 | Jan 2003 | JP |
2003-28174 | Jan 2003 | JP |
2003-88939 | Mar 2003 | JP |
2003-105368 | Apr 2003 | JP |
2003-113941 | Apr 2003 | JP |
2003-147508 | May 2003 | JP |
2004-36788 | Feb 2004 | JP |
2004-217110 | Aug 2004 | JP |
2005-68529 | Mar 2005 | JP |
2004586 | Dec 1993 | RU |
2153782 | Jul 2000 | RU |
1770350 | Oct 1992 | SU |
WO 8906707 | Jul 1989 | WO |
WO 8906708 | Jul 1989 | WO |
WO 8906338 | Jul 1989 | WO |
WO 9202602 | Feb 1992 | WO |
WO 9206843 | Apr 1992 | WO |
WO 9219425 | Apr 1992 | WO |
WO 9321288 | Oct 1993 | WO |
WO 9321289 | Oct 1993 | WO |
WO 9324828 | Dec 1993 | WO |
WO 9529273 | Feb 1995 | WO |
WO 9520253 | Jul 1995 | WO |
WO 9529044 | Nov 1995 | WO |
WO 9531584 | Nov 1995 | WO |
WO 9604485 | Feb 1996 | WO |
WO 9605333 | Feb 1996 | WO |
WO 9605942 | Feb 1996 | WO |
WO 9606961 | Mar 1996 | WO |
WO 9612389 | Apr 1996 | WO |
WO 9624488 | Aug 1996 | WO |
WO 9640446 | Dec 1996 | WO |
WO 9707531 | Feb 1997 | WO |
WO 9710093 | Mar 1997 | WO |
WO 9710940 | Mar 1997 | WO |
WO 9714555 | Apr 1997 | WO |
WO 9716138 | May 1997 | WO |
WO 9802715 | Jan 1998 | WO |
WO 9812994 | Apr 1998 | WO |
WO 9813528 | Apr 1998 | WO |
WO 9847141 | Oct 1998 | WO |
WO 9909547 | Feb 1999 | WO |
WO 9912404 | Mar 1999 | WO |
WO 9914512 | Mar 1999 | WO |
WO 9916371 | Apr 1999 | WO |
WO 9922694 | May 1999 | WO |
WO 9927157 | Jun 1999 | WO |
WO 9929477 | Jun 1999 | WO |
WO 9931557 | Jun 1999 | WO |
WO 9934385 | Jul 1999 | WO |
WO 9946847 | Sep 1999 | WO |
WO 9954520 | Oct 1999 | WO |
WO 9954934 | Oct 1999 | WO |
WO 9957743 | Nov 1999 | WO |
WO 9962077 | Dec 1999 | WO |
WO 9962572 | Dec 1999 | WO |
WO 0022613 | Apr 2000 | WO |
WO 0024554 | May 2000 | WO |
WO 0025410 | May 2000 | WO |
WO 0028142 | May 2000 | WO |
WO 0033051 | Jun 2000 | WO |
WO 0035000 | Jun 2000 | WO |
WO 0044032 | Jul 2000 | WO |
WO 0047402 | Aug 2000 | WO |
WO 0055385 | Sep 2000 | WO |
WO 0056127 | Sep 2000 | WO |
WO 0056393 | Sep 2000 | WO |
WO 0062327 | Oct 2000 | WO |
WO 0068451 | Nov 2000 | WO |
WO 0075517 | Dec 2000 | WO |
WO 0078504 | Dec 2000 | WO |
WO 0105917 | Jan 2001 | WO |
WO 0106033 | Feb 2001 | WO |
WO 0114736 | Mar 2001 | WO |
WO 0114745 | Mar 2001 | WO |
WO 0126862 | Apr 2001 | WO |
WO 0137631 | May 2001 | WO |
WO 0140537 | Jun 2001 | WO |
WO 0147451 | Jul 2001 | WO |
WO 0159544 | Aug 2001 | WO |
WO 0161182 | Aug 2001 | WO |
WO 0161719 | Aug 2001 | WO |
WO 0162372 | Aug 2001 | WO |
WO 0163639 | Aug 2001 | WO |
WO 0167834 | Sep 2001 | WO |
WO 0179583 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 0180224 | Oct 2001 | WO |
WO 02006875 | Jan 2002 | WO |
WO 0213188 | Feb 2002 | WO |
WO 0224601 | Mar 2002 | WO |
WO 0224603 | Mar 2002 | WO |
WO 0224970 | Mar 2002 | WO |
WO 0232625 | Apr 2002 | WO |
WO 0244440 | Jun 2002 | WO |
WO 02054454 | Jul 2002 | WO |
WO 02062714 | Aug 2002 | WO |
WO 02062714 | Aug 2002 | WO |
WO 02073021 | Sep 2002 | WO |
WO 02080996 | Oct 2002 | WO |
WO 02085237 | Oct 2002 | WO |
WO 02090461 | Nov 2002 | WO |
WO 02097289 | Dec 2002 | WO |
WO 03009978 | Feb 2003 | WO |
WO 03013990 | Feb 2003 | WO |
WO 03020329 | Mar 2003 | WO |
WO 03021731 | Mar 2003 | WO |
WO 03031543 | Apr 2003 | WO |
WO 03091758 | May 2003 | WO |
WO 03046508 | Jun 2003 | WO |
WO 03054876 | Jul 2003 | WO |
WO 03076309 | Sep 2003 | WO |
WO 03078679 | Sep 2003 | WO |
WO 03091758 | Nov 2003 | WO |
WO 03095009 | Nov 2003 | WO |
WO 03105134 | Dec 2003 | WO |
WO 2004001804 | Dec 2003 | WO |
WO 2004004998 | Jan 2004 | WO |
WO 2004019809 | Mar 2004 | WO |
WO 2004024206 | Mar 2004 | WO |
WO 2004026359 | Apr 2004 | WO |
WO 2004026500 | Apr 2004 | WO |
WO 2004036169 | Apr 2004 | WO |
WO 2004036292 | Apr 2004 | WO |
WO 2004038701 | May 2004 | WO |
WO 2004043631 | May 2004 | WO |
WO 2004048126 | Jun 2004 | WO |
WO 2004067466 | Aug 2004 | WO |
WO 2004068530 | Aug 2004 | WO |
WO 2004071670 | Aug 2004 | WO |
WO 2004072959 | Aug 2004 | WO |
WO 2004078424 | Sep 2004 | WO |
WO 2004084773 | Oct 2004 | WO |
WO 2004088113 | Oct 2004 | WO |
WO 2005010596 | Feb 2005 | WO |
WO 2005011744 | Feb 2005 | WO |
WO 2005014760 | Feb 2005 | WO |
WO 2005014882 | Feb 2005 | WO |
WO 2005016620 | Feb 2005 | WO |
WO 2005021851 | Mar 2005 | WO |
WO 2005025844 | Mar 2005 | WO |
WO 2005034791 | Apr 2005 | WO |
WO 2005037144 | Apr 2005 | WO |
WO 2005037985 | Apr 2005 | WO |
WO 2005040451 | May 2005 | WO |
WO 2005042064 | May 2005 | WO |
WO 2005047737 | May 2005 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20080276755 A1 | Nov 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10902303 | Jul 2004 | US |
Child | 12177943 | US |