Patent Application
20100240558
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lubricating arrangement of a chain assemblage, in particular to one applied to coat the chain components of the chain assemblage with layers of non-electrolytic nickel and Polytetrafluoroethylene alloy to attain effects of automatically lubricating and increasing the surface hardness and durability of the chain without burdening the tensile strength.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the assemblage of the chain is required to be immersed in a heat and liquefied lubricating liquid. When the liquefied lubricating liquid gradually becomes thick lubricant oil at room temperature, the chain assemblage is homogenized to be coated with the lubricant oil. In the long term, the critical occurrence attendant on the lubricant-coated chain is the large consumption of the lubricant oil caused by the wrapping of soil, mud, or sand on the chain components and the combination thereof with the redundant oil. Such difficulty not only decreases the efficiency of the chain operation but obstructs the further addition of the liquid lubricant into the chain shaft. Therefore, the conventional chain configuration is still in a rugged operation. The conventional chain also facilely incurs the problems of the rusty chain shaft and the oil stains on user's clothes while operating the chain.
A closed prior is cited by Taiwanese Patent No. M275160, shown in
The object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating arrangement that coats every chain component with layers of non-electrolytic nickel and Polytetrafluoroethylene alloy to obtain an automatic lubrication and to increase the surface hardness and durability of the chain without burdening the tensile strength.
The present invention in conformity with the lubricating arrangement of chain assemblage applied to components thereof mainly comprises a first lubricating layer coating the surface of the chain assemblage and a second lubricating layer covering the surface of the first lubricating layer; wherein, the first lubricating layer is preferably fabricated of a non-electrolytic nickel layer in a thickness of 2 to 5 micrometers (i), and the second lubricating layer is preferably made of a Polytetrafluoroethylene alloy (PTFE alloy) layer in a thickness of 2 to 8 micrometers (i) and provided with the volume of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE, namely Teflon) ranging from 3 to 35 vol %.
Further, the chain assemblage comprises one of a chain hub, a chain axle, an interior chain plate, an exterior chain plate and a bushing or the combination of the above.
The chain assemblage is preferably constituted of the eighth group of periodic element.
The non-electrolytic nickel layer preferably has components in weight (wt %) ranging from 6 to 13 wt % phosphorus (P) and 87 to 94 wt % nickel (Ni).
The PTFE alloy layer preferably contains ranging from 20 to 35 vol % PTFE and provides the density ranging from 5.9 to 6.8 g/cm3, equating with 6 to 12.5 wt %. The PTFE alloy layer further comprises components in weight (wt %) ranging from 7.5 to 10 wt % phosphorus (P) and 77 to 86 wt % nickel (Ni).
The second lubricating layer is further overlaid with either a reinforcing layer or a painting, wherein the reinforcing layer is a layer of titanium nitride (TiN).
Accordingly, the advantages of present invention set forth below:
The advantages of the present invention over the known prior arts will become more apparent to those of ordinary skilled in the art by reading the following descriptions with the relating drawings.
Before describing in greater detail, it should note that the like elements are denoted by the similar reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
The pair of interior chain plates 1 are disposed in relative positions. Each interior chain plate 1 includes a first pivot bore 11 arranged thereon, a first lubricating layer 12, and a second lubricating layer 13 as illustrated in
In addition, the chain assemblage, which is alternatively made of the eighth group of periodic element as well as the alloy thereof, stainless steel, copper (Cu) as well as the alloy thereof, titanium (Ti) as well as the alloy thereof, and magnesium (Mg) as well as the alloy thereof, can be coated with the non-electrolytic nickel layer, hence attaining a wide application.
Furthermore, the second lubricating layer 13 coats the surface of the first lubricating layer 12 and has a thickness of 2 to 8 micrometers (μ). The second lubricating layer 13 is preferably made of a Polytetrafluoroethylene alloy (PTFE alloy) layer that contains particles of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) ranging from 3 to 35 vol % for being dispersed eutectoidly among the non-electrolytic nickel layer. It is adopted in the first preferred embodiment that the PTFE alloy layer, which includes the proportion in weight (wt %) ranging from 7.5 to 10 wt % phosphorus (P) and 77 to 86 wt % nickel (Ni), possesses 20 to 35 vol % PTFE and a density ranging from 5.9 to 6.8 g/cm3, equating with 6 to 12.5 wt %. A subsequent layer of titanium nitride (TiN) can serve as a reinforcing layer or process through the painting treatment for coating the surface of the second lubricating layer 13. The physical characteristics of the PTFE alloy layer with different proportions addition to PTFE particles and the non-electrolytic nickel layer are herein shown in Table 2:
Table 3 further performs the comparisons between the friction coefficients of PTFE alloy layer and that of the conventional material with lower friction coefficients as set forth below:
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
To sum up, the present invention mainly coat every component of the chain assemblage with dual lubricating layers, that is, the first non-electrolytic nickel layers 12, 22, 32, 41, 52 possessing the characteristics of a homogeneous coating, a great adhesion, a high hardness, a favorable wear resistance, a preferable anti-corrosion, and available welding and coating hardness higher than 500 HV (HRC50). The coating hardness would preferably obtain 1000 HV (HRC70) via processing a specific treatment, so as to efficiently enhance the hardness of the chain assemblage. Further, in view of the second lubricating layers 13, 23, 33, 42, 53 is the PTFE alloy layer having a friction coefficient lower than the conventional materials (see Table 3). The second lubricating layer substantially provides the merits of a favorable lubrication and a non-adhesive surface, thereby avoiding the wrapping of the dirt on the components and the rugged operation of the chain assemblage. Further, the second lubricating layer also possesses the properties of a strong temperature endurance, a favorable electric insulation, a great ageing retardation, a precious incombustibility, a great corrosion resistance to enhance the chemical stability, and a diminutive absorption capability. Consequently, the present invention facilitates to attain a durable utilization without frequent renewals, an automatic lubricating effect, and an increment of the surface hardness of the chain assemblage without burdening the tensile strength.
While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
