Thrust washer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016160908-A1
Application number	US-201414905924-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thrust washer for a flange half-bearing may include a semi-annular panel having an inner edge and an outer edge. A plurality of hooking lugs may project inwardly from the inner edge of the panel. The hooking lugs may have at least one latching edge configured to engage with a corresponding opening in a bearing shell received by the thrust washer and prevent disconnection of the thrust washer and the bearing shell without deformation of the bearing shell. The hooking lugs may have a hooking lug inner portion proximate to a central part of the thrust washer around the inner edge of the panel for engaging against an edge of the corresponding opening of the bearing shell, and a hooking lug outer portion remote from the central part around the inner edge of the panel. The hooking lug inner portion may be thinner than the hooking lug outer portion.

First claim

1 . A thrust washer for a flange half-bearing, comprising:
a substantially semi-annular panel having an inner edge and an outer edge; and a plurality of hooking lugs projecting inwardly from the inner edge of the panel, wherein the hooking lugs have at least one latching edge configured to engage within a corresponding opening in a bearing shell received by the panel and to prevent disconnection of the panel and the bearing shell without deformation of the bearing shell, the plurality of hooking lugs each have a hooking lug inner portion proximate, around the inner edge of the panel, to a central part for engaging against an edge of the corresponding opening in the bearing shell and a hooking lug outer portion remote, around the inner edge of the panel, from the central part, and the hooking lug inner portion is thinner than the hooking lug outer portion.

2 . A thrust washer according to claim 1 , further comprising a bearing face provided with a plurality of oil distribution grooves extending to the inner edge of the panel, and at least one of the plurality of oil distribution groove extends across the hooking lug inner portion.

3 . A thrust washer according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of oil distribution grooves extend only in a region spaced apart from the hooking lug outer portions, and the hooking lug outer portions each correspond in thickness with a thickness of the panel adjacent the hooking lug outer portion.

4 . A thrust washer according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of oil distribution grooves extend across the hooking lug outer portion of each of the plurality of hooking lugs, and wherein a part of each oil distribution groove that extends across each hooking lug inner portion is deeper than another part of each oil distribution groove that extends across the hooking lug outer portion.

5 . A thrust washer according to claim 2 , wherein each oil distribution groove includes a region of constant depth between sloping sides, and the at least one latching edge of each hooking lug has a depth within the constant depth of the respective oil distribution grooves.

6 . A thrust washer according to claim 2 , wherein at a deepest part of the plurality of oil distribution grooves, the panel has a thickness that is less than half of an average thickness of the panel outside of the plurality of oil distribution grooves.

7 . A thrust washer according to claim 1 , further comprising a stabilisation lug projecting inwardly from the inner edge of the panel and disposed intermediate to the hooking lugs.

8 . A thrust washer according to claim 7 , wherein the stabilisation lug has a uniform thickness.

9 . A thrust washer according to claim 7 , further comprising a bearing face including at least one other oil distribution groove extending to the inner edge of the panel, and the at least one other oil distribution groove extends across the stabilisation lug.

10 . A thrust washer according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of oil distribution grooves extend parallel across the bearing face.

11 . A thrust washer according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of oil distribution grooves extend from the inner edge of the panel to the outer edge of the panel.

12 . A flange half-bearing, comprising:
at least one thrust washer including:
a semi-annular panel having an inner edge and an outer edge;
a plurality of hooking lugs projecting inwardly from the inner edge of the panel, wherein the plurality of hooking lugs each have at least one latching edge;
the plurality of hooking lugs each having a hooking lug inner portion proximate, around the inner edge of the panel, to a central part of the at least one thrust washer, and a hooking lug outer portion remote, around the inner edge of the panel, from the central part, wherein the hooking lug inner portion is thinner than the hooking lug outer portion; and
a semi-cylindrical half journal bearing shell having an opening at an axial end face corresponding to the at least one latching edge of each hooking lug, wherein the respective opening via an edge is configured to engage against the hooking lug inner portion of each hooking lug; wherein the at least one latching edge of each of the plurality of hooking lugs is connected to the corresponding opening of the bearing shell to prevent disconnection of the at least one thrust washer and the bearing shell without deformation of the bearing shell.

13 . An engine, comprising:
a bearing assembly including a thrust washer and a semi-circular half journal bearing shell; the thrust washer including:
a semi-annular panel having an inner edge and an outer edge;
a plurality of hooking lugs projecting inwardly from the inner edge of the panel, wherein the plurality of hooking lugs each have at least one latching edge;
the plurality of hooking lugs each having a hooking lug inner portion proximate, around the inner edge of the panel, to a central part of the at least one thrust washer, and a hooking lug outer portion remote, around the inner edge of the panel, from the central part, wherein the hooking lug inner portion is thinner than the hooking lug outer portion; and
the bearing shell including an opening at an axial end face corresponding to the at least one latching edge of each hooking lug, wherein the opening via an edge is configured to engage the hooking lug inner portion of each hooking lug; wherein the at least one latching edge of each of the plurality of hooking lugs is connected to the corresponding opening of the bearing shell to prevent disconnection of the at least one thrust washer and the bearing shell without deformation of the bearing shell.

14 - 16 . (canceled)

17 . An engine according to claim 13 , wherein the thrust washer further includes a bearing face provided with a plurality of oil distribution grooves extending to the inner edge of the panel, and at least one of the plurality of oil distribution groove extends across the hooking lug inner portion.

18 . An engine according to claim 13 , wherein the thrust washer further includes a stabilisation lug projecting inwardly from the inner edge of the panel and disposed intermediate to the hooking lugs.

19 . A flange half-bearing according to claim 12 , wherein the thrust washer further includes a bearing face provided with a plurality of oil distribution grooves extending to the inner edge of the panel, and at least one of the plurality of oil distribution groove extends across the hooking lug inner portion.

20 . A flange half-bearing according to claim 12 , wherein the thrust washer further includes a stabilisation lug projecting inwardly from the inner edge of the panel and disposed intermediate to the hooking lugs.

21 . A flange half-bearing according to claim 20 , wherein the stabilisation lug has a uniform thickness.

22 . A thrust washer according to claim 1 , further comprising a bearing face including at least one other oil distribution groove extending to the inner edge of the panel.

23 . A thrust washer according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of oil distribution grooves extend from the inner edge of the panel to the outer edge of the panel.

Assignees

• Mahle Engine Systems Uk Ltd
• Mahle Composants Moteur France Sas
• Mahle Ind Inc
• Mahle Engine Components Slovakia S R O
• Mahle Int Gmbh

Inventors

• Gallas Tino
• Tran Ha
• Sharpe Mark
• Barral Stephane
• Berkery Kevin
• Bukna Miroslav
• Scott Murray

Classifications

• F16C2226/12

  by press-fit, e.g. plug-in · CPC title

• F16C2226/74

  with snap-fit, e.g. by clips · CPC title

• F16C9/02

  Crankshaft bearings · CPC title

• F16C2360/22

  Internal combustion engines · CPC title

• F16C33/1065

  Grooves on a bearing surface for distributing or collecting the liquid · CPC title