Chain element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245367-A1
Application number	US-201415028287-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2013
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a chain element ( 2 ), in particular for a power transmission chain of a chain drive, made of a carbon-containing material, especially steel, characterized by a core layer ( 5 ) that has a ferritic matrix structure including at least one hard phase that is distributed therein, and a hardened peripheral layer ( 6 ) that has a martensitic structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 : A chain element made of a carbon-containing material, the chain element comprising:
a core layer having a structure made of a ferritic matrix with at least one hard phase distributed therein; and a hardened peripheral layer having a martensitic structure.

12 : The chain element as recited in claim 11 wherein the martensitic structure of the hardened peripheral layer includes martensite.

13 : The chain element as recited in claim 11 wherein the martensitic structure of the hardened peripheral layer consists of martensite.

14 : The chain element as recited in claim 11 wherein the hardened peripheral layer is formed with the aid of a martensitic transformation of at least the areas of the chain element near the surface.

15 : The chain element as recited in claim 11 wherein the hard phase distributed in the core layer includes martensite.

16 : The chain element as recited in claim 11 wherein the hard phase distributed in the core layer consists of martensite.

17 : The chain element as recited in claim 11 wherein the hardened peripheral layer has a hardness of 600 HV to 1,800 HV.

18 : The chain element as recited in claim 17 wherein the hardened peripheral layer has a hardness of more than 1,000 HV.

19 : The chain element as recited in claim 11 wherein the chain element is a chain link or a chain sleeve or a chain stud.

21 : The chain element as recited in claim 11 wherein the carbon-containing material is steel.

22 : A transmission chain of a chain drive comprising the chain element as recited in claim 11 .

23 : A method for manufacturing a chain element made of a carbon-containing material, the chain element including a core layer having a structure made of a ferritic matrix with at least one hard phase distributed therein, and a hardened peripheral layer having a martensitic structure, the method comprising:
providing a chain element made of a carbon-containing material; heating the chain element to and holding the chain element at a temperature above the austenitization temperature in such a way that a uniform austenite phase is formed; carrying out at least one measure for introducing carbon into areas of the chain element near the surface; and quenching the chain element in such a way that a core layer is formed, the core element having a structure made of a ferritic matrix with at least one hard phase distributed therein and a hardened peripheral layer having a martensitic structure.

24 : The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the chain element is heated to a temperature in a range between 830° C. and 1,000° C.

25 : The method as recited in claim 24 wherein the chain element is heated to a temperature above 830° C.

26 : The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the chain element is held at the temperature above the austenitization temperature for 10 to 60 minutes.

27 : The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the chain element is quenched down to a temperature in the range between 0° C. and 400° C.

28 : The method as recited in claim 27 wherein the chain element is quenched down to a temperature in the range between 25° C. and 300° C.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Asgar Pour Khezer Abad Monir

Classifications

• C21D9/0087

  for chains, for chain links · CPC title

• C21D2221/10

  Differential treatment of inner with respect to outer regions, e.g. core and periphery, respectively · CPC title

• F16G13/02

  Driving-chains (specially adapted to gearings with variable gear-ratio F16H9/00) · CPC title

• F16G13/06 Primary

  with links connected by parallel driving-pins with or without rollers {so-called open links} · CPC title

• F16G13/04

  Toothed chains · CPC title