Abstract
A new tester has been devised that uses a single piece of equipment to perform the various tests necessary for evaluating a bearing.
By using a device that corrects misalignments between the shaft and the bearing, the mechanism of occurrence of the difference in running-in characteristics between lead alloy bearings and aluminum alloy bearings has been clarified for the first time. It was also confirmed that this device allows stable measurement of the coefficient of friction, and an understanding of the basic characteristics with respect to the material specifications of the bearings was obtained.
In addition, by suppressing resonance and using a highly rigid material, it was possible to perform the high frequency excitation needed to reproduce the dynamic load fluctuations that occur in an actual engine, and to install the connecting rod and other parts used in an actual engine. By applying these results to the evaluation of the small end bearing of the connecting rod, it was possible to evaluate the sliding characteristics according to differences in the way the small end bearing is surface-treated. In this way, it was confirmed that the new tester could efficiently evaluate the compatibility of a bearing used in an actual engine.
Keywords:Test facility, engine component, connecting rod, bearing, tribology