Importance

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Abstract

A machine component has a wear surface along which excessive friction will develop unless the surface receives adequate lubrication. To provide lubrication for the wear surface in the absence of any other lubricating medium, the component is formed from powdered metal compacted to less than theoretical density so as to contain pores, and the pores hold oil. Even though the component is mechanically machined along its wear surface, the pores are nevertheless open at the wear surface to enable the entrapped oil to exude from the ring and lubricate that surface. During manufacture of the ring, the mechanical machining creates a Bielby layer at the wear surface, that is it smears the metal and closes the pores at that surface, but the Bielby layer is removed by electro-discharge machining This procedure erodes the Bielby layer with electrical arcs so that the pores at the wear surface are again exposed and open.

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First Claim