초록 ▼

A half bearing for a sliding bearing may include a bearing substrate having at least one relief region provided in a surface of the half bearing, and a substrate adjacent respective end faces of the bearing substrate. The half bearing may further include a polymer in-fill having a non-uniform thickn

A half bearing for a sliding bearing may include a bearing substrate having at least one relief region provided in a surface of the half bearing, and a substrate adjacent respective end faces of the bearing substrate. The half bearing may further include a polymer in-fill having a non-uniform thickness provided in a filled region, wherein the thickness of the polymer in-fill in the filled region may be greater proximate the respective end face than remote from the respective end face.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A half bearing for a sliding bearing, the half bearing comprising: a bearing substrate having at least one relief region provided in a surface of the half bearing;a substrate adjacent respective end faces of the bearing substrate;a polymer in-fill of non-uniform thickness provided in the at least

1. A half bearing for a sliding bearing, the half bearing comprising: a bearing substrate having at least one relief region provided in a surface of the half bearing;a substrate adjacent respective end faces of the bearing substrate;a polymer in-fill of non-uniform thickness provided in the at least one relief region to form a filled relief region, wherein the thickness of the polymer in-fill in the filled relief region is greater proximate the respective end face than remote from the respective end face; andat least one circumferential channel in the filled relief region, wherein the polymer in-fill has a greater thickness in lateral portions of the filled relief region adjacent axial sides of the half bearing than in an intermediate portion. 2. A half bearing according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the polymer in-fill in the filled relief region decreases away from the respective end face. 3. A half bearing according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the polymer in-fill in the filled relief region decreases substantially continuously away from the respective end face. 4. A half bearing according to claim 2, wherein the polymer in-fill in the filled relief region has a stepped reduction in thickness away from the respective end face. 5. A half bearing according to claim 2, comprising polymer seals extending circumferentially along the surface of the bearing substrate adjacent axial sides of the half bearing. 6. A half bearing according to claim 2, wherein the at least one relief region includes a relief region adjacent each end face of the bearing substrate. 7. A half bearing according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of circumferential channels in the filled relief region. 8. A half bearing according to claim 1, comprising polymer seals extending circumferentially along the surface of the bearing substrate adjacent axial sides of the half bearing. 9. A half bearing according to claim 1, comprising a filled relief region adjacent each end face of the bearing substrate. 10. A half bearing according to claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises at least one of polyimide/amide resin, acrylate resin, epoxy resin, fluoropolymer and formaldehyde. 11. A half bearing according to claim 1, comprising at least one of a bearing shell and a housing. 12. A half bearing according to claim 11, wherein the half bearing is a bearing shell, and the bearing shell has a substantially uniform cross-sectional thickness. 13. A half bearing according to claim 1, wherein the filled relief region comprises at least one of a crush relief region and an eccentric relief region. 14. An engine comprising a half bearing including: a bearing substrate having at least one relief region provided in a surface of the half bearing;a substrate adjacent respective end faces of the bearing substrate;a polymer in-fill of non-uniform thickness provided in the at least one relief region to form a filled relief region, wherein the thickness of the polymer in-fill in the filled relief region is greater proximate the respective end face than remote from the respective end face; andat least one circumferential channel in the filled relief region, wherein the polymer in-fill has a greater thickness in lateral portions of the filled relief region adjacent axial sides of the half bearing than in an intermediate portion. 15. A method of manufacturing a sliding bearing which is a half bearing, the method comprising: forming a bearing substrate having at least one relief region provided in a surface of the half bearing, anddepositing a polymer onto the bearing substrate in the at least one relief region to form a filled relief region such that a thickness of the polymer in the filled region is greater proximate a respective end face of a bearing substrate of the half bearing than remote from the respective end face;wherein the polymer is deposited by one of a printing process or a spraying process in which polymer in-fill of non-uniform thickness is deposited by at least first and second deposition steps in which deposited polymer layers extend by different distances from an end face.