Low-friction sliding mechanism, low-friction agent composition and method of friction reduction

• US 8,206,035 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Issued: 06/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nippon Oil Corporation (ENEOS Holdings, Inc.), Jean Michel Martin, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nippon Oil Corporation (ENEOS Holdings, Inc.), Jean Michel Martin, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Martin, Jean Michel, Takeshima, Shigeki, Konishi, Shozaburo, Kano, Makoto, Mabuchi, Yutaka, Ishikawa, Takao, Ueno, Takafumi, Nakamura, Kiyotaka, Hamada, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Pilkington, James
• Application Number:
  US10/567,139
• Publication Number:
  US 20060263604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,881 Days
• Field of Search: 384/276, 384/492, 384/569, 384/907, 384/907.1, 384/912, 384/913, 384/13, 384/42, 384/297, 384/322, 428/833.2, 428/833.3, 428/833.4, 428/835
• US Class Current: 384/13
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 129/00 Lubricating compositions characterised by the additive being an organic non-macromolecular compound containing oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 133/06 having amino groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 169/04 Mixtures of base-materials and additives
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/1006 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/0206 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/00 Organic non-macromolecular hydrocarbon compounds containing hydrogen, carbon and oxygen as ingredients in lubricant compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/021 having hydroxy groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/0215 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/126 monocarboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/2835 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/289 containing free hydroxy groups
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/04 having amino groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/08 Amides
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2219/066 Thiocarbamic type compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/043 Ammonium or amine salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/045 Metal containing thio derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/04 Groups 2 or 12
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/12 Groups 6 or 16
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/02 Viscosity; Viscosity index
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/04 Detergent property or dispersant property
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/06 : Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/08 : Resistance to extreme temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/04 : Oil-bath; Gear-boxes; Automatic transmissions; Traction drives
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/044 : for manual transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2080/00 : Special pretreatment of the material to be lubricated, e.g. phosphatising or chromatising of a metal
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/041 : Coatings or solid lubricants, e.g. antiseize layers or pastes
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0483 : Axle or inter-axle differentials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 384/907 : Bearing material or solid lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/30 : Self-sustaining carbon mass or layer with impregnant or other layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 : Of metal

Abstract

The invention provides a low-friction sliding mechanism, a low-friction agent composition, a friction reduction method, a manual transmission and a final reduction gear unit that can exert very excellent low friction characteristics to sliding surfaces present under various applications, and, in particular, that have more excellent low friction characteristics than that of a combination of an existing steel material and an organic Mo compound.

The low-friction sliding mechanism has an oxygen-containing organic compound or an aliphatic amine compound interposed between sliding surfaces that a DLC coated sliding member and a sliding member form.

The low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound or an aliphatic amine compound.

The friction reduction method includes supplying the low-friction agent composition between sliding surfaces that a DLC coated sliding member and a sliding member form.

The manual transmission includes, as at least one of sliding members, a DLC coated sliding section.

The final reduction gear unit includes, as at least one of sliding members, a DLC coated sliding section.

Claims

1. A low-friction sliding mechanism wherein a low-friction agent composition is interposed between sliding surfaces of a DLC coated sliding member (A) and a sliding member (B), wherein

the DLC coated sliding member (A) is formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 20 atomic percent or less on a base material;

the sliding member (B) is formed of at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of a metal material, a non-metal material and a coated material obtained by coating a thin film on a surface of the metal material or the non-metal material; and

the low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound (C), the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) being at least one kind selected from a group consisting of alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carbonates and derivatives thereof,

wherein the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) is contained in the range of 0.05 to 3.0% mass relative to a total mass amount of the low-friction agent composition.

2. The low-friction sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, in the sliding member (B), the metal material is at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of a ferrous material, an aluminum alloy material and a magnesium alloy-based material;

and the coated material is formed by coating a thin film of at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of DLC, TiN and CrN.

3. A manual transmission characterized by using the low-friction sliding mechanism according to claim 1.

4. A final reduction gear unit characterized by using the low-friction sliding mechanism according to claim 1.

5. A low-friction agent composition that is used in the low-friction sliding mechanism according to claim 1.

6. A method of reducing a friction, comprising:

supplying a low-friction agent composition containing an oxygen-containing organic compound (C) on sliding surfaces of a DLC coated sliding member (A) and a sliding member (B),

wherein the DLC coated sliding member is formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 20 atomic percent or less on a base material,

wherein the sliding member (B) is formed of at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of a metal material, a non-metal material and a coated material obtained by coating a thin film on a surface of the metal material or the non-metal material so as to lubricate the sliding surfaces,

wherein the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) is at least one kind selected from a group consisting of alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carbonates and derivates thereof,

wherein the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) is contained in the range of 0.05 to 3.0% mass relative to a total mass amount of the low-friction agent composition.

7. A low-friction agent composition that is used in the friction reduction method according to claim 6.

8. A low-friction sliding mechanism comprising a low-friction agent composition interposed between sliding surfaces of a DLC coated sliding member (A) and a sliding member (B), wherein:

the DLC coated sliding member (A) is formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 10 atomic percent or less on a base material,

the sliding member (B) is formed of at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of a metal material, a non-metal material and a coated material obtained by coating a thin film on a surface of the metal material or the non-metal material,

the low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound (C), the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) being at least one kind selected from a group consisting of alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carbonates and derivatives thereof, and,

the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) is contained in the range of 0.05 to 3.0% mass relative to a total mass amount of the low-friction agent composition.

9. A low-friction sliding mechanism comprising a low-friction agent composition interposed between sliding surfaces of a DLC coated sliding member (A) and a sliding member (B), wherein:

the DLC coated sliding member (A) is formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 0.5 atomic percent or less on a base material,

the sliding member (B) is formed of at least one kind selected from a group consisting of a metal material, a non-metal material and a coated material obtained by coating a thin film on a surface of the metal material or the non-metal material,

the low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound (C), the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) being at least one kind selected from a group consisting of alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carbonates and derivatives thereof, and,

the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) is contained in the range of 0.05 to 3.0% mass relative to a total mass amount of the low-friction agent composition.

10. A low-friction sliding mechanism comprising a low-friction agent composition interposed between sliding surfaces of a DLC coated sliding member (A) and a sliding member (B), wherein:

the DLC coated sliding member (A) is formed by coating a-C diamond-like carbon that does not contain hydrogen,

the sliding member (B) is formed of at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of a metal material, a non-metal material and a coated material obtained by coating a thin film on a surface of the metal material or the non-metal material,

the low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound (C), the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) being at least one kind selected from a group consisting of alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carbonates and derivatives thereof, and,

the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) is contained in the range of 0.05 to 3.0% mass relative to a total mass amount of the low-friction agent composition.

11. A low-friction sliding mechanism wherein a low-friction agent composition is interposed between sliding surfaces of a DLC coated sliding member (A) and a sliding member (B), wherein:

the DLC coated sliding member (A) is formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 20 atomic percent or less on a base material,

the sliding member (B) is formed of at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of a metal material, a non-metal material and a coated material obtained by coating a thin film on a surface of the metal material or the non-metal material,

the low-friction agent composition comprises an ester, the ester comprising at least one kind selected from the group consisting of glycerin monooleate, glycerin dioleate, sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan dioleate, and any combination of these, and

the ester is contained in the range of 0.05 to 3.0% mass relative to a total mass amount of the low-friction agent composition.

12. A manual transmission comprising a low-friction sliding mechanism wherein a low-friction agent composition is interposed between sliding surfaces of a DLC coated sliding member (A) and a sliding member (B), wherein

the DLC coated sliding member (A) is formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 20 atomic percent or less on a base material;

the sliding member (B) is formed with at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of a metal material, a non-metal material and a coated material obtained by coating a thin film on a surface of the metal material or the non-meta material; and

the low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound (C), the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) being at least one selected from a group consisting of alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carbonates and derivatives thereof,

wherein the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) is contained in the range of 0.05 to 3.0% mass relative to a total mass amount of the low friction agent composition,

wherein the DLC coated sliding member is an input shaft of the manual transmission, the input shaft being formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 20 atomic percent or less on a base material.

13. A final reduction gear unit comprising a low-friction sliding mechanism wherein a low-friction agent composition is interposed between sliding surfaces of a DLC coated sliding member (A) and a sliding member (B), wherein

the DLC coated sliding member (A) is formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 20 atomic percent or less on a base material;

the sliding member (B) is formed with at least one kind of material selected from a group consisting of a metal material, a non-metal material and a coated material obtained by coating a thin film on a surface of the metal material or the non-metal material; and

the low-friction agent composition contains an oxygen-containing organic compound (C), the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) being at least one selected from a group consisting of alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carbonates and derivatives thereof,

wherein the oxygen-containing organic compound (C) is contained in the range of 0.05 to 3.0% mass relative to a total mass amount of the low-friction agent composition,

wherein the DLC coated sliding member is a member selected from the group consisting of a roller of a side bearing, a differential case, a pinion mate shaft, a pinion mate gear, a washer and a roller of a roller bearing for supporting a drive shaft, the selected member being formed by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 20 atomic percent or less on a base material,

wherein the coated material of the sliding member (B) is obtained by coating diamond-like carbon having a hydrogen content of 20 atomic percent or less on the surface of the metal material or the non-metal material.

14. A final reduction gear unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the diamond-like carbon is coated at an end face of the roller of the side bearing, an inner surface of the differential case, an outer peripheral surface of the pinion mate shaft, a back surface of the pinion mater gear, both surfaces of the washer, or an end surface of the roller of the roller bearing for supporting the drive shaft, wherein the diamond-like carbon is coated at a sliding surface of the sliding member (B).