Polymer plain bearings in a gearbox – is this possible?
Sebastian Bloechl | 20. April 2020
“Shift and operate as we please”, a saying that can also be applied to vehicle operation. Be it a modern car or a freshly polished classic car: on some days we prefer to change gear earlier and save money, on others we tickle the last torque out of the engine.
The gearbox and the shift forks connected to it are responsible for changing gear. During the shifting process, the shift forks together with the shift collar, control the desired gears. A positive-locking connection of the tooth profiles then achieves the gear change.
During this process the shift forks make a linear movement on the shaft. There is also a shock-like contact between the fork and the shift collar. The combination of the movements and the extreme rotation speeds, have an immediate effect on the wear of the shift fork, as well as the noise development (NVH) in the engine compartment. The gearbox is regarded as the heart of the vehicle – a long service life pleases every driver, so high-quality bearing of the shift forks is crucial. Find out more here.
Where can polymer plain bearings be used in the area of the shift forks?
Even in temperatures of permanent 250°C and short-term 300°C, igus® offers suitable iglidur® plain bearings made of tribologically optimised polymers. The following diagram shows the two said applications:
A: Linear movement – sleeve bearing with flange
B: Slider for the end segments of the shift forks, where there is a special highlight – clipping instead of overmoulding: this reduces the process costs
We will gladly send you a free automotive sample box in advance: order here
With the addendum “gearbox” in the field “Message to igus®” you will receive the following sample box customised for gear applications free of charge:
We would be pleased to present further advantages and possible applications of our tribologically optimised polymer plain bearings.
Do not hesitate to call me:
Sebastian Bloechl
Phone: +49(0)2203-9649-7718
Mobile: +49(0)173-4537974
E-mail: sbloechl@igus.net
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Have fun browsing and thanks for your time.
PS: whether plain bearings, spherical bearings, linear bearings, ball bearings, special sliders, gears or individually customised geometry, the iglidur® Designer leaves nothing to be desired. Request a part now and receive a quote by tonight.
More information: automotive industry, polymer plain bearings for automotive interior, exterior and engine compartment applications