Wear Reduction in Heavily Loaded Units of Transport Vehicles

Abstract

Introduction. The pivot assembly provides connection between the rotating and non-rotating parts of machines and mechanisms such as cranes, excavators, trailers, railway rolling stocks. In relation to rolling stock, it connects the load-carrying part of the car with the bogie and is one of the most critical and wear-out friction units. Its technical condition affects the intensity and form of wear of the surfaces themselves, the amount of resistance to rotation of the bogie when the car moves in curved sections of the track, the amplitude of the lateral rocking of the car, the intensity of wear of the wheel flanges and, as a consequence, the safety of operation of the rolling stock as a whole. Until now, periodic grease is used for this unit, which, even with a short mileage, manages to be squeezed out of the contact zones and, thereby, creates conditions for the predominance of dry friction. Until now, various proposals to solve this problem have not found application in mass production for a number of reasons, and therefore the search for ways to reduce wear in the pivot assembly of cars is still relevant. This study proposes a solution to this problem that does not require structural changes to the pivot assembly itself. The aim of this work was to develop a technologically advanced anti-friction coating with good adhesion, which will be applied to the surface of a replaceable disk installed between the rubbing surfaces of the pivot assembly during scheduled repairs of the car chassis. This approach will reduce the friction force and wear rate in the unit when lubrication shortage occurs due to squeezing out of the grease. Materials and Methods. Antifriction characteristics of the developed coating was observed on a friction machine providing specific loads on the test sample up to 5000 N and a sliding speed from 0.13 m/s. The samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (FEI Quanta 200 microscope). SEM images were acquired in a back-scattered electron (BSE) mode using a semiconductor detector. To analyze the elemental composition of beam samples, an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDAX Element EDS system) was used. Results. A three-layer functional phosphorus-containing composite coating of the surfaces of the unit was developed, which made it possible to significantly reduce the coefficient of friction and, as a consequence, the intensity of wear of the pivot unit surface during dry friction. The optimal conditions for obtaining composite coating layers were determined. The influence of the thickness of each layer and the conditions for its production on its functional characteristics was studied. Discussion and Conclusion. The proposed solution is manufacturable and, with appropriate adaptation, can be used to reduce wear in any open pivot assembly without radically changing its design. The methods for producing coating layers are accessible and technologically advanced for serial use.