US5249554A — Powertrain component with adherent film having a …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 195 words

An internal combustion engine including a powertrain component such as, but not limited to a valve lifter, the component having: a coating system including a film and an interlayer formed on a wear surface of the component; the film being selected from a first group comprising at least one of amorphous hydrogenated carbon, silicon-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, nitrogen-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron nitride-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, or metal-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, the film imparting characteristics of low friction and wear resistance to the component; the interlayer being formed between the film and the component, the interlayer being selected from a second group comprising at least one of silicon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and boron nitride, the interlayer accommodating stresses engendered by formation of the film, and providing mechanical support to the film, and chemical compatibility between the film and the substrate, and thereby improving adherence of the film to the substrate, the component being selected from at least done of a ceramic and a metal including one or more of aluminum, an aluminum-silicon alloy, an aluminum-copper-silicon alloy, magnesium, a magnesium alloy, aluminum nitride, titanium, a titanium-aluminum alloy, and an aluminum alloy.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 195 words

An internal combustion engine including a powertrain component such as, but not limited to a valve lifter, the component having: a coating system including a film and an interlayer formed on a wear surface of the component; the film being selected from a first group comprising at least one of amorphous hydrogenated carbon, silicon-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, nitrogen-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron nitride-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, or metal-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, the film imparting characteristics of low friction and wear resistance to the component; the interlayer being formed between the film and the component, the interlayer being selected from a second group comprising at least one of silicon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and boron nitride, the interlayer accommodating stresses engendered by formation of the film, and providing mechanical support to the film, and chemical compatibility between the film and the substrate, and thereby improving adherence of the film to the substrate, the component being selected from at least done of a ceramic and a metal including one or more of aluminum, an aluminum-silicon alloy, an aluminum-copper-silicon alloy, magnesium, a magnesium alloy, aluminum nitride, titanium, a titanium-aluminum alloy, and an aluminum alloy.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 194 words

A powertrain component such as, but not limited to a valve lifer, in an internal combustion engine, the component comprising: a coating system including a film and an interlayer formed on a wear surface of the component; the film being selected from a first group comprising at least one of amorphous hydrogenated carbon, silicon-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, nitrogen-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron nitride-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, or metal-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, the film imparting characteristics of low frictions and wear resistance to the component; the interlayer being formed between the film and the component, the interlayer being selected from a second group comprising at least one of silicon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and boron nitride, the interlayer accommodating stresses engendered by formation of the film, and providing mechanical support to the film and chemical compatibility between the film and the substrate, thereby improving adherence of the film to the substrate, the component being selected from at least one of a ceramic and a metal including one or more of aluminum, an aluminum-silicon alloy, an aluminum-copper-silicon alloy, magnesium, a magnesium alloy, aluminum nitride, titanium, a titanium-aluminum alloy, and an aluminum alloy.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 194 words

A powertrain component such as, but not limited to a valve lifer, in an internal combustion engine, the component comprising: a coating system including a film and an interlayer formed on a wear surface of the component; the film being selected from a first group comprising at least one of amorphous hydrogenated carbon, silicon-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, nitrogen-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, boron nitride-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, or metal-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon, the film imparting characteristics of low frictions and wear resistance to the component; the interlayer being formed between the film and the component, the interlayer being selected from a second group comprising at least one of silicon, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and boron nitride, the interlayer accommodating stresses engendered by formation of the film, and providing mechanical support to the film and chemical compatibility between the film and the substrate, thereby improving adherence of the film to the substrate, the component being selected from at least one of a ceramic and a metal including one or more of aluminum, an aluminum-silicon alloy, an aluminum-copper-silicon alloy, magnesium, a magnesium alloy, aluminum nitride, titanium, a titanium-aluminum alloy, and an aluminum alloy.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

The powertrain component of claim 2, wherein the coating system includes: a composition gradient such that an outside surface of the coating system predominantly includes a member of the first group, intermediate portions of the coating system predominantly including a constituent selected from the second group, the proportion of the constituent increasing with proximity to the component.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

The powertrain component of claim 2, wherein the film includes: a composition gradient such that an outside surface of the film predominantly includes a member of the first group, intermediate portions of the film predominantly including a constituent selected from the second group, the proportion of the constituent increasing with proximity to the interlayer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 54 words

The powertrain component of claim 2, wherein the interlayer includes: a composition gradient such that an outside surface of the interlayer predominantly includes a member of the first group, intermediate portions of the interlayer predominantly including a constituent selected from the second group, the proportion of the constituent increasing with proximity to the component.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The powertrain component of claim 2 wherein the interlayer has a thickness between 200 angstroms and 30 microns.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The powertrain component of claim 2, wherein the film selected from the first group also includes an element selected from a group comprising at least one of germanium, and carbide-forming elements selected from columns IVB, VB, or VIB of the periodic table.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The powertrain component of claim 2, wherein the interlayer selected from the second group also includes an element selected from the group comprising at least one of aluminum, germanium, and carbide-forming elements from columns IVB, VB, or VIB of the periodic table.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

The powertrain component of claim 2, wherein the silicon-doped amorphous hydrogenated carbon film comprises between 1-35 atomic percent of silicon provided from a diethyl-silane precursor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The powertrain component of claim 3, wherein the composition gradient continuously varies between the outside surface of the coating system and a component-facing portion thereof.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The powertrain component of claim 3, wherein the coating system includes a composition gradient having an abruptly varying composition.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The powertrain component of claim 3, wherein the composition gradient continuously varies between an outside surface of the film and an interlayer-facing portion thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The powertrain component of claim 3, wherein the film includes a composition gradient having an abruptly varying composition.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The powertrain component of claim 3, wherein the composition gradient continuously varies between a film-facing portion of the interlayer and a component-facing portion thereof.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The powertrain component of claim 3, wherein the interlayer includes a composition gradient having an abruptly varying composition.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 59 words

The powertrain component of claim 2, wherein the film is formed from a precursor vapor selected from the group comprising at least one of ethane, ethylene, acetylene, methane, silane, disilane, silicon chloride, silicon fluoride, an organosilane compound, dimethyl silane, trimethyl silane, tetramethyl silane, diethyl silane, butane, propane, hexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, oxygen, nitrogen, methylamine, ammonia, diborane, borazine, and hydrogen.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 59 words

The powertrain component of claim 1, wherein the film is formed from a precursor vapor selected from the group comprising at least one of ethane, ethylene, acetylene, methane, silane, disilane, silicon chloride, silicon fluoride, an organosilane compound, dimethyl silane, trimethyl silane, tetramethyl silane, diethyl silane, butane, propane, hexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, oxygen, nitrogen, methylamine, ammonia, diborane, borazine, and hydrogen.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1996-10-04	1997-04-05	1997-10-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2000-10-04	2001-04-05	2001-10-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2004-10-04	2005-04-05	2005-10-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Powertrain component with adherent film having a graded composition

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