Application Description
New Venture Gear Inc. selected Vespel® polyimide for 14 thrust washers in its robust new four-wheel-drive transfer case for light trucks after comparative testing of polyetheretherketone and Vespel® parts. The case is rated for trucks with gross vehicle weights from 8,800 to 17,500 lbs (3,992 to 7,938 kg).
The large washers shown are positioned on either side of the input gear for a planetary providing the case’s low gear range. These washers have an outside diameter of about 3.15 in. (80 mm). The small washer shown is one of 12 used on each side of six pinion gears that mate with the planetary’s input gear. Its outside diameter is about 1 in. (25 mm).
Benefits Gained
Fights heat, wear and friction. Vespel® maintains low wear and friction performance and high compressive strength at elevated temperatures and high loads and speeds, even with occasional lubricant starvation.
Works where others fail. Prototype polyetherether-ketone washers melted at high loads in New Venture Gear’s tests, but Vespel® thrustwashers kept on trucking.
Stands up in road tests. Transfer cases with Vespel® thrust washers passed New Venture’s severe road tests using vehicles loaded to maximum weight driven over roads with grades up to 10%.
Materials Selected and Why
Vespel® parts meet needs for temperature and wear resistance, high compressive strength and low friction.
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