A connecting rod having a small end and a large end, the small end including a pin bore defined by a pin bore surface. A thermal spray coating applied to at least a portion of the pin bore surface and a method of applying the thermal spray coating to the pin bore surface using a thermal spray technique.

The present disclosure provides a processing method for preparing at least one sliding part of a pair of sliding parts, and includes a processing step of forming a shallow groove within a range of depth from 0.05 m to 5 m on a sealing face of the sliding part by irradiating an ultrashort pulse laser to a part of the sealing face where a positive pressure generation groove and a negative pressure generation groove are formed and removing part of a surface of the sealing face, wherein an energy fluence of the ultrashort pulse laser used in the processing step is 0.5 J/(cm.sup.2.Math.pulse) to 7 J/(cm.sub.2.Math.pulse).

A method for structuring at least one sliding surface (4) of a machine element (1), wherein the at least one sliding surface (4) is provided by a first structuring method with a first microstructure (5) for holding lubricant. To be able to now realize the best possible sliding properties for the sliding surface, during the course of a second structuring method, recesses are formed in the at least one sliding surface (4), by which a second microstructure (6) is defined with less depth in comparison with the first microstructure.

A composite ring includes a first region including a first polymeric material; a second region including a second polymeric material; and an interfacial region defining a compositional gradient between the first region and the second region; wherein a wear resistance of the first region is different from a wear resistance of the second region. A composite bearing includes a first layer including a first polymeric material and a first filler; a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer including a second polymeric material and a second filler; and an interfacial region defining a compositional gradient between the first layer and the second layer, wherein a wear resistance of the first layer is greater than a wear resistance of the second layer, and wherein a mechanical strength of the second layer is greater than a mechanical strength of the first layer.

A composite ring includes a first region including a first polymeric material; a second region including a second polymeric material; and an interfacial region defining a compositional gradient between the first region and the second region; wherein a wear resistance of the first region is different from a wear resistance of the second region. A composite bearing includes a first layer including a first polymeric material and a first filler; a second layer disposed on the first layer, the second layer including a second polymeric material and a second filler; and an interfacial region defining a compositional gradient between the first layer and the second layer, wherein a wear resistance of the first layer is greater than a wear resistance of the second layer, and wherein a mechanical strength of the second layer is greater than a mechanical strength of the first layer.

A metallic bearing body for a sliding bearing includes a main body and a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the main body. Each of the plurality of protrusions extends in a longitudinal direction from the main body to an upper surface that is distal from the main body and has at least one through-bore that extends through the protrusion transversely relative to the longitudinal direction.

A bearing compartment includes a housing having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, and a support structure fabricated within the bearing compartment. The support structure includes an upper portion within the upper housing portion and a spring section within the lower housing portion. The spring section includes a plurality of struts and is separable from the support structure for use as a spring within the housing.

A bearing device includes a bearing having first and second rings, a bushing and an electrically insulating insert overmolded between the bushing and the second ring. An axially facing end of the bushing includes a slot delimited by two lateral flanks and extending from the first cylindrical surface of the bushing to the second cylindrical surface of the bushing and a first protruding part of the electrically insulating insert extends into the at least one slot of the bushing, and an axially facing end of the second ring includes a slot delimited by two lateral flanks, the at least one slot of the second ring extending into the second ring from the second cylindrical surface of the second ring and a second protruding part of the electrically insulating insert extends into the at least one slot of the second ring.