Angled-Groove Sliding Member for Lubricant Supply and Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding members in fixing devices experience high sliding resistance and maintenance challenges due to inadequate lubricant supply and retention in grooves, despite previous efforts to reduce friction.
Innovation Solution
The sliding member features grooves angled between 45° and 90° with respect to the sliding direction, and a cut surface angle of 21° to 45°, ensuring stable lubricant supply and discharge of wear debris, thereby maintaining low sliding resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If grooves are provided on the sliding surface to supply lubricant, then sliding resistance is reduced, but lubricant retention and stable supply are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The groove configuration varies in different regions of the sliding surface. The first grooves are arranged at specific intervals in the width direction with angles of 45° or more and 90° or less relative to the sliding direction, while the second grooves are arranged at different intervals. This local variation optimizes lubricant retention in some areas while ensuring stable supply in others, resolving the contradiction between reducing sliding resistance and maintaining lubricant supply stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding surface is divided into multiple groove regions with different configurations. First grooves and second grooves are segmented and arranged at different intervals and orientations, creating distinct functional zones that collectively improve both lubricant retention and stable supply, thereby reducing sliding resistance while maintaining reliability.
2Force
If grooves are provided to discharge wear debris, then sliding resistance is reduced, but debris discharge efficiency is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The groove arrangement extends into the width direction with specific angular orientations (45° or more and 90° or less relative to the sliding direction). This dimensional arrangement creates multiple discharge pathways for wear debris, improving discharge efficiency while maintaining low sliding resistance through the segmented groove structure.
3Force
If the sliding surface is made smooth to reduce friction, then sliding resistance is reduced, but lubricant retention is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding surface incorporates a groove structure that functions similarly to a porous medium, providing channels for lubricant retention while maintaining overall surface smoothness. The grooves capture and hold lubricant, ensuring continuous supply to the sliding interface, thereby reducing sliding resistance without sacrificing lubricant retention capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration results in a sliding member with reduced friction and improved maintainability by stabilizing lubricant supply and debris removal, enhancing the overall performance of the fixing device.
Implementation Method 1
a central portion of a sliding surface in a width direction provided with a plurality of first grooves at intervals along a width direction of the first grooves... ensuring stable lubricant supply
Implementation Method 2
an angle A formed by a wall surface of the first groove on a downstream side in the sliding direction and the sliding direction in the first groove is 21° or more and 45° or less... discharge of wear debris
Data Source
AI summary
A sliding member includes a central portion of a sliding surface in a width direction provided with plural first grooves at intervals along a width direction of the first grooves, in which an angle formed by a first groove and a sliding direction is 45° or more and 90° or less, and in a case where a cut surface obtained by cutting the sliding member along a direction perpendicular to the first groove and along a thickness direction is observed, an angle A formed by a wall surface of the first groove on a downstream side in the sliding direction and the sliding direction in the first groove is 21° or more and 45° or less.