Mechanical Seal Sliding Surface Grooves for Low-Speed Lubrication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding components in mechanical seals experience insufficient lubrication at low-speed and high-speed rotations, leading to increased torque and abrasion due to surface contact and partial lubrication gaps.

Innovation Solution

A sliding component with a sliding surface featuring protrusions and grooves between them, allowing fluid introduction from the sealing side to the leakage side, and dynamic pressure generation concave portions to enhance lubricity and sealing performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If grooves are formed on the sliding surface to generate dynamic pressure and form a liquid film, then lubricity is improved during high-speed rotation, but the land portion surrounding the groove forms a flat surface that comes into surface-contact with the counter sliding component during stop and low-speed rotation, causing insufficient lubrication and increased torque

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricity during high-speed rotationVSAvoidlubrication during stop and low-speed rotation

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding surface is segmented into multiple protrusions and grooves. The grooves are divided into a first groove (for dynamic pressure generation during rotation) and a second groove (for fluid storage and lubrication during stop/low-speed states). This segmentation allows each groove to serve different functions at different operational states, resolving the contradiction between high-speed lubricity and low-speed lubrication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sliding surface are given different properties through the dual-groove structure. The first groove region is optimized for dynamic pressure generation during rotation, while the second groove region is optimized for fluid retention and lubrication during stop and low-speed states. This local differentiation allows the sliding surface to exhibit appropriate lubrication characteristics for each operational condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Force

If grooves are formed to introduce fluid and improve lubricity, then friction is reduced during rotation, but the flat land portions between grooves cause surface contact and abrasion during stop state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction during rotationVSAvoidabrasion during stop state

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding surface is divided into protrusions and dual grooves, where the second groove specifically addresses the stop-state lubrication problem by providing a fluid reservoir that maintains lubrication even when rotational dynamic pressure is not generated, preventing surface contact and abrasion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The second groove is designed to store lubricating fluid in advance during operation, so that when the sliding component stops or rotates at low speed, the stored fluid is available to maintain the lubricating film and prevent surface contact and abrasion before rotation begins or during low-speed conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Improved lubricity and sealing performance through controlled fluid distribution and dynamic pressure generation, reducing friction and abrasion across various rotational speeds.

Implementation Method 1

a groove is formed between the adjacent protrusions so as to be continuous from a sealing side to a leakage side... it is possible to introduce a fluid to the entire sliding surface from the sealing side to the leakage side through the groove

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid introduction through groove:

Implementation Method 2

a dynamic pressure is generated by the groove formed on the sliding surface of one sliding component and the sliding surfaces are slightly separated from each other to form a liquid film

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDynamic pressure generation:

Data Source

PatentUS12516737B2Sliding component

Publication Date: 2026.01.06 EAGLE INDS

AI summary

A sliding component capable of improving lubricity between sliding surfaces is provided. In a sliding component 10 which is disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotary machine and relatively slides on a counter sliding component 20, a sliding surface 11 of the sliding component 10 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 30. A groove 14 is formed between the adjacent protrusions 30 so as to be continuous from a sealing side S1 to a leakage side S2.