Automotive Slide Member Lubrication for Static Discharge Without Staining

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conductive lubricants used in automobiles to eliminate static electricity often adhere to operators and other components, causing decreased workability and designability due to their black color, which affects handling stability and aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

An automotive slide member with a first lubricant containing minimal or no conductive carbon applied to touchable areas and a second lubricant with a higher conductive carbon content applied to non-touchable areas, improving static elimination and handling stability while minimizing adhesion and maintaining design aesthetics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lubricant containing conductive carbon is applied to eliminate static electricity, then static elimination performance is improved, but the lubricant adheres to operators and components causing decreased workability and designability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatic elimination performanceVSAvoidworkability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slide member is divided into multiple regions with different lubricant applications: a first region (touchable parts) receives lubricant with low or no conductive carbon content, while a second region (non-touchable parts) receives lubricant with high conductive carbon content. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the slide member are given different lubricant properties tailored to their specific requirements. Touchable regions have lubricant with minimal carbon content for non-staining properties, while non-touchable regions have lubricant with high carbon content for optimal static elimination, creating local quality variations that solve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If a lubricant containing conductive carbon is applied to eliminate static electricity, then handling stability is improved, but the lubricant adheres to components causing decreased designability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling stabilityVSAvoiddesignability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The slide member is divided into multiple regions with different lubricant applications: a first region (touchable parts) receives lubricant with low or no conductive carbon content, while a second region (non-touchable parts) receives lubricant with high conductive carbon content. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the slide member are given different lubricant properties tailored to their specific requirements. Touchable regions have lubricant with minimal carbon content for non-staining properties, while non-touchable regions have lubricant with high carbon content for optimal static elimination, creating local quality variations that solve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If conductive carbon is added to lubricant for static elimination, then electrical conductivity is improved, but the lubricant becomes black and adheres to surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical conductivityVSAvoidadhesion and staining
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The slide member is divided into multiple regions with different lubricant applications: a first region (touchable parts) receives lubricant with low or no conductive carbon content, while a second region (non-touchable parts) receives lubricant with high conductive carbon content. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the slide member are given different lubricant properties tailored to their specific requirements. Touchable regions have lubricant with minimal carbon content for non-staining properties, while non-touchable regions have lubricant with high carbon content for optimal static elimination, creating local quality variations that solve the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution effectively reduces static charges on the vehicle's surface and tires, enhancing handling stability and preventing lubricant adhesion issues, thus maintaining workability and designability.

Implementation Method 1

a second lubricant containing a relatively larger amount of conductive carbon than that of the first lubricant... the second lubricant is applied between the second portions... to eliminate static electricity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3943770B1Automotive slide member
Publication Date: 2023.10.11 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3943770B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3943770B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3943770B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Automotive slide member including a first slide portion having a first lubricant applied between first portions of a first friction slide mechanism, and a second slide portion having a second lubricant applied between second portions of a second friction slide mechanism. The first slide portion is arranged at a part to be touched by an operator who attaches the automotive slide member to an automobile or a user of the automobile. The second slide portion is arranged at a part that is not touched by the operator who attaches the automotive slide member to the automobile or the user of the automobile. The second lubricant contains a relatively larger amount of conductive carbon than that of the first lubricant.