Sliding Components With Deep Grooves For Contamination Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contamination such as abrasion powder and dust accumulates in the dynamic pressure generation grooves of sliding components, potentially deteriorating their dynamic pressure generation function and causing non-uniform contact between sliding surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A pair of sliding components where a deep groove crosses over a shallow dynamic pressure generation groove, allowing fluid to move from the shallow groove to the deep groove, preventing contamination accumulation in the shallow groove, with the deep groove communicating with the outer radial side to discharge contamination via centrifugal force, and a specific dynamic pressure generation mechanism generating a liquid film between sliding surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dynamic pressure generation groove is provided in a sliding surface to improve lubricity and reduce friction, then the sliding component can maintain fluid lubrication during rotation, but contamination accumulates in the groove end causing deterioration of dynamic pressure generation function
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the groove structure into two functional parts: a dynamic pressure generation groove for maintaining lubrication and a deep groove for contamination collection. This segmentation allows the dynamic pressure generation groove to perform its function without contamination accumulation, as the deep groove acts as a separate collection zone for particulate matter.
Solution Approach 2:
The deep groove serves as an intermediary structure between the dynamic pressure generation groove and the external environment. It mediates the contamination issue by providing a dedicated space where contaminants can be collected and removed, preventing them from accumulating in the dynamic pressure generation groove while maintaining the overall sealing function.
2Loss of energy
If the sliding component operates with fluid lubrication to reduce friction and wear, then energy loss due to sliding is reduced, but contamination in the sealed fluid accumulates in the dynamic pressure generation groove
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the contamination collection function from the dynamic pressure generation groove by introducing a separate deep groove. This allows the dynamic pressure generation groove to focus solely on maintaining fluid lubrication and reducing energy loss, while the deep groove handles the contamination extraction and removal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of contamination accumulation into a beneficial function by designing the deep groove to actively collect and concentrate contaminants. This allows the contaminated fluid to be managed in a controlled manner, preventing contamination from interfering with the energy-efficient fluid lubrication in the dynamic pressure generation groove.
3Reliability
If a deep groove is added to cross over the dynamic pressure generation groove to prevent contamination accumulation, then the dynamic pressure generation function is maintained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into a single integrated groove structure. The deep groove simultaneously serves as a contamination collection zone, a structural feature that crosses over the dynamic pressure generation groove, and part of the sealing surface. This merging approach maintains reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity by combining rather than adding separate components.
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
Effectively prevents contamination accumulation in the dynamic pressure generation mechanism, maintaining the dynamic pressure generation function and ensuring uniform contact between sliding surfaces, while reducing leakage and improving lubricity.
Implementation Method 1
the deep groove communicating with the outer radial side to discharge contamination via centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
when the sliding components rotate relative to each other, the sliding surfaces are separated from each other due to a dynamic pressure thereof since the sealed fluid flowing from the sealed liquid side into the dynamic pressure generation groove flows out from the circumferential end of the dynamic pressure generation groove to a gap between the sliding surfaces
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a pair of sliding components capable of suppressing contamination from being accumulated in a shallow groove of a dynamic pressure generation mechanism. A pair of sliding components 10, 12 formed in an annular shape and disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotary machine. The sliding components is constituted by a first sliding component 10 and a second sliding component 12. A sliding surface 11 of the first sliding component 10 is provided with a plurality of dynamic pressure generation mechanisms 14 each of which includes at least a shallow groove communicating with a leakage side. A sliding surface 21 of the second sliding component 20 is provided with deep grooves 22 each of which has a dimension deeper than that of the shallow groove of each of the dynamic pressure generation mechanisms 14 and communicates with the leakage side, each of the deep grooves 22 overlapping with the shallow groove each of the dynamic pressure generation mechanisms 14 during relative rotation of the first and second sliding components 10, 20.