Sliding Seal Groove Layout for Stable Torque and Pressure Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In sliding components with dynamic pressure grooves, unbalanced fluid pressure and irregular interface fluctuations between sealed and leakage spaces lead to disturbed torque behavior.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of microgrooves shallower than dynamic pressure grooves, extending circumferentially and crossing the tip regions of dynamic pressure grooves, helps to homogenize fluid pressure and stabilize the interface between sealed and leakage spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dynamic pressure grooves are used to separate sealed fluid space and leakage space, then leakage is suppressed and lubricity is improved, but unbalanced fluid pressure is generated causing irregular interface fluctuations and disturbed torque behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces microgrooves with different depth characteristics at specific locations (tip regions) of the dynamic pressure grooves. The microgrooves are shallower than the dynamic pressure grooves and extend only to cross the tip regions, creating local quality differences in the groove structure. This local modification homogenizes fluid pressure in the tip regions without affecting the overall dynamic pressure generation capability, thereby suppressing irregular interface fluctuations and stabilizing torque behavior while maintaining leakage suppression
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the groove structure into two distinct types: dynamic pressure grooves for primary fluid separation and pressure homogenization, and microgrooves for local pressure stabilization at tip regions. This segmentation allows each groove type to perform its specific function - the dynamic pressure grooves maintain the sealed fluid space separation and generate dynamic pressure, while the microgrooves specifically address the unbalanced fluid pressure issue at critical tip regions, resolving the torque behavior instability
2Quantity of substance
If dynamic pressure grooves generate high pressure to hinder leakage, then leakage prevention is enhanced, but pressure becomes unbalanced causing interface fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The microgrooves are designed with shallower depth than the dynamic pressure grooves and are positioned to extend only to cross the tip regions. This creates local quality differences where the microgrooves modify pressure characteristics specifically at the tip regions without affecting the overall pressure generation. The microgrooves homogenize fluid pressure locally by providing additional flow paths and pressure equalization zones at the critical tip regions where unbalanced pressure causes interface fluctuations
Solution Approach 2:
The microgrooves act as intermediary structures between the dynamic pressure grooves and the sliding surfaces. They mediate the fluid pressure by providing intermediate flow channels that allow fluid to move from the high-pressure dynamic pressure groove regions to lower-pressure areas, thereby homogenizing the overall pressure distribution and reducing unbalanced pressure effects that cause interface fluctuations
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 effectively suppresses the generation of unbalanced fluid pressure, improves lubricity, and stabilizes torque behavior by forming a fluid film between sliding surfaces and stabilizing the interface.
Implementation Method 1
a dynamic pressure groove (13) which extends in a radial direction from an opening end portion communicating with the sealed fluid space (S1) toward a tip on a tip side
Implementation Method 2
a microgroove (14) shallower than the dynamic pressure groove (13) and extending in a circumferential direction is disposed on at least one of the sliding surfaces, and the microgroove (14) extends to cross a tip region (13a) on a tip side of half a radial width dimension (W1) of the dynamic pressure groove (13)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
There are provided sliding components having smooth torque behavior. In sliding components 10 and 20 of which a pair of sliding surfaces 11 and 21 rotate relative to each other, a dynamic pressure groove 13 being formed on at least one of the sliding surfaces 11 and 21, and which partition a sealed fluid space S1 and a leakage space S2 off from each other, a microgroove 14 shallower than the dynamic pressure groove 13 and extending in a circumferential direction is disposed on at least one of sliding surfaces 11 and 21, and the microgroove 14 extends to cross a tip region 13a on a tip 13B side of half W12 a radial width dimension W1 of the dynamic pressure groove 13.