Sliding Surface Step Structure for Wear Product Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sliding components face issues with fine wear products easily being discharged from recessed strip portions, leading to inefficient formation of a transfer layer, which prolongs the transition from severe to mild wear.

Innovation Solution

The sliding component features recessed strip portions with steps and dimples that trap and retain wear products, ensuring they are deposited effectively within the recessed strip portions, enhancing lubricity and maintaining parallelism of sliding surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If recessed strip portions are formed on the sliding surface, then fine wear products are generated and the transfer layer formation is promoted, but the fine wear products are easily discharged to the outside through deep groove portions, prolonging the transition from severe to mild wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransfer layer formation efficiencyVSAvoidtime for transfer layer formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The recessed strip portion is segmented into multiple sections by forming steps at specific positions, creating distinct zones for wear product generation, retention, and discharge. This segmentation allows the recessed strip portion to simultaneously perform multiple functions: generating fine wear products through the protruding strip portions, retaining them in the recessed sections, and controlling their discharge through the steps, thereby preventing premature discharge while promoting transfer layer formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The steps are pre-formed at specific positions within the recessed strip portions to create retention zones before the sliding component begins operation. This preliminary structuring ensures that when fine wear products are generated during operation, they are immediately captured and retained in the predetermined zones, accelerating the transfer layer formation process without requiring additional retention mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of substance

If deep groove portions are provided to discharge excess wear products, then wear product removal is facilitated, but fine wear products cannot be effectively retained in the recessed strip portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear product discharge efficiencyVSAvoidwear product retention efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the recessed strip portion are given different local qualities through the step structure. The upstream section (before the step) has a retention quality with higher depth to hold fine wear products, while the downstream section (after the step) has a discharge quality that allows excess wear products to exit. This local differentiation enables the single recessed strip portion to simultaneously achieve both retention and discharge functions without compromising either.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The step structure acts as an intermediary element between the retention zone and the discharge zone within the recessed strip portion. It mediates the transition of wear products from the retention area to the discharge area, allowing controlled passage of excess wear products while preventing the escape of fine wear products needed for transfer layer formation. This intermediary structure reconciles the conflicting requirements of retention and discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 retains fine wear products as lubricants, improving lubricity and maintaining parallelism of sliding surfaces by evenly distributing wear product forces, thus reducing wear and enhancing operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the recessed strip portion is provided with a step having a difference in height, which traps a wear product

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment through step structure: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

the top portions of the protruding strip portions as curved surfaces... fine wear products are generated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbrasion wear: Abrasion

Implementation Method 3

the fine wear products are firmly fixed between the protruding strip portions and the other sliding surface to form a transfer layer... lubricity may be improved and low friction may be realized

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS12578019B2Sliding component

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 EAGLE INDS

AI summary

There is provided a sliding component capable of effectively retaining a fine wear product in a recessed strip portion. In a sliding component that is disposed at a location of relative rotation of a rotating machine and that slides relative to a counterpart sliding member, a recessed strip portion is formed on a sliding surface of the sliding component, and the recessed strip portion is provided with a step having a difference in height, which traps a wear product.