Textured Spinning Ring Surface for Friction Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ring and traveler in spinning machines experience high friction and wear under non-liquid lubrication conditions, limiting the longevity and productivity of the spinning process.

Innovation Solution

A ring with a textured sliding surface featuring a plurality of recesses and curved projections, formed through laser processing and subsequent rubbing, enhances tribological properties by reducing friction and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If hard chrome plating is applied to the sliding surface of the ring, then wear resistance is improved, but friction is not sufficiently reduced and the surface becomes too smooth causing fiber buildup

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidfriction
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by creating a textured surface with recesses and protrusions on the sliding surface. This texture provides different local properties: the recesses capture and hold lubricating fibers while the protrusions maintain contact with the traveler, creating an optimal local environment for reducing friction while maintaining wear resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The textured surface with recesses functions similarly to porous materials by providing spaces that can capture and retain lubricating fibers. The recesses act as reservoirs that hold fibers close to the sliding interface, ensuring continuous lubrication and reducing friction between the ring and traveler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Force

If the sliding surface is made smooth to reduce friction, then friction is reduced, but wear resistance decreases and fiber abrasion increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefrictionVSAvoidwear resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The textured surface creates local quality variations where recesses provide fiber storage and protrusions maintain structural integrity. This allows the surface to simultaneously exhibit low friction characteristics through fiber capture while maintaining wear resistance through the hardened protrusions that contact the traveler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If continuous high-speed operation is pursued to increase productivity, then productivity increases, but the lifetime of the ring and traveler decreases due to accelerated wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespinning speedVSAvoidlifetime of ring and traveler
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The textured surface is created in advance through laser processing and rubbing operations. This preliminary action of creating the texture before operation ensures that fiber capture and lubrication mechanisms are already in place, enabling immediate high-speed operation without compromising component lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The recesses in the textured surface function as fiber reservoirs that continuously supply lubricating fibers during high-speed operation. This ensures sustained reduction in friction and wear even during continuous high-productivity operation, extending the lifetime of the ring and traveler.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

4Manufacturing precision

If conventional machining and electro-polishing are used to create the sliding surface, then manufacturing precision is achieved, but the tribological properties are insufficient for high-speed continuous operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface finish precisionVSAvoidtribological property
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces conventional mechanical finishing methods (machining and electro-polishing) with laser processing and rubbing operations. This substitution creates a textured surface with specific recess and protrusion features that provide superior tribological properties compared to conventionally finished surfaces, enabling reliable high-speed operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 textured surface allows for extended sliding distance and increased operational time of the spinning machine, enhancing productivity by stabilizing the sliding state and reducing fiber abrasion.

Implementation Method 1

A method for manufacturing a ring includes a step for forming a sliding surface. The step for forming the sliding surface includes: a first step for forming a plurality of dimples in a surface of the ring; and a second step for rounding a peripheral edge of each dimple

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Data Source

PatentEP3910097B1Ring of spinning machine and manufacturing method for the ring
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP3910097B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~2A
  • EP3910097B1 patent drawingFigure 2B~2C
  • EP3910097B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A ring (11) of a spinning machine includes a sliding surface on which a traveler (12) slides, wherein the spinning machine is configured to wind a yarn (Y) through the traveler (12). The sliding surface has a texture having a plurality of recesses and a plurality of projections. Each projection has a curved shape and is located between adjacent recesses. The projection has a curvature radius of 40 to 400 µm. A method for manufacturing the ring (11) includes a step for forming the sliding surface. The step for forming the sliding surface includes: a first step for forming a plurality of dimples in a surface of the ring (11); and a second step for rounding a peripheral edge of each dimple and/or a portion between adjacent dimples.