Thrust Sliding Bearing Grease Retention Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing thrust sliding bearings for strut-type suspensions experience lubricating grease displacement and surface deformation due to frictional heat when loads are applied in the thrust direction, leading to performance issues.

Innovation Solution

The thrust sliding bearing features annular protrusions along the circumferential direction of the center plate's bearing surface, creating an enclosed area to retain lubricating grease and prevent displacement, with recesses acting as grease reservoirs to ensure continuous lubrication and smooth rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sliding bearing uses a center plate with lubricating grease reservoirs grooves, then the bearing allows smooth rotation, but the lubricating grease is pushed out through the grooves under thrust load, creating areas without lubricating grease film

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmooth rotationVSAvoidlubricating grease retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing surface is divided into multiple functional zones: an inner peripheral edge region with an annular groove for grease retention, an outer peripheral edge region with an annular protrusion acting as a barrier, and a central sliding region. This segmentation allows different areas to serve different functions - the groove and protrusion structures retain lubricating grease while the central region enables smooth sliding rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the bearing surface are given different structural characteristics. The inner peripheral edge has a groove structure for grease collection, the outer peripheral edge has a protrusion structure for grease containment, and the central region provides the sliding surface. This local differentiation ensures that lubricating grease is retained where needed while maintaining smooth rotation where required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Force

If the bearing surface experiences repeated sliding movement under thrust load, then the bearing supports the load, but frictional heat deforms the bearing surface, preventing desired performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethrust load supportVSAvoidbearing surface integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The annular groove and annular protrusion are designed to retain lubricating grease before thrust loads are applied. This pre-retention of lubricating grease creates a protective film that cushions the bearing surface against frictional heat and wear during subsequent operation, preventing deformation and maintaining surface integrity under repeated loading cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of thrust loads causing grease expulsion into a benefit by using the annular groove and protrusion structures to strategically position and retain lubricating grease. The frictional heat that would normally degrade performance is instead managed by ensuring continuous lubricating grease film presence through the groove-protrusion configuration, transforming a harmful effect into a controlled condition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 design effectively maintains a lubricating grease film over the bearing surface, enabling long-term support of thrust loads while allowing smooth rotation of the shaft member, preventing deformation and performance degradation.

Implementation Method 1

a lubricating grease reservoir which holds the lubricating grease; a lubricating grease film forming portion which comes into contact with the support object surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 2

the bearing surface of the center plate is deformed because of frictional heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFrictional heating: Viscous Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3141769B1Thrust sliding bearing

Publication Date: 2020.06.24 OILES CORP

Figure 1(A)~1(D)
Figure 2(A)~2(B)
Figure 3(A)~3(D)

AI summary

Provided is a thrust sliding bearing which, while allowing a shaft member to smoothly rotate, can support for a long period of time a thrust load acting on the shaft member. A thrust sliding bearing comprises: an upper case (2) mounted to an upper support for mounting a strut-type suspension to a vehicle body; a lower case (3) mounted to an upper spring seat for supporting the upper end of the coil spring of the strut-type suspension, the lower case (3) being combined with the upper case (2) to form an annular space (5); and an annular center plate (4) disposed in the annular space (5) and enables the relative rotation between the upper case (2) and the lower case (3). The annular space (5) is filled with lubricating grease. The center plate (4) comprises: a bearing surface (42) in slidable contact with the surface (27) to be supported of the upper case (2); and annular protrusions (47, 48) provided at the inner peripheral edge and the outer peripheral edge of the bearing surface (42) so as to extend in the circumferential direction of the center plate (4).