# US 5,704,720 A · Sliding bearing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,704,720 A - Document ID: US5704720A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/553,584 - Filed: 1996-02-26 - Granted: 1998-01-06 - Earliest claimed: 1994-03-18 - Assignees: Taiho Kogyo Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yoshio Kumada; Katsuyuki Hashizume; Soji Kamiya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704720A ## CPC - F16C 9/00: Bearings for crankshafts or connecting-rods; Attachment of connecting-rods (lubrication of connecting-rods in connection with crankshafts F16C3/14; connections to crossheads F16C5/00; to pistons F16J1/14) - F16C 33/1065: {Grooves on a bearing surface for distributing or collecting the liquid} - F16C 2240/40: Linear dimensions, e.g. length, radius, thickness, gap - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A helical groove 1B is formed in the sliding surface 1A of a sliding bearing 1 over the entire axial region thereof. To establish the height of a peak 1a defined by the helical groove 1B, an imaginary reference line L extending parallel to the axis is formed which is determined such that the total cross-sectional area of all the peaks 1a is equal to the total cross-sectional area of all the valleys 1b when the helical groove 1B is considered in axial section. A height, as measured from the reference line L to the top 1a' of the peak 1a is chosen in the range of from 1 to 8 .mu.m. The space created by forming the valleys 1b allows the supply of lubricant oil to be increased, thereby simultaneously achieving a reduction in the frictional resistance and the occurrence of an impact sound. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sliding bearing including a plurality of axially spaced, annular continuous or discontinuous peaks which extend circumferentially on a surface of the sliding bearing which comes into sliding contact with a rotating shaft in which, as viewed in an axial cross-section, the various portions are defined on the basis of an imaginary reference line which intersects with individual peak regions, extends parallel to the axis and is determined such that the total cross-sectional area of peak regions located above the reference line is equal to the total cross-sectional area of valley-shaped recess regions located below the reference line, the top of the peak having a height .DELTA.C above the imaginary reference line and a height as measured from the bottom of the valley-shaped recess to the top of the peak, denoted by h, the parameter .DELTA.C being taken on an ordinate and the parameter h being taken on the abscissa in a graphical representation, the parameters .DELTA.C and h being located within an area defined by four rectilinear lines given by the following mathematical equations: h=.DELTA.C (1) h=5/1.9.DELTA.C (2) h=8 (3) .DELTA.C=1 (4) in which h and .DELTA.C are measured in unit of .mu.m. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A sliding bearing according to claim 1, in which .DELTA.C is from 1 to 8 .mu.m. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A sliding bearing according to claim 1, in which h is 5 .mu.m and the pitch is 0.2 .mu.m. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A sliding bearing according to claim 1, in which a helical groove is formed in the sliding surface to define an annular continuous peak which extends circumferentially between axially adjacent grooves. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A sliding bearing according to claim 1, in which a plurality of annular grooves are formed in the sliding surface to define a plurality of annular peaks which extend circumferentially between axially adjacent annular grooves, adjacent peaks being discontinuous from each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A sliding bearing according to claim 1, in which the valley-shaped recess is in the form of a gentle arc in cross-section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A sliding bearing according to claim 1, in which the valley-shaped recess is trapezoidal in cross-section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A sliding bearing according to claim 1, in which adjacent peaks have a pitch of about 200 .mu.m. ### Claim 9 A sliding bearing including a plurality of axially spaced, annular continuous or discontinuous peaks which extend circumferentially on a surface of the sliding bearing which comes into sliding contact with a rotating shaft in which, as viewed in an axial cross-section, the various portions are defined on the basis of an imaginary reference line which intersects with individual peak regions, extends parallel to the axis and is determined such that the total cross-sectional area of peak regions located above the reference line is equal to the total cross-sectional area of valley-shaped recess regions located below the reference line, the top of the peak having a height .DELTA.C above the imaginary reference line and a height as measured from the bottom of the valley-shaped recess to the top of the peak, denoted by h, the parameter .DELTA.C being taken on an ordinate and the parameter h being taken on the abscissa in a graphical representation, the parameters .DELTA.C and h being located within an area defined by four rectilinear lines given by the following mathematical equations: h=.DELTA.C (1) h=2.DELTA.C (2) h=8 (3) .DELTA.C=1.5 (4) in which h and .DELTA.C are measured in unit of .mu.m. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A sliding bearing according to claim 9, in which a plurality of annular grooves are formed in the sliding surface to define a plurality of annular peaks which extend circumferentially between axially adjacent annular grooves, adjacent peaks being discontinuous from each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A sliding bearing according to claim 9, in which the valley-shaped recess is in the form of a gentle arc in cross-section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) A sliding bearing according to claim 9, in which the valley-shaped recess is trapezoidal in cross-section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) A sliding bearing according to claim 9, in which the adjacent peaks have a pitch of about 200 .mu.m. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) A sliding bearing according to claim 9, in which a helical groove is formed in the sliding surface to define an annular continuous peak which extends circumferentially between axially adjacent grooves. ### Claim 15 A sliding bearing including a plurality of axially spaced, annular continuous or discontinuous peaks which extend circumferentially on a surface of the sliding bearing which comes into sliding contact with a rotating shaft in which, as viewed in an axial cross-section, the various portions are defined on the basis of an imaginary reference line which intersects with individual peak regions, extends parallel to the axis and is determined such that the total cross-sectional area of peak regions located above the reference line is equal to the total cross-sectional area of valley-shaped recess regions located below the reference line, the top of the peak having a height .DELTA.C above the imaginary reference line and a height as measured from the bottom of the valley-shaped recess to the top of the peak, denoted by h, the parameter .DELTA.C being taken on an ordinate and the parameter h being taken on the abscissa in a graphical representation, the parameters .DELTA.C and h being located within an area defined by three rectilinear lines given by the following mathematical equations: h=.DELTA.C (1) h=5 (2) .DELTA.C=3 (3) in which h and .DELTA.C are measured in unit of .mu.m. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A sliding bearing according to claim 15, in which the valley-shaped recess is in the form of a gentle arc in cross-section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A sliding bearing according to claim 15, in which the valley-shaped recess is trapezoidal in cross-section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A sliding bearing according to claim 15, in which adjacent peaks have a pitch of about 200 .mu.m. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A sliding bearing according to claim 15, in which a helical groove is formed in the sliding surface to define an annular continuous peak which extends circumferentially between axially adjacent grooves. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A sliding bearing according to claim 15, in which a plurality of annular grooves are formed in the sliding surface to define a plurality of annular peaks which extend circumferentially between axially adjacent annular grooves, adjacent peaks being discontinuous from each other.