Expansible chamber devices – Relatively movable working members – Interconnected with common rotatable shaft
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-18
2003-11-11
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Expansible chamber devices
Relatively movable working members
Interconnected with common rotatable shaft
C092S153000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06644172
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a sliding system which is provided with a semi-spherical shoe, and more particularly, to a sliding system which is preferred for use as a semi-spherical shoe interposed between a piston and a swash plate of a swash plate compressor, for example.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use of a semi-spherical shoe including a semi-spherical surface and a flat end face in a swash plate compressor is known in the art.
A semi-spherical shoe is known in the art in which a top end thereof is notched in a direction perpendicular to the axis to define a flat surface (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 76,281/1982 and Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Application No. 7, 288/1988). With this semi-spherical shoe, when the semi-spherical surface of the semi-spherical shoe is fitted into a semi-spherical recess formed in a piston, a space is defined between the semi-spherical recess and the flat surface located at the top end of the semi-spherical shoe and can serve as a reservoir for a lubricant oil.
In the conventional semi-spherical shoe, a sliding contact region which is disposed in sliding contact with the semi-spherical recess in the piston is defined by part of the semi-spherical surface located between the flat surface at the top end of the semi-spherical surface and the end face.
However, in the construction of the conventional semi-spherical shoe, part of the semi-spherical surface which is located above the sliding contact region has the same diameter as the remainder of the semi-spherical surface, and accordingly, the arrangement is substantially not adapted to provide a clearance between the semi-spherical surface above the sliding contact region and the semi-spherical recess in the piston. Accordingly, if a reservoir of lubricant oil is maintained in a space formed between the semi-spherical recess and the flat surface at the top end of the semi-spherical shoe, the lubricant in the space is less susceptible to being guided into the sliding contact region disadvantageously, which explains for a poor sliding response of the conventional semi-spherical shoe.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, according to the present invention, there is provided a sliding system including a first movable member having a semi-spherical recess, a second movable member having a flat surface, and a semi-spherical shoe having a semi-spherical surface which is fitted into the semi-spherical recess of the first movable member and an end face disposed in sliding contact with the flat surface of the second movable member wherein a sliding contact region which is disposed in sliding contact with the semi-spherical recess is defined between the top and the end face of the semi-spherical surface, with a region of the semi-spherical surface which is located above the sliding contact region being a lead-in so that when the semi-spherical surface is fitted into the semi-spherical recess, a clearance is defined between the lead-in and the opposing portion of the semi-spherical recess which gradually increases toward the top of the semi-spherical surface.
With this arrangement, the clearance defined between the lead-in and the opposing portion of the semi-spherical recess allows a lubricant oil which is stored in the space between the semi-spherical recess and the top portion of the shoe to be introduced into the sliding contact region through the clearance. In this manner, there is provided a sliding system having an excellent sliding response as compared with the prior art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4568252 (1986-02-01), Hattori et al.
patent: 4641570 (1987-02-01), Futamura et al.
patent: 4662267 (1987-05-01), Kaku et al.
patent: 5943941 (1999-08-01), Kato et al.
patent: 6024010 (2000-02-01), Kato et al.
patent: 6435074 (2002-08-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 07083165 (1995-03-01), None
Muramatsu Shogo
Nakayama Seiichi
Takenaka Akira
Flynn ,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
Lazo Thomas E.
Look Edward K.
Taiho Kogyo Co. Ltd.
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