Patents by Inventor Tadatsugu Imura

Tadatsugu Imura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11933405
    Abstract: A sliding component includes: a dynamic pressure generation groove provided in a sliding surface of the sliding component, the dynamic pressure generation groove having a first end forming a closed end and a second end forming an inlet communicating with any one side of a sealed fluid side and a leakage side in a radial direction; and a deep groove provided in the sliding surface and deeper than the dynamic pressure generation groove, an inlet 16a of the deep groove communicating with an inlet of the dynamic pressure generation groove on a side of a side wall of the dynamic pressure generation groove, the side wall being circumferentially opposite to a dynamic pressure generation wall constituting another side wall of the dynamic pressure generation groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: EAGLE INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tokunaga, Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroshi Suzuki, Iwa Ou
  • Patent number: 11892081
    Abstract: A sliding component having excellent lubricity and a high recovery rate of a sealed fluid is provided. In a mechanical seal as a sliding component in which a plurality of spiral grooves serving as a plurality of dynamic pressure generation grooves extending from a low pressure side to a high pressure side are formed on a sliding surface of a stationary seal ring serving as any one sliding member in the mechanical seal, the sliding surface is provided with an annular groove serving as a recessed portion extending in a circumferential direction and opened to the low pressure side and the annular groove communicates with the spiral groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Hiroki Inoue, Yuta Negishi, Minori Onuma, Iwa Ou, Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20230375036
    Abstract: To provide sliding components capable of suppressing dynamic pressure generation mechanisms from being deformed and damaged due to wear of sliding surfaces. In a pair of sliding components which is disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotary machine, has a plurality of dynamic pressure generation mechanisms formed in a sliding surface of the sliding component by recessed portions, and is formed in an annular shape to seal a sealed fluid by sliding the sliding surfaces of the sliding components. A surface region in the periphery of the recessed portions of the sliding component is formed to be separated from an opposite region of the sliding component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu IMURA, Hiroshi SUZUKI, Iwa OU, Yuichiro TOKUNAGA
  • Patent number: 11821461
    Abstract: A pair of sliding components formed in an annular shape and disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotary machine are constituted by a first sliding component 10 and a second sliding component. A sliding surface of the first sliding component has a plurality of dynamic pressure generation mechanisms each of which includes at least a shallow groove communicating with a leakage side. A sliding surface of the second sliding component has deep grooves each of which has a dimension deeper than that of the shallow groove of each of the dynamic pressure generation mechanisms and communicates with the leakage side, each of the deep grooves overlapping with the shallow groove each of the dynamic pressure generation mechanisms during relative rotation of the first and second sliding components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventors: Iwa Ou, Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11821521
    Abstract: A sliding surface of an annular sliding component disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotating machine is provided with a plurality of dynamic pressure generating groove groups arranged in a circumferential direction, each including a plurality of dynamic pressure generating grooves having a start point opening to one radial edge of the sliding surface S and an end point closing within the sliding surface while extending circumferentially, in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroshi Suzuki, Yuichiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 11821462
    Abstract: In a pair of sliding members (3, 5) sliding relative to each other on sliding surfaces (S), at least one of the sliding surfaces (S) includes a dynamic pressure generation mechanism (11), and the curvature of the dynamic pressure generation mechanism (11) is set to increase in proportion to the flow path length of the dynamic pressure generation mechanism (11). The sliding member can exhibit a pumping action even at low-speed rotation and can exhibit sealing function and lubrication function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventor: Tadatsugu Imura
  • Patent number: 11767916
    Abstract: To provide sliding components capable of suppressing dynamic pressure generation mechanisms from being deformed and damaged due to wear of sliding surfaces. In a pair of sliding components which is disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotary machine, has a plurality of dynamic pressure generation mechanisms formed in a sliding surface of the sliding component by recessed portions, and is formed in an annular shape to seal a sealed fluid by sliding the sliding surfaces of the sliding components. A surface region in the periphery of the recessed portions of the sliding component is formed to be separated from an opposite region of the sliding component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroshi Suzuki, Iwa Ou, Yuichiro Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 11708911
    Abstract: A pair of sliding components have sliding faces (S) that slide with respect to each other, wherein at least one of the sliding faces (S) includes at least one dimple group (11) constituted by plural dimples (12), and each dimple group (11) includes at least one opening portion (11a) that is arranged in the one of the sliding faces (S) and radially open to the outside the one of the sliding faces (S). In the sliding components, a dynamic pressure generation mechanism can easily be formed, and a lubricating performance and a sealing performance can improve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu Imura, Hideyuki Inoue, Yuichiro Tokunaga, Yuta Negishi, Yuki Maetani, Ayano Tanishima
  • Publication number: 20230184288
    Abstract: An annular sliding component disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotating machine and sliding relative to the other sliding component has a sliding surface provided with a dynamic pressure generation groove which includes a communication portion communicating with an external space and a dead-end portion on a relative rotation downstream of the communication portion. The sliding component includes a guide configured to guide a fluid existing in the external space on an upstream side of the communication portion in a guide direction different from a direction in which a peripheral surface of the sliding component formed on the downstream side of the communication portion and facing toward a side of the external space extends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu IMURA, Ayano TANISHIMA, Iwa OU, Shogo FUKUDA, Kenta UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230175587
    Abstract: In a sliding component formed in an annular shape and disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotating machine and sliding relative to an opposite sliding component, a sliding surface of the sliding component is provided with a conduction groove communicating with an outer space and a dynamic pressure generation groove communicating with the conduction groove, extending in a circumferential direction, and having a closed terminating end portion and at least a part of a bottom portion of the conduction groove is provided with an inclined surface inclined with respect to a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu IMURA, Iwa OU, Shogo FUKUDA, Kenta UCHIDA
  • Publication number: 20230151848
    Abstract: In an annular sliding component disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotating machine and sliding relative to an opposed sliding component, a sliding surface is provided with a plurality of first dynamic pressure generation grooves disposed on a leakage side, having terminating ends, and generating a positive pressure and a plurality of second dynamic pressure generation grooves disposed on a sealing target fluid side, having terminating ends, and generating a positive pressure and a depth of the second dynamic pressure generation groove is shallower than a depth of the first dynamic pressure generation groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: Tadatsugu IMURA
  • Publication number: 20230118633
    Abstract: Provided is a sliding component capable of reliably generating a negative pressure in a shallow groove regardless of a relative rotation speed of the other sliding component. In an annular sliding component disposed at a relatively rotating position of a rotating machine and sliding relative to the other sliding component, a sliding surface of the sliding component is provided with a shallow groove extending in a circumferential direction and generating a negative pressure and a deep groove collecting a sealing target fluid in the shallow groove and deeper than the shallow groove. The shallow groove has a terminating end portion in which a cross-sectional are of a flow path thereof becomes narrow toward the deep groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventor: Tadatsugu IMURA
  • Patent number: 11619308
    Abstract: Low-torque sliding components have sliding surfaces rotated relative to each other with an annular mating ring and an annular seal ring facing each other. The sliding surface of at least one of the mating ring and the seal ring has therein a plurality of multi-stepped recess portions formed in a circumferential direction. Relative rotation and sliding of the mating ring and the seal ring causes the multi-stepped recess portions to generate a dynamic pressure, and the multi-stepped recess portion is formed in a stepwise shape in a cross-sectional view by a dynamic pressure recess portion and a static pressure recess portion with the dynamic pressure recess portion surrounding the static pressure recess portion deeper than the dynamic pressure recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventors: Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroyuki Hashimoto, Yuichiro Tokunaga, Hideyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 11603934
    Abstract: A sliding component has an annular mating ring and an annular seal ring opposite to each other and causing respective sliding surfaces thereof to slidably rotate relative to each other, to seal a sealed fluid present on radially inner or outer side of the sliding surfaces. In the sliding surface of the seal ring, a plurality of dynamic pressure recesses is formed separately arranged in a circumferential direction, the dynamic pressure recesses generating a dynamic pressure by a relative sliding rotation between the mating ring and the seal ring. In the sliding surface of the mating ring, a plurality of static pressure recesses is formed in the circumferential direction at positions where the static pressure recesses cooperate with the dynamic pressure recesses to enable the sealed fluid to flow the static pressure recesses to the dynamic pressure recesses. The static pressure recesses is deeper than the dynamic pressure recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Inventor: Tadatsugu Imura
  • Publication number: 20220275828
    Abstract: A sliding component having excellent lubricity and a high recovery rate of a sealed fluid is provided. In a mechanical seal as a sliding component in which a plurality of spiral grooves serving as a plurality of dynamic pressure generation grooves extending from a low pressure side to a high pressure side are formed on a sliding surface of a stationary seal ring serving as any one sliding member in the mechanical seal, the sliding surface is provided with an annular groove serving as a recessed portion extending in a circumferential direction and opened to the low pressure side and the annular groove communicates with the spiral groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroki INOUE, Yuta NEGISHI, Minori ONUMA, Iwa OU, Tadatsugu IMURA, Hiroshi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20220268361
    Abstract: Low-torque sliding components have sliding surfaces rotated relative to each other with an annular mating ring and an annular seal ring facing each other. The sliding surface of at least one of the mating ring and the seal ring has therein a plurality of multi-stepped recess portions formed in a circumferential direction. Relative rotation and sliding of the mating ring and the seal ring causes the multi-stepped recess portions to generate a dynamic pressure, and the multi-stepped recess portion is formed in a stepwise shape in a cross-sectional view by a dynamic pressure recess portion and a static pressure recess portion with the dynamic pressure recess portion surrounding the static pressure recess portion deeper than the dynamic pressure recess portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Tadatsugu IMURA, Hiroyuki HASHIMOTO, Yuichiro TOKUNAGA, Hideyuki INOUE
  • Publication number: 20220196152
    Abstract: Provided is a sliding component capable of exhibiting stable sliding performance under various conditions. The sliding component includes a first ring and a second ring which are provided with facing surfaces facing each other and relatively rotated upon a drive of a rotating machine. At least the first ring is provided with a curved surface portion formed in a convex shape and forming at least a part of the facing surface of the first ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventor: Tadatsugu IMURA
  • Publication number: 20220145931
    Abstract: An annular sliding component disposed at a relative rotation point of a rotating machine, includes a plurality of positive pressure generation grooves arranged side by side in a circumferential direction on a sliding surface of the sliding component. The positive pressure generation grooves are configured for generating positive pressure by a sealing target fluid on the sealing target fluid side being introduced during the relative rotation of the sliding component and a sliding component. The positive pressure generation grooves have a plurality of leading edge portions at leading edges on a downstream side in a direction of the relative rotation. The plurality of leading edge portions are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction. At least part of the plurality of leading edge portions is disposed at different radial positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventor: Tadatsugu IMURA
  • Patent number: 11320052
    Abstract: Low-torque sliding components have sliding surfaces rotated relative to each other with an annular mating ring and an annular seal ring facing each other. The sliding surface of at least one of the mating ring and the seal ring has therein a plurality of multi-stepped recess portions formed in a circumferential direction. Relative rotation and sliding of the mating ring and the seal ring causes the multi-stepped recess portions to generate a dynamic pressure, and the multi-stepped recess portion is formed in a stepwise shape in a cross-sectional view by a dynamic pressure recess portion and a static pressure recess portion with the dynamic pressure recess portion surrounding the static pressure recess portion deeper than the dynamic pressure recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventors: Tadatsugu Imura, Hiroyuki Hashimoto, Yuichiro Tokunaga, Hideyuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20220128092
    Abstract: A sliding component includes: a dynamic pressure generation groove provided in a sliding surface of the sliding component, the dynamic pressure generation groove having a first end forming a closed end and a second end forming an inlet communicating with any one side of a sealed fluid side and a leakage side in a radial direction; and a deep groove provided in the sliding surface and deeper than the dynamic pressure generation groove, an inlet 16a of the deep groove communicating with an inlet of the dynamic pressure generation groove on a side of a side wall of the dynamic pressure generation groove, the side wall being circumferentially opposite to a dynamic pressure generation wall constituting another side wall of the dynamic pressure generation groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Yuichiro TOKUNAGA, Tadatsugu IMURA, Hiroshi SUZUKI, Iwa OU