Patent 7270482 was granted and assigned to NISSAN MOTOR CO.,LTD. on September, 2007 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A sliding device is comprised of a first sliding member which is rotatable on an axis of the first sliding member, a second sliding member which slidably supports the first member through viscous fluid and at least a pit which is formed on a surface of at least one of the first and second sliding members so as to promote a viscous fluid flow, which has a component of a rotational direction of the shaft when the first member is rotated.