Circumferentially expanding oil control ring

Claim 2

A circumferential split expander spacer ring for piston rings which comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced sections, each section having axially spaced substantially Ushaped lands with radially inwardly directed legs, said lands being connected at the inner periphery of said legs by axially upstanding lands, a tongue projecting from some of said upstanding lands at an angle thereto, said tongue extending from the inner diameter substantially radially bEtween said axially spaced top and bottom lands circumferentially between said legs, axially projecting rail ring contacting tabs on the inner diameter, and the axially upstanding lands of adjacent sections being integrally connected.

Claim 3

In a U-shaped cross section spacer-expander ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring segments consisting of top and bottom U-shaped lands integrally connected by axially upright lands with adjacent segments connected integrally through connecting lands, the improvement of a tongue projecting from one of the axially upright lands of some of said segments and extending between the top and bottom lands of said segments in an area intermediate the legs thereof, and axially projecting rail ring contacting tabs extending axially beyond the top and bottom portions of the said connecting lands and integral therewith.

Claim 4

In a U-shaped cross section spacer-expander ring having a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring segments consisting of top and bottom U-shaped lands integrally connected by axially upright lands with adjacent segments connected integrally through connecting lands, the improvement of a tongue projecting from one of the axially upright lands of some of said segments and extending between the top and bottom lands of said segments in an area intermediate the legs thereof, and axially projecting rail ring contacting tabs extending axially beyond the top and bottom portions of the said connecting lands and integral therewith.

Claim 5

An expander spacer ring for supporting and expanding rail rings which comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members having upper and lower spring sections integrally connected through axially upstanding lands, adjacent members integrally connected, axially projecting portions around the inner diameter of said ring effective to circumferentially expand the rail rings when said expander-spacer ring is compressed, and a plurality of tongues projecting from some of said axially upstanding legs at an angle thereto and extending between said upper and lower sections, the said tongues projecting from the inner diameter substantially radially, the said tongues projecting from the inner diameter at a point circumferentially spaced from the said axially projecting portions.

Claim 6

An expander spacer ring for supporting and expanding rail rings which comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members having upper and lower spring sections integrally connected through axially upstanding lands, adjacent members integrally connected, axially projecting portions around the inner diameter of said ring effective to circumferentially expand the rail rings when said expander-spacer ring is compressed, and a plurality of tongues projecting from some of said axially upstanding legs at an angle thereto and extending between said upper and lower sections, the said tongues projecting from the inner diameter substantially radially, the said tongues projecting from the inner diameter at a point circumferentially spaced from the said axially projecting portions.

Claim 7

A circumferential expander spacer ring for circumferentially expanding axially spaced rail rings in a piston groove which comprises; a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly opening U-shaped cross section spring members having top and bottom inwardly opening U-shaped lands integrally connected through axially upright legs disposed around the inner periphery thereof, connecting lands connecting the axially upright legs of adjacent spring members, tongues projecting from one of the legs of at least some of the members at an angle thereto, said tongues extending between the said U-shaped lands of the said member radially beyond said lands, said tongues having axial projections thereon adjacent the outer periphery thereof, said projections extending axially beyond the said lands to provide support tabs to axially space the rail rings, and said connecting lands having axial projections extending axially beyond the said top and bottom lands for engaging and circumferentially expanding the said rail rings.

Claim 8

A circumferential expander spacer ring for circumferentially expanding axially spaced rail rings in a piston groove which comprises; a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly opening U-shaped cross section spring members having top and bottom inwardly opening U-shaped lands integrally connected through axially upright legs disposed around the inner periphery thereof, connecting lands connecting the axially upright legs of adjacent spring members, tongues projecting from one of the legs of at least some of the members at an angle thereto, said tongues extending between the said U-shaped lands of the said member radially beyond said lands, said tongues having axial projections thereon adjacent the outer periphery thereof, said projections extending axially beyond the said lands to provide support tabs to axially space the rail rings, and said connecting lands having axial projections extending axially beyond the said top and bottom lands for engaging and circumferentially expanding the said rail rings.

Claim 9

The expander spacer of claim 4 wherein oil drainage holes are provided through the said connecting lands.

Claim 10

The expander ring of claim 4 wherein the said tongue has at least one axial tab projecting therefrom intermediate the inner and outer periphery thereof adapted to engage a radial wall of one of said top or bottom lands to restrict bending of the said tongue during formation or operation of the said expander-spacer ring.

Claim 11

The expander-spacer ring of claim 4 wherein the axial projections of the said connecting lands have portions thereof angled radially from the axial portions, said portions adapted to engage the said rail rings at an angle to the axis thereof to provide side sealing of the rail rings to the radial walls of the piston groove.

Claim 12

A circumferential expander-spacer ring for axially spacing and circumferentially expanding rail rings in a piston groove which comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members each member having axially upstanding portions connecting radially extending axially spaced spring portions, adjacent spring members integrally connected through connecting lands, axially upstanding tabs around the inner periphery of said ring adapted to engage and expand said rail rings, a tongue projecting from one of the axially upstanding portions of at least soMe of the members, said tongue extending between the axially spaced spring portions, and said ring split and having abutting ends, said tongue projecting from the outer diameter of the ring and terminating adjacent the inner diameter underlying portions of axially aligned spring members.

Claim 13

A circumferential expander-spacer ring for axially spacing and circumferentially expanding rail rings in a piston groove which comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members each member having axially upstanding portions connecting radially extending axially spaced spring portions, adjacent spring members integrally connected through connecting lands, axially upstanding tabs around the inner periphery of said ring adapted to engage and expand said rail rings, a tongue projecting from one of the axially upstanding portions of at least soMe of the members, said tongue extending between the axially spaced spring portions, and said ring split and having abutting ends, said tongue projecting from the outer diameter of the ring and terminating adjacent the inner diameter underlying portions of axially aligned spring members.

Claim 14

The ring of claim 8 wherein a tongue on one of the abutting ends extends beyond said end into interlock relation with the other of said abutting ends to prevent overlapped installation of the said ends.

Claim 15

A split circumferential expander-space ring for axially spacing and circumferentially expanding rail rings in a piston groove which comprises; a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members having upper and lower outwardly opening U-shaped spring sections the said sections of each member integrally connected by axially upstanding legs disposed around the outer periphery of the said ring, a tongue projecting from one of the legs of at least some of the members, said tongue extending radially inwardly and terminating axially between the bight portions of the said upper and lower spring sections to prevent axial collapse of the said members, an inner peripheral portion of the said upper and lower sections having integral axial projections extending axially outwardly therefrom to engage and expand the rail rings when the expander-spacer ring is in a compressed operating position.

Claim 16

A split circumferential expander-space ring for axially spacing and circumferentially expanding rail rings in a piston groove which comprises; a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members having upper and lower outwardly opening U-shaped spring sections the said sections of each member integrally connected by axially upstanding legs disposed around the outer periphery of the said ring, a tongue projecting from one of the legs of at least some of the members, said tongue extending radially inwardly and terminating axially between the bight portions of the said upper and lower spring sections to prevent axial collapse of the said members, an inner peripheral portion of the said upper and lower sections having integral axial projections extending axially outwardly therefrom to engage and expand the rail rings when the expander-spacer ring is in a compressed operating position.

Claim 17

A spacer-expander ring comprising; a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members having upper and lower axially spaced U-shaped spring lands, the upper and lower lands of each member integrally connected through axially upstanding lands, adjacent members integrally connected through connecting lands disposed around the inner periphery of the said ring, a tongue projecting from one of the axially upstanding lands of at least some of the members, said tongue extending axially between the bight portions of the said upper and lower lands remote from the said axially upstanding land, said tongue adapted to prevent axial collapse of the said upper and lower lands, and axial projections circumferentially spaced around the inner periphery of said ring to engage and expand rail rings.

Claim 18

A spacer-expander ring comprising; a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members having upper and lower axially spaced U-shaped spring lands, the upper and lower lands of each member integrally connected through axially upstanding lands, adjacent members integrally connected through connecting lands disposed around the inner periphery of the said ring, a tongue projecting from one of the axially upstanding lands of at least some of the members, said tongue extending axially between the bight portions of the said upper and lower lands remote from the said axially upstanding land, said tongue adapted to prevent axial collapse of the said upper and lower lands, and axial projections circumferentially spaced around the inner periphery of said ring to engage and expand rail rings.

Claim 19

The ring of claim 11 wherein portions of the outer periphery of the said upper and lower lands project axially outwardly to engage and axially space rail rings.

Claim 20

An expander-spacer ring for supporting and expanding axially spaced rail rings which comprises: a ring having top and bottom rows of circumferentially spaced spring segments, axially upstanding inner diameter lands supporting the rows in spaced relation and connecting adjacent segments, said ring having axially extending tabs on its inner periphery for engaging the inner peripheries of said rail rings to expand the said rail rings when the expander spacer is circumferentially compressed, and tongues projecting from the upstanding lands between the top and bottom rows of segments having means projecting axially beyond the segments to support the rail rings near their outer peripheries.

Claim 21

An expander-spacer ring for supporting and expanding axially spaced rail rings which comprises: a ring having top and bottom rows of circumferentially spaced spring segments, axially upstanding inner diameter lands supporting the rows in spaced relation and connecting adjacent segments, said ring having axially extending tabs on its inner periphery for engaging the inner peripheries of said rail rings to expand the said rail rings when the expander spacer is circumferentially compressed, and tongues projecting from the upstanding lands between the top and bottom rows of segments having means projecting axially beyond the segments to support the rail rings near their outer peripheries.

Claim 22

A U-shaped cross section spacer-expander ring comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring segments consisting of top and bottom U-shaped lands having radially extending circumferentially spaced legs, the legs of each top land axially aligned with the legs of a bottom land, each of said legs connected with an aligned leg by an axially upright land with adjacent segments connected integrally through axially extending connecting lands connected to adjacent upright lands, a tongue projecting from one of the axially upright lands of some of said segments and extending between the top and bottom lands of said segments in an area intermediate the legs thereof.

Claim 23

A U-shaped cross section spacer-expander ring comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring segments consisting of top and bottom U-shaped lands having radially extending circumferentially spaced legs, the legs of each top land axially aligned with the legs of a bottom land, each of said legs connected with an aligned leg by an axially upright land with adjacent segments connected integrally through axially extending connecting lands connected to adjacent upright lands, a tongue projecting from one of the axially upright lands of some of said segments and extending between the top and bottom lands of said segments in an area intermediate the legs thereof.