US3601415A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Piston ring spacer-expander
Assignee: Dana Inc
•
Filing: 1970-02-26
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Granted: 1971-08-24
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Expires: 1990-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A spacer-expander for rail-ring type oil control piston ring assemblies with a deformable means secured to the spacer-expander ring and extending radially inwardly thereof for providing a temporary internal diameter for the spacer-expander ring which is as small as or smaller than the root diameter of the piston groove which will receive the ring thereby to prevent overlap of the ends of the spacer-expander ring, to center the piston ring assembly, and to inhibit ''''pop-out'''' thereof. The deformable means deforms in a manner which is at least partially resilient and is degradable upon being subjected to engine operating conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip L Bond
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:18
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16J; F16J9/00; F16J9/06; F16J9/061; F16J9/064; F16J9/066; F16J9/069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A circumferentially compressible and expansible piston ring element of the nonbottoming type for use in the piston ring groove of a piston, said element including a metallic portion and a deformable portion, said metallic portion having an annular shape and having a pair of circumferentially abuttable terminal ends, said metallic portion, when assembled in a piston ring groove, having an internal diameter which is greater than the root diameter of the piston ring groove, said deformable means being secured to said metallic portion and projecting radially inwardly therefrom a sufficient extent so that said piston ring element has an internal diameter which is at least as small as the root diameter of the piston ring groove into which it will be assembled, said deformable portion being rapidly degradable when exposed to engine operating conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A circumferentially compressible and expansible piston ring element of the nonbottoming type for use in the piston ring groove of a piston, said element including a metallic portion and a deformable portion, said metallic portion having an annular shape and having a pair of circumferentially abuttable terminal ends, said metallic portion, when assembled in a piston ring groove, having an internal diameter which is greater than the root diameter of the piston ring groove, said deformable means being secured to said metallic portion and projecting radially inwardly therefrom a sufficient extent so that said piston ring element has an internal diameter which is at least as small as the root diameter of the piston ring groove into which it will be assembled, said deformable portion being rapidly degradable when exposed to engine operating conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A piston ring element according to claim 1 wherein said piston ring element is a spacer-expander for a combined rail-ring type oil control piston ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A piston ring element according to claim 1 wherein said deformable means is made from a resilient plastic material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A piston ring element according to claim 3 wherein said resilient material is a closed cell polystyrene foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
A piston ring element according to claim 4 wherein said polystyrene foam material has a dEnsity of about 3.3 pounds per cubic foot, a compressive strength of about 120 p.s.i., a tensile strength of about 225 p.s.i., a sheer strength of about 65 p.s.i. and a compressive modulus of about 6000 p.s.i.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
A spacer-expander for spacing and outwardly urging a pair of rails in a piston oil ring comprising a parted circumferentially compressible and expansible metallic ring of the nonbottoming type, with the ends of said parted ring in abutting engagement said parted ring having an internal diameter which is greater than the root diameter of a piston ring groove adapted to receive the same, and a plurality of deformable members secured to said parted ring at spaced circumferential locations and projecting radially inwardly therefrom a sufficient extent so that said spacer-expander has an internal diameter which is at least as small as the root diameter of a piston ring groove into which it will be assembled, said deformable means being rapidly degradable when exposed to engine operating conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
127 words
A spacer-expander for spacing and outwardly urging a pair of rails in a piston oil ring comprising a parted circumferentially compressible and expansible metallic ring of the nonbottoming type, with the ends of said parted ring in abutting engagement said parted ring having an internal diameter which is greater than the root diameter of a piston ring groove adapted to receive the same, and a plurality of deformable members secured to said parted ring at spaced circumferential locations and projecting radially inwardly therefrom a sufficient extent so that said spacer-expander has an internal diameter which is at least as small as the root diameter of a piston ring groove into which it will be assembled, said deformable means being rapidly degradable when exposed to engine operating conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A spacer-expander according to claim 6 wherein said deformable means is made from a plastic material adapted to resiliently and plastically deform when compressed and, when exposed to heat in excess of 170* F. and lubricating oil, rapidly degrades.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A spacer-expander according to claim 7 wherein said deformable means is made of foamed polystyrene material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
97 words
A circumferentially compressible and expansible spacer-expander, having a metallic portion with a split annular configuration which has an internal diameter, when its ends are placed in abutting relationship, which is greater than the root diameter of a piston ring groove into which it is adapted to be installed, and a plurality of deformable plastic elements secured to said metallic portion and extending radially inwardly therefrom a sufficient amount such that when said spacer-expander is disposed in the piston ring groove, it has an effective internal diameter substantially equal in size to the root diameter of the groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
97 words
A circumferentially compressible and expansible spacer-expander, having a metallic portion with a split annular configuration which has an internal diameter, when its ends are placed in abutting relationship, which is greater than the root diameter of a piston ring groove into which it is adapted to be installed, and a plurality of deformable plastic elements secured to said metallic portion and extending radially inwardly therefrom a sufficient amount such that when said spacer-expander is disposed in the piston ring groove, it has an effective internal diameter substantially equal in size to the root diameter of the groove.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A spacer-expander according to claim 9 wherein said plastic elements are rapidly degradable when exposed to engine operating conditions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A spacer-expander according to claim 10 wherein said plastic elements are made of foamed polystyrene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
76 words
A spacer-expander according to claim 11 wherein said metallic portion is comprised of a plurality of U-shaped segments which open radially inwardly, said plastic elements are inserted into said segments from the open end thereof, said elements have an axial thickness in the free state which is greater than the axial extent of the open end of said segments and are axially compressed upon insertion therein, and said plastic elements extend radially inwardly from said segments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
A piston and oil ring assembly adapted for insertion in the cylinder of an engine comprising in combination, a piston having an oil ring groove therein, a combined rail-ring oil control ring disposed in said oil ring groove, and easily deformable means disposed within said groove and radially compressed between the root of said groove and said oil control ring for radially centering said oil control ring relative to the root of said groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
A piston and oil ring assembly adapted for insertion in the cylinder of an engine comprising in combination, a piston having an oil ring groove therein, a combined rail-ring oil control ring disposed in said oil ring groove, and easily deformable means disposed within said groove and radially compressed between the root of said groove and said oil control ring for radially centering said oil control ring relative to the root of said groove.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An assembly according to claim 13 wherein said deformable means is made from a resilient material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An assembly according to claim 13 wherein said deformable means is rapidly degradable upon being exposed to engine operating conditions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3103365A
Cited
US3472521A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-23 | 1975-02-22 | 1975-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-23 | 1979-02-22 | 1979-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-23 | 1983-02-22 | 1983-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |