Variable compression ratio piston including oil filter means

Claim 2

In a variable compression ratio piston for an internal combustion engine having an inner member and an outer member movable relative to one another to vary the compression ratio of the engine, a control system for regulating movement of the members, comprising: means defining a chamber variable in volume in response to relative movement of said members, said inner member having a bore opening to said chamber; means for supplying a pressure fluid to said chamber; valving means for discharging fluid from said chamber and through said bore upon a predetermined pressure being produced within said chamber; mounting means supporting said valving means within said inner member bore such that fluid from said chamber flows within a passage defined between the adjacent surfaces of said inner member bore and said mounting means before reaching said valving means; and filter means disposed in said passage defined by said inner member bore and said mounting means for filtering fluid passing from said chamber through said passage to said valving means.

Claim 3

The piston as defined in claim 1, wherein said filter means comprises a flange formed on said mounting means and extending into said passage toward said adjacent surface of said inner member bore to reduce the effective flow area of said passage.

Claim 4

In a variable compression ratio piston for an internal combustion engine having an inner member and an outer member movable relative to one another to vary the compression ratio of the engine, a control system for regulating movement of the members, comprising: means defining a first chamber and a second chamber, said chambers varying oppositely in volume with respect to relative movement of said members; means for supplying an essentially incompressible fluid to said chambers, means for discharging said fluid from said second chamber at a controlled rate and means for discharging fluid from said first chamber upon a predetermined pressure being produced therein; and sealing means disposed on the discharge side of said second chamber between relatively moving portions of said members to prevent the passage of said fluid between said relatively moving portions of said members beyond said sealing means, said sealing means being spaced from one of said members to define an annular passage for filtering the fluid passing from said second chamber to said second chamber discharging means located in said inner member.

Claim 5

In a variable compression ratio piston for an internal combustion engine having an inner member and an outer member movable relative to one another to vary the compression ratio of the engine, a control system for regulating movement of the members, comprising: means defining a first chamber and a second chamber, said chambers varying oppositely in volume with respect to relative movement of said members; means for supplying an essentially incompressible fluid to said chambers, means for discharging said fluid from said second chamber at a controlled rate and means for discharging fluid from said first chamber upon a predetermined pressure being produced therein; and sealing means disposed on the discharge side of said second chamber between relatively moving portions of said members to prevent the passage of said fluid between said relatively moving portions of said members beyond said sealing means, said sealing means being spaced from one of said members to define an annular passage for filtering the fluid passing from said second chamber to said second chamber discharging means located in said inner member.

Claim 6

The piston as defined in claim 3, wherein said sealing means includes a ring carried in an annular recess formed in said inner member, said annular passage being formed between said ring and said inner member.

Claim 7

The piston as defined in claim 4, wherein the outer edge of said ring engages said outer member to form a fluid seal therewith.

Claim 8

The piston as defined in claim 3, wherein said first chamber discharging means is disposed within said inner member and includes valving means, fluid from said first chamber passing between adjacent surfaces of said inner member and said first chamber discharging means before reaching said valving means; and including filtering means being carried by said inner member and said first chamber fluid discharging means along said adjacent surfaces thereof for filtering fluid passing from said first chamber to said valving means.

Claim 9

The piston as defined in claim 6, wherein said last mentioned filtering means comprises a radially extending annular flange formed on said first chamber fluid discharging means for forming an annular passage with said inner member to permit fluid passage therethrough.

Claim 10

The piston defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means has a conically shaped outer housing disposed in a conically shaped bore formed in said inner member, the fluid pressure communicating with the outer housing urging said housing into said inner member bore for forming a press fit therebetween.

Claim 11

The piston as defined in claim 8, wherein said valving means includes said conically shaped outer housing.

Claim 12

The piston as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for supplying pressure fluid comprises a second valve means which includes said conically shaped outer housing.

Claim 13

The piston as defined in claim 1 wherein said passage is an annular passage, and said filter means comprises an annular flange formed on said mounting means and extending into said passage toward said adjacent surface of said inner member bore to reduce the effective flow area of said passage.

Claim 14

The piston defined in claim 1 wherein said valving means comprises a valve seat and a valve member for discharging fluid from said chamber through said valve seat upon a predetermined pressure being produced in said passage, said valving means further comprising resilient means for urging said valve member toward said valve seat, said valve member having a surface spaced from said valve seat and in communication with said pressure fluid in said passage for urging said valve member away from said valve seat to open communication therethrough.

Claim 15

In a variable compression ratio piston for an internal combustion engine having an inner member and an outer member movable relative to one another to vary the compression ratio of the engine, a controlled system for regulating movement of the members, comprising: means defining a first chamber and a second chamber, said chambers varying oppositely in volume with respect to the relative movement of said members; means for supplying an essentially incompressible fluid to said chambers; means for discharging said fluid from said second chamber at a controlled rate; means for discharging fluid from said first chamber upon a predetermined pressure being produced therein, said first chamber discharging means being disposed within said inner member and including valving means, fluid from said first chamber passing between adjacent surfaces of said inner member and said first chamber discharging means before reaching said valving means; filtering means carried by said inner member and said first chamber fluid discharging means along said adjacent surface for filtering fluid passing from said first chamber to said valving means, said last mentioned filtering means comprising a radially extending annular flange formed on said first chamber fluid discharging means for forming an annular passage within said inner member to permit fluid passage therethrough; and filter means disposed on the discharge side of said second chamber for filtering said fluid passing from said second chamber to said second chamber discharging means anD including an annular passage communicating between said chamber and said second chamber discharging means.

Claim 16

In a variable compression ratio piston for an internal combustion engine having an inner member and an outer member movable relative to one another to vary the compression ratio of the engine, a controlled system for regulating movement of the members, comprising: means defining a first chamber and a second chamber, said chambers varying oppositely in volume with respect to the relative movement of said members; means for supplying an essentially incompressible fluid to said chambers; means for discharging said fluid from said second chamber at a controlled rate; means for discharging fluid from said first chamber upon a predetermined pressure being produced therein, said first chamber discharging means being disposed within said inner member and including valving means, fluid from said first chamber passing between adjacent surfaces of said inner member and said first chamber discharging means before reaching said valving means; filtering means carried by said inner member and said first chamber fluid discharging means along said adjacent surface for filtering fluid passing from said first chamber to said valving means, said last mentioned filtering means comprising a radially extending annular flange formed on said first chamber fluid discharging means for forming an annular passage within said inner member to permit fluid passage therethrough; and filter means disposed on the discharge side of said second chamber for filtering said fluid passing from said second chamber to said second chamber discharging means anD including an annular passage communicating between said chamber and said second chamber discharging means.