Piston ring construction

Claim 2

In a parted piston ring adapted for use in a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine the combination of a generally circular corrugated strip of metal having ends adapted to abut each other, a plurality of the legs of said corrugations adjacent each of the abutting ends having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature generally coinciding with that of the generally circular corrugated strip and when said ends are in abutted relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the corrugated strip and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at each end of the rod, each stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the corrugated strip in aligned relation when the strip is parted and the rod cooperates with said openings of smaller size to guide the said ends into abutting relation when the circular strip is closed.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the said curved rod in its unstressed condition has a radius of curvature less than the radius of the generally circular corrugated strip.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the curved rod in its unstressed condition has a diameter ranging from three quarters of an inch to an inch less than the diameter of the generally circular corrugated strip when the corrugated strip is installed in the cylinder bore.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the said strip is radially corrugated.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the strip is axially corrugated.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the corrugations provide inner and outer crowns connected by radially outwardly diverging legs, the said latch riding on the radially outer faces of the inner crowns during the opening and closing of the corrugated strip.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the corrugations provide upper and lower crowns connected by axially outwardly diverging legs, the said latch riding on the upper faces of the lower crowns during opening and closing of the corrugated strip.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 4 wherein the rod consists of nylon.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the rod consists of nylon.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein the slip latch consists of spring wire.

Claim 12

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein the slip latch consists of spring wire.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the said strip is radially corrugated.

Claim 14

The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the strip is axially corrugated.

Claim 15

A spacer and expander for supporting, spacing and outwardly pressing generally flat parted thin rails in a piston ring comprising a generally circular, radially, corrugated length of flat metal ribbon stock having ends movable into and out of abutting relationship, the corrugations comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced outer crowns and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inner crowns, the outer crowns alternating with respect to the inner crowns to thereby form an alternating progression of outer and inner crowns around said spacer expander, said alternate inner and outer crowns having integrally generally outwardly diverging connecting legs extending from the inner crowns to the outer crowns, a plurality of legs adjacent each of the ends of the spacer expander having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature generally coinciding with that of the spacer-expander and when said ends are in abutting relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the spacer-expander and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at each end of the rod, each stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the spacer-expander in aligned relation when the spacer-expander is parted and the rod cooperates with said openings of smaller size to guide the said ends into abutting relation when the spacer-expander is closed.

Claim 16

A spacer and expander for supporting, spacing and outwardly pressing generally flat parted thin rails in a piston ring comprising a generally circular, radially, corrugated length of flat metal ribbon stock having ends movable into and out of abutting relationship, the corrugations comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced outer crowns and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inner crowns, the outer crowns alternating with respect to the inner crowns to thereby form an alternating progression of outer and inner crowns around said spacer expander, said alternate inner and outer crowns having integrally generally outwardly diverging connecting legs extending from the inner crowns to the outer crowns, a plurality of legs adjacent each of the ends of the spacer expander having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature generally coinciding with that of the spacer-expander and when said ends are in abutting relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the spacer-expander and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at each end of the rod, each stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the spacer-expander in aligned relation when the spacer-expander is parted and the rod cooperates with said openings of smaller size to guide the said ends into abutting relation when the spacer-expander is closed.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein the said curved rod in its unstressed condition has a radius of curvature less than that of the spacer-expander.

Claim 18

The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein the curved rod in unstressed condition has a diameter ranging from three-quarters of an inch to an inch less than the diameter of the spacer-expander when installed in the cylinder bore.

Claim 19

A spacer and expander for supporting, spacing and outwardly pressing generally flat parted thin rails in a piston ring comprising a generally circular, axially, corrugated length of flat metal ribbon stock having ends movable into and out of abutting relationship, the corrugations comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper crowns and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lower crowns, the upper crowns alternating with respect to the lower crowns to thereby form an alternating progression of upper and lower crowns around said spacer-expander, said alternate upper and lower crowns having integrally generally upwardly diverging connecting legs extending from the lower crowns to the upper crowns, a plurality of legs adjacent each of tHe ends of the spacer-expander having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature generally coinciding with that of the spacer-expander and when said ends are in abutted relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the spacer-expander and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at each end of the rod, each stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the spacer-expander in aligned relation when the spacer-expander is parted and the rod cooperates with said openings of smaller size to guide the said ends into abutting relation when the spacer-expander is closed.

Claim 20

A spacer and expander for supporting, spacing and outwardly pressing generally flat parted thin rails in a piston ring comprising a generally circular, axially, corrugated length of flat metal ribbon stock having ends movable into and out of abutting relationship, the corrugations comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper crowns and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lower crowns, the upper crowns alternating with respect to the lower crowns to thereby form an alternating progression of upper and lower crowns around said spacer-expander, said alternate upper and lower crowns having integrally generally upwardly diverging connecting legs extending from the lower crowns to the upper crowns, a plurality of legs adjacent each of tHe ends of the spacer-expander having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature generally coinciding with that of the spacer-expander and when said ends are in abutted relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the spacer-expander and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at each end of the rod, each stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the spacer-expander in aligned relation when the spacer-expander is parted and the rod cooperates with said openings of smaller size to guide the said ends into abutting relation when the spacer-expander is closed.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein the curved rod in its unstressed condition has a diameter ranging from three-quarters of an inch to an inch less than the diameter of the spacer-expander when the spacer-expander is installed in the cylinder bore.

Claim 22

The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein the curved rod has its center of curvature within the spacer-expander.

Claim 23

The combination set forth in claim 17 wherein the curved rod has its center of curvature within the spacer-expander.

Claim 24

In a parted piston ring adapted for use in a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine the combination of a generally circular corrugated strip of metal having ends adapted to abut each other, a plurality of the legs of said corrugations adjacent each of the abutting ends having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature generally coinciding with that of the generally circular corrugated strip and when said ends are in abutted relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the corrugated strip and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at at least one end of the rod, said stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the corrugated strip in aligned relation when the strip is parted and the rod cooperates with said openings of smaller size to guide the said ends into abutting relation when the circular strip is closed.

Claim 25

In a parted piston ring adapted for use in a cylinder bore of an internal combustion engine the combination of a generally circular corrugated strip of metal having ends adapted to abut each other, a plurality of the legs of said corrugations adjacent each of the abutting ends having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature generally coinciding with that of the generally circular corrugated strip and when said ends are in abutted relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the corrugated strip and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at at least one end of the rod, said stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the corrugated strip in aligned relation when the strip is parted and the rod cooperates with said openings of smaller size to guide the said ends into abutting relation when the circular strip is closed.

Claim 26

The combination set forth in claim 21 wherein the curved rod in its unstressed condition has a diameter ranging from three quarters of an inch to an inch less than the diameter of the generally circular corrugated strip when the corrugated strip is installed in the cylinder bore.

Claim 27

The combination set forth in claim 21 wherein the said strip is radially corrugated.

Claim 28

A spacer and expander for supporting, spacing and outwardly pressing generally flat parted thin rails in a piston ring comprising a generally circular, radially, corrugated length of flat metal ribbon stock having ends movable into and out of abutting relationship, the corrugations comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced outer crowns and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inner crowns, the outer crowns alternating with respect to the inner crowns to thereby form an alternating progression of outer and inner crowns around said spacer expander, said alternate inner and outer crowns having integrally generally outwardly diverging connecting legs extending from the inner crowns to the outer crowns, a plurality of legs adjacent each of the ends of the spacer expander having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings Therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature coinciding with that of the spacer-expander and when said ends are in abutting relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the spacer-expander and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at at least one end of the rod, said stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the spacer-expander in aligned relation when the spacer-expander is parted and will guide the said ends into abutting relation when the spacer-expander is closed.

Claim 29

A spacer and expander for supporting, spacing and outwardly pressing generally flat parted thin rails in a piston ring comprising a generally circular, radially, corrugated length of flat metal ribbon stock having ends movable into and out of abutting relationship, the corrugations comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced outer crowns and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inner crowns, the outer crowns alternating with respect to the inner crowns to thereby form an alternating progression of outer and inner crowns around said spacer expander, said alternate inner and outer crowns having integrally generally outwardly diverging connecting legs extending from the inner crowns to the outer crowns, a plurality of legs adjacent each of the ends of the spacer expander having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings Therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature coinciding with that of the spacer-expander and when said ends are in abutting relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the spacer-expander and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at at least one end of the rod, said stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the spacer-expander in aligned relation when the spacer-expander is parted and will guide the said ends into abutting relation when the spacer-expander is closed.

Claim 30

A spacer and expander for supporting, spacing and outwardly pressing generally flat parted thin rails in a piston ring comprising a generally circular, axially, corrugated length of flat metal ribbon stock having ends movable into and out of abutting relationship, the corrugations comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper crowns and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lower crowns, the upper crowns alternating with respect to the lower crowns to thereby form an alternating progression of upper and lower crowns around said spacer-expander, said alternate upper and lower crowns having integrally generally upwardly diverging connecting legs extending from the lower crowns to the upper crowns, a plurality of legs adjacent each of the ends of the spacer-expander having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature coinciding with that of the spacer-expander and when said ends are in abutted relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the spacer-expander and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at at least one end of the rod, said stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the spacer-expander in aligned relation when the spacer-expander is parted and will guide the said ends into abutting relation when the spacer-expander is closed.

Claim 31

A spacer and expander for supporting, spacing and outwardly pressing generally flat parted thin rails in a piston ring comprising a generally circular, axially, corrugated length of flat metal ribbon stock having ends movable into and out of abutting relationship, the corrugations comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced upper crowns and a plurality of circumferentially spaced lower crowns, the upper crowns alternating with respect to the lower crowns to thereby form an alternating progression of upper and lower crowns around said spacer-expander, said alternate upper and lower crowns having integrally generally upwardly diverging connecting legs extending from the lower crowns to the upper crowns, a plurality of legs adjacent each of the ends of the spacer-expander having openings therein of one size and a second plurality of legs adjacent the first plurality of legs having openings therein of a larger size, a slip latch in the form of a curved rod having a curvature coinciding with that of the spacer-expander and when said ends are in abutted relation extending through the openings of said one size in the first plurality of legs of the spacer-expander and through one or more of the larger openings in the second plurality of legs adjacent thereto, a stop at at least one end of the rod, said stop being dimensioned so that it will pass through the larger openings and will abut the leg around the opening of the smaller size whereby the rod serves as a slip latch for latching the ends of the spacer-expander in aligned relation when the spacer-expander is parted and will guide the said ends into abutting relation when the spacer-expander is closed.