Oil control piston ring

Claim 2

An oil control ring for use in internal combustion engines comprising: at least one circumferential segmented rail ring, a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart axially upstanding spring fingers integral with the said rail ring at the inner diameter thereof, said fingers formed into substantially U-shaped cross section, the ''''U'''' open to the inner diameter of the ring, the ''''U'''' having substantially radially directed axially spaceDapart legs, the legs interconnected by an outer diameter substantially axially extending bight section, a plurality of circumferentially extending beams alternately connecting adjacent legs, and the beams being axially staggered around the circumference of the ring the beams spaced from and axially overlying the rail rings.

Claim 3

The ring of claim 1 wherein the fingers are integral with segments of the segmented rail ring at one end of the fingers, the other end of the fingers having an axially extending portion, an unsegmented split rail ring, said unsegmented rail ring positioned axially beyond the leg of the ''''U'''' remote from the segmented rail ring, the inner diameter of the unsegmented rail ring being contacted by portions of the axially outturned ends of the fingers and being circumferentially expanded thereby, the beams connecting the legs adjacent the segmented rail ring being radially narrower than the beams connecting the fingers adjacent the unsegmented rail ring.

Claim 4

A two-piece oil control ring for use in ring grooves in pistons in internal combustion engines comprising a circumferentially segmented, radially extending rail ring, each of said segments having associated therewith two axially upright circumferentially spaced-apart spring fingers, each of said fingers integral with the said segment at the inner diameter thereof, each of said fingers formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section with the ''''U'''' opening to the inner diameter of the ring, each of said fingers having axially spaced-apart top and bottom legs, said bottom leg integral with the said inner diameter of the segment through a bend portion, a circumferentially extending first beam connecting the said bottom legs of the said fingers of each segment, the first beam spaced from the rail ring, the said segments connected circumferentially to one another through second beams extending between and integral with adjacent top legs of adjacent segments.

Claim 5

A two-piece oil control ring for use in ring grooves in pistons in internal combustion engines comprising a circumferentially segmented, radially extending rail ring, each of said segments having associated therewith two axially upright circumferentially spaced-apart spring fingers, each of said fingers integral with the said segment at the inner diameter thereof, each of said fingers formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section with the ''''U'''' opening to the inner diameter of the ring, each of said fingers having axially spaced-apart top and bottom legs, said bottom leg integral with the said inner diameter of the segment through a bend portion, a circumferentially extending first beam connecting the said bottom legs of the said fingers of each segment, the first beam spaced from the rail ring, the said segments connected circumferentially to one another through second beams extending between and integral with adjacent top legs of adjacent segments.

Claim 6

The ring of claim 3 wherein the free ends of the said fingers remote from the said segments extend substantially axially beyond the second beams and contact the inner diameter of an unsegmented split rail ring positioned axially beyond the said top legs and radially outwardly from the axially extending free ends.

Claim 7

The ring of claim 4 wherein the beams connecting the top legs are radially wider than the beams connecting the bottom legs whereby the spring rates are equalized between the segmented rail ring and the unsegmented rail ring.

Claim 8

The ring of claim 5 wherein the axially extending free ends are angled from the axis of the ring to dish the unsegmented rail ring.

Claim 9

The ring of claim 3 wherein the axially outer surface of the segments is keystoned to reduce the thickness of a portion of the segment.

Claim 10

The ring of claim 7 wherein the keystoning reduces the thickness adjacent the inner diameter of the segment

Claim 11

The ring of claim 7 wherein the keystoning is adjacent the outer diameter to reduce the thickness of the segment adjacent the outer diameter.

Claim 12

An oil control piston ring comprising axially spaced-apart top and bottom circumferentially segmented rail rings, the segments of said rails circumferentially staggered with respect to one another, said segments axially interconnected by circumferentially spaced-apart spring fingers, the said fingers alternately connected to adjacent fingers by axially spaced-apart circumferentially extending beams spaced from the said rails, the axially spaced-apart beams staggered in their connection to adjacent fingers, the said fingers are formed into substantially U-shaped cross section, the ''''U'''' opening to the inner diameter of the ring, the ''''U'''' having top and bottom axially spaced-apart substantially radially directed legs, the inner diameters of the legs integral with the inner diameters of the rail segments through a hairpin bend, the said axially spaced-apart beams connecting adjacent fingers at the said leg portions whereby a first finger iS integrally connected to an adjacent second finger through an integral beam connecting the axially top legs of the fingers and the said second finger is connected to an adjacent third finger through an integral beam connecting the bottom legs.

Claim 13

An oil control piston ring comprising axially spaced-apart top and bottom circumferentially segmented rail rings, the segments of said rails circumferentially staggered with respect to one another, said segments axially interconnected by circumferentially spaced-apart spring fingers, the said fingers alternately connected to adjacent fingers by axially spaced-apart circumferentially extending beams spaced from the said rails, the axially spaced-apart beams staggered in their connection to adjacent fingers, the said fingers are formed into substantially U-shaped cross section, the ''''U'''' opening to the inner diameter of the ring, the ''''U'''' having top and bottom axially spaced-apart substantially radially directed legs, the inner diameters of the legs integral with the inner diameters of the rail segments through a hairpin bend, the said axially spaced-apart beams connecting adjacent fingers at the said leg portions whereby a first finger iS integrally connected to an adjacent second finger through an integral beam connecting the axially top legs of the fingers and the said second finger is connected to an adjacent third finger through an integral beam connecting the bottom legs.

Claim 14

The ring of claim 10 wherein at least one of said rail rings has its axially outer face keystoned to reduce the thickness of portions thereof.

Claim 15

The ring of claim 11 wherein the keystoning is adjacent the inner diameter of the rail to reduce the thickness of the rail adjacent the inner diameter thereof.

Claim 16

The ring of claim 10 wherein the keystoning is adjacent the outer diameter of the rail to reduce the thickness of the rail adjacent the outer diameter.