Prepositioned and gap aligned split piston ring assemblies

Claim 2

An end alignment and gap spacing device for use with a split piston ring of the expander-spacer type having a circumferentially extending channel formed between radially spaced, axially extending, inner and outer wall portions and opening at ends of the split ring, said device comprising: an elongated, one-piece member having a cross sectional configuration sized and shaped to be telescopically received in a circumferentially extending channel of a piston ring and spanning a gap between opposed ends of the ring and including resilient means on said member cooperating with inner and outer, radially spaced, axially extending wall portions forming the ring channel on each side of the split in the ring for retaining ends of the ring is a spaced-apart relationship against circumferentially directed forces generated by an inherent resiliency of the ring when in its expanded position and enabling movement of the ring ends towards each other when a circumferentially directed force greater than the inherent forces is applied to the ring; said resilient means comprising each of the opposite end portions of said member being offset in a direction for cooperating with inner wall portions forming the channel for resiliently urging an outwardly projecting edge surface of the member into frictional engagement with outer wall protions of the channel; and said member having serrations formed on said edge portion for coacting with the outer wall portions to retard relative telescopic movement between said member and the split ring.

Claim 3

An end alignement and gap spaceing device for use with a split piston ring of the expander-spacer type having a circumferentially extending channel formed between radially spaced, axially extending, inner and outer wall portions and opening at ends of the split ring, said device comprising: an elongated, one-piece member having a cross sectional configuration sized and shaped to be telescopically received in a circumferentially extending channel of a piston ring and spanning a gap between opposed ends of the ring and including resilient means on said member cooperating with inner and outer, radially spaced, axially extending wall portions forming the ring channel on each side of the split in the ring for retaining the ends of the ring in a spaced-apart relationship against circumferentially directed forces generated by an inherent resiliency of the ring when in its expanded position and enabling movement of the ring ends towards each other when a circumferentially directed force greater than the inherent forces is applied to the ring; said resilient means comprising at least one end portion of said elongated member being reversely bent and formed with a pair of diverging leg segments joined at an apex spaced outwardly of said member a distance greater than the spacing between inner and outer, radially spaced wall portions forming the ring channel, whereby said diverging, resilient legs form a wedge resiliently urging said apex into frictional engagement with one of the inner and outer wall portions for retarding telescopic movemenT of the member relative to the ring.

Claim 4

An end alignement and gap spaceing device for use with a split piston ring of the expander-spacer type having a circumferentially extending channel formed between radially spaced, axially extending, inner and outer wall portions and opening at ends of the split ring, said device comprising: an elongated, one-piece member having a cross sectional configuration sized and shaped to be telescopically received in a circumferentially extending channel of a piston ring and spanning a gap between opposed ends of the ring and including resilient means on said member cooperating with inner and outer, radially spaced, axially extending wall portions forming the ring channel on each side of the split in the ring for retaining the ends of the ring in a spaced-apart relationship against circumferentially directed forces generated by an inherent resiliency of the ring when in its expanded position and enabling movement of the ring ends towards each other when a circumferentially directed force greater than the inherent forces is applied to the ring; said resilient means comprising at least one end portion of said elongated member being reversely bent and formed with a pair of diverging leg segments joined at an apex spaced outwardly of said member a distance greater than the spacing between inner and outer, radially spaced wall portions forming the ring channel, whereby said diverging, resilient legs form a wedge resiliently urging said apex into frictional engagement with one of the inner and outer wall portions for retarding telescopic movemenT of the member relative to the ring.

Claim 5

An end alignment and gap spacing device for use with a split piston ring of the expander-spacer type having a circumferentially extending channel formed between radially spaced, axially extending, inner and outer wall portions and opening at ends of the split ring, said device comprising: an elongated, one-piece member having a cross sectional configuration sized and shaped to be telescopically received in a circumferentially extending channel of a piston ring and spanning a gap between opposed ends of the ring and including resilient means on said member cooperating with inner and outer, radially spaced, axially extending wall portions forming the ring channel on each side of the split in the ring for retaining the ends of the ring in a spaced-apart relationship against circumferentially directed forces generated by an inherent resiliency of the ring when in its expanded position and enabling movement of the ring ends towards each other when a circumferentially directed force greater than the inherent forces is applied to the ring; said resilient means comprising at least one end of said member being offset to form a spring arm and having a distal end curled to form an arcuate abutment surface spaced from said member a distance greater than the spacing between the inner and outer radially spaced wall portions forming the ring channel, whereby said arcuate abutment surface will be urged into engagement with one of the inner and outer wall portions by said spring arm to retard relative telescoping movement between said member and the ring.

Claim 6

An end alignment and gap spacing device for use with a split piston ring of the expander-spacer type having a circumferentially extending channel formed between radially spaced, axially extending, inner and outer wall portions and opening at ends of the split ring, said device comprising: an elongated, one-piece member having a cross sectional configuration sized and shaped to be telescopically received in a circumferentially extending channel of a piston ring and spanning a gap between opposed ends of the ring and including resilient means on said member cooperating with inner and outer, radially spaced, axially extending wall portions forming the ring channel on each side of the split in the ring for retaining the ends of the ring in a spaced-apart relationship against circumferentially directed forces generated by an inherent resiliency of the ring when in its expanded position and enabling movement of the ring ends towards each other when a circumferentially directed force greater than the inherent forces is applied to the ring; said resilient means comprising at least one end of said member being offset to form a spring arm and having a distal end curled to form an arcuate abutment surface spaced from said member a distance greater than the spacing between the inner and outer radially spaced wall portions forming the ring channel, whereby said arcuate abutment surface will be urged into engagement with one of the inner and outer wall portions by said spring arm to retard relative telescoping movement between said member and the ring.