Piston ring spacer-expander with overlap-preventing expander joint

In a parted circular spacer-expander for use in a piston oil control ring and including a pluality of alternating concentric circumferentially spaced radially outer and inner crowns integrally interconnected by generally diverging legs, the improvement wherein each end crown at the parting of the ring has an end tab extending therefrom comprising a plurality of successive contiguous portions formed at substantially right angles with respect to each other, each said first portion of said end tabs extending radially from an end edge of the contiguous end crown and being contiguous with said end crown over only a portion of the width of said end crown, each said end tab further comprising a second tab portion contiguous with a side edge of said first portion and angulated with respect thereto in the direction of said associated end crown, said second tab portion terminating in proximity to an adjacent surface of said end crown, said end tabs being adapted for abutment with each other in the circumferential direction.

In a parted circular spacer-expander for use in a piston oil control ring and including a plurality of alternating concentric circumferentially spaced radially outer and inner crowns integrally interconnected by generally diverging legs, the improvement wherein each end crown at the parting of the ring has an end tab extending therefrom comprising a plurality of successive contiguous portions formed at substantially right angles with respect to each other, each said first portion of said end tabs extending radially from an end edge of said contiguous end crown and being contiguous with said end crown of over substantially the entire width thereof, each said end tab further comprising a second tab portion contiguous with an end edge of said first tab portion and angulated with respect thereto in the direction of said associated end crown and a third tab portion extending from said second tab portion and terminating in proximity to an adjacent surface of said end crown, said end tabs being adapted for abutment with each other in the circumferential direction.

In a parted circular spacer-expander for use in a piston oil control ring and including a plurality of alternating concentric circumferentially spaced radially outer and inner crowns integrally interconnected by generally diverging legs, the improvement wherein each end crown at the parting of the ring has an end tab extending therefrom comprising a plurality of successive contiguous portions formed at substantially right angles with respect to each other, each said first portion of said end tabs extending radially from a side edge of the contiguous end crown, each said end tab further comprising a second tab portion contiguous with an end edge of said first portion and angulated with respect thereto toward the associated end crown, said end tabs being adapted for sliding abutment with each other along opposed axial faces.