Integral ring carbon-carbon piston
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorG. Burton Northam
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Abstract
An improved structure for a reciprocating internal combustion engine or compressor piston fabricated from carbon-carbon composite materials is disclosed. An integral ring carbon-carbon composite piston, disclosed herein, reduces the need for piston rings and for small clearances by providing a small, flexible, integral component around the piston that allows for variation in clearance due to manufacturing tolerances, distortion due to pressure and thermal loads, and variation in thermal expansion differences between the piston and the cylinder liner.
Claims28
An improved piston for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a carbon-carbon piston having a piston skirt and a crown;
- said piston being constructed to include means for a cantilevered seal in the crown of the carbon-carbon piston.
An improved piston for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a carbon-carbon piston having a piston skirt and a crown;
- said piston being constructed to include a cantilevered seal in the skirt of the carbon-carbon piston.
An improved piston for a compressor comprising:
- a carbon-carbon piston having a piston skirt and a crown;
- said piston being constructed to include means for a cantilevered seal in the crown of the carbon-carbon piston.
An improved piston for a compressor comprising:
- a carbon-carbon piston having a piston skirt and a crown;
- said piston being constructed to include a cantilevered seal in the skirt of the carbon-carbon piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.