Piston assembly with piston ring support and sealing member
AssigneeEvans Engineering Company, Inc.
InventorJohn W. Evans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A piston ring assembly includes a piston, and at least one piston ring positioned within a piston groove. Stabilization and support of the piston is provided by a support arrangement, including at least one support member positioned radially between a back wall of the ring groove and the piston ring. The support arrangement desirably acts to accommodate transverse loads exerted upon the piston during normal operation, and can optionally be configured for enhanced sealing of gasses. Improved engine output and efficiency are achieved.
Claims9
A piston assembly for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a piston for reciprocable movement within an associated cylinder bore of the engine, said piston defining one or more ring grooves extending about a periphery of said piston;
- a piston ring positioned within each of said grooves and extending about the periphery of said piston for sliding engagement with an internal wall of said cylinder bore;
- and
- a piston ring compressible support means comprising a plurality of elastomeric support elements positioned radially between said piston ring and a back wall of at least one of said ring grooves for supporting said piston ring with respect to said back wall, thereby minimizing transverse movement of said piston with respect to said piston ring and said cylinder bore, the support elements spaced about the periphery of said ring groove and said piston,
- the compressible support means effective for exerting a uniform pressure around the piston and piston ring for maintaining the piston concentrically within the cylinder bore during operation;
- the compressible support means effective for providing a substantially complete seal to minimize leakage of gases or oil upwardly and downwardly around said piston rings and past the wall face of said piston ring and through said piston ring groove.
A method of supporting a piston assembly for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder bore, comprising the steps of:
- providing a piston for reciprocable movement within said cylinder bore, wherein said piston defines one or more ring grooves extending about the periphery thereof;
- providing a piston ring positioned within each of said grooves and extending about the periphery of said piston for sliding engagement with an internal wall of said cylinder bore;
- and
- supporting said piston ring with a compressible support member comprising a plurality of elastomeric support elements positioned radially between said piston ring and back wall of at least one of said grooves for supporting said piston ring with respect to said back wall to thereby minimize transverse movement of said piston with respect to said piston ring and cylinder bore, the support elements spaced about the periphery of said ring groove and said piston,
- the compressible support member effective for providing support uniformly around the piston and piston ring for maintaining the piston concentrically within the cylinder bore during operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.