Oil Control Ring Joint Structure for Residual Oil Drainage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oil control piston rings with rectilinear joints fail to effectively distribute and drain oil, leading to residual oil on the cylinder, which can cause increased oil consumption, emissions, and uncontrolled combustion in gas engines.

Innovation Solution

An oil scraper piston ring design featuring a running surface with two running surface lands, inner peripheral surface flanks, and radially extending oil passage openings, with a joint formed by non-connected slot areas that deviate from the flank surfaces and extend into oil passage openings, allowing for an oil-tight seal without additional sealing elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a straight gap joint is used in the oil scraper piston ring, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but residual oil remains on the cylinder and enters the combustion chamber

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint structure simplicityVSAvoidresidual oil on cylinder
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The joint area is segmented into multiple slot areas (first slot area and second slot area) that are not directly connected to each other. These slot areas extend from the flank surfaces into the oil passage openings, creating separate oil drainage paths that prevent residual oil accumulation while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The slot areas extend in the radial direction from the flank surfaces into the oil passage openings, adding a radial dimension to the oil drainage path. This radial extension allows oil to be effectively drained from the joint area into the oil passage openings, preventing residual oil from remaining on the cylinder surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If additional sealing elements are added to the impact area, then oil-tight sealing can be achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil-tight sealingVSAvoidsealing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The slot areas themselves perform the sealing function by extending into the oil passage openings. The geometric configuration of the slot areas creates an oil-tight barrier without requiring additional sealing elements, allowing the joint structure to serve its own sealing needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The slot areas serve multiple functions: they provide oil drainage paths from the joint area into the oil passage openings, create an oil-tight sealing barrier in the impact area, and maintain structural simplicity. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sealing elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If the slot areas extend fully into the oil passage openings, then oil drainage is improved, but the running surface area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil drainage efficiencyVSAvoidrunning surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The slot areas extend partially into the oil passage openings rather than fully occupying them. This partial extension is sufficient to create effective oil drainage paths and achieve oil-tight sealing, while preserving adequate running surface area on the piston ring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3642513B1Oil control ring
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 FEDERAL MOGUL BURSCHEID GMBH
  • EP3642513B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The invention relates to an oil control ring, containing a running surface region, formed by at least two running surface webs, an inner circumferential surface and upper and lower flank surfaces extending between the running surface region and the inner circumferential surface, furthermore containing a joint and oil passage openings extending radially from the outside inward between the running surface webs, in operative connection with a spring element as applicable, wherein the joint is formed by at least two slot regions, which are spaced apart from each other and not in direct contact with each other and have a specifiable shape and dimension, in such a way that every slot region formed by a slot extends from the associated flank surface at least up to an oil passage opening provided between at least two running surface webs.