Oil Scraper Ring Spring Recess Geometry for Faster Oil Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil control ring springs in internal combustion engines experience low oil flow between the spring and metal rings, leading to residue accumulation and wear, which affects engine performance and emissions.
Innovation Solution
The design features a plurality of upper and lower regions with connecting portions, nose portions, and a depression in the support section that increases in depth and width towards a through-opening, enhancing oil flow and drainage, and includes a semi-funnel-shaped recess to improve oil conveyance and reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the oil control ring spring uses a conventional design with upper and lower regions and connecting portions, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the oil flow between the spring and metal rings is low causing residue accumulation and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating depressions with specific geometric features (increasing depth and width towards the through-opening) at specific locations on the support sections of the oil control ring spring. This local modification optimizes oil flow in the critical contact areas between the spring and metal rings, while maintaining the overall simple structure of the spring. The depressed regions with varying depth and width create enhanced oil channels precisely where oil flow is needed most, without complicating the entire spring design.
2Reliability
If the depression depth and width increase towards the through-opening, then oil flow and drainage are enhanced preventing residue accumulation, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by systematically varying the depth and width parameters of the depressions along their length towards the through-opening. This creates an optimized gradient structure that enhances oil flow naturally. The gradual variation in depth and width parameters allows for controlled oil channel formation that improves drainage efficiency while remaining manufacturable through standard forming processes.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the oil flow is increased to prevent residue accumulation, then wear is reduced, but the structural complexity of the spring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by modifying only specific portions of the spring structure - namely the support sections with depressions - rather than redesigning the entire spring. This localized modification is sufficient to enhance oil flow and prevent residue accumulation in the critical contact zones, thereby extending spring service life without requiring excessive structural changes to the whole component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design increases oil flow between the oil control ring spring and metal rings, preventing residue accumulation, reducing wear, and improving engine efficiency and emissions by effectively removing combustion residues and preventing oil carbon formation.
Implementation Method 1
the depth of which, in relation to the support surface of the support section, increases in the radial direction towards the through-opening and/or the width of which increases in the radial direction towards the through-opening
Implementation Method 2
a nose portion disposed at the inner peripheral end and configured to radially outwardly push the respective one of the upper and lower metal rings
Implementation Method 3
an abutment portion radially extending between the nose portion and the outer peripheral end and configured to abut one of the upper and lower metal rings
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to an oil scraper ring spring (1) for an oil scraper ring (3), which has the oil scraper ring spring (1), an upper and a lower metal ring (21, 22) and which is provided for being installed in an oil ring groove of a piston. Said oil scraper ring spring comprises multiple upper regions (5) and multiple lower regions (7) which are arranged in alternation in a circumferential direction so as to have a spacing in an axial direction, and connecting regions (9) which each connect the adjacent upper and lower regions (5, 7) to one another. Each of the upper and the lower regions (5, 7) has the following: a lug section (13), which is arranged at the inner circumferential end and which is designed to push the respectively abutting upper or lower metal ring (21, 22) radially outward and which has a passage opening (15); a bearing section (17), which extends radially between the lug section (13) and the outer circumferential end and which is designed such that the respective upper metal ring (21) bears thereon or the respective lower metal ring (22) bears thereon; wherein, in the bearing section (17), there is formed a depression (19), the depth of which in relation to the bearing surface of the bearing section (17) increases in a radial direction toward the passage opening (15) and the width of which increases in the radial direction toward the passage opening (15); wherein the depression (19) in the bearing section (17) has substantially the shape of a half-funnel; wherein the half-funnel has an opening angle of 30° to 150°, in particular of 30° to 60°, or wherein the upper side edges of the depression (19) span an angle segment of 5-50°, in particular of 5-15°; and wherein the increase of the depth and width of the depression (19) radially inward serves, together with the passage opening (15), for increasing and accelerating the oil flow toward the piston center.