Combination Oil Ring Spacer Expander Sludge Discharge
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-piece combination oil rings face issues with sludge deposition between the spacer expander and side rails, leading to sticking and reduced performance, as existing solutions either compromise on rigidity or inadequately address sludge discharge.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates side rail support portions on the spacer expander with trapezoidal, semi-elliptical, or rectangular shapes, featuring radial through holes and grooves that facilitate oil flow from the outer to the inner circumferential side, preventing deposits from accumulating and allowing easy discharge of sludge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a hole is formed in the center portion between the convex and concave portions of the expander, then sludge can pass through, but the expander may lack rigidity
Solution Approach 1:
The expander is divided into multiple pieces (upper and lower pieces) with side rail support portions at their outer circumferential-side end portions. This segmentation allows oil and sludge to flow between the pieces and through radial through holes, preventing sludge accumulation while maintaining overall structural rigidity through the distributed piece configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the expander have different properties: the side rail support portions at the outer circumferential-side end portions have radial through holes for sludge discharge, while other portions maintain solid structure for rigidity. This local differentiation allows sludge passage without compromising overall expander strength.
2Reliability
If the side rails and spacer expander are in close contact, then the oil ring can function properly, but sludge deposits cause them to stick together
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful sludge deposits are extracted from the system by providing radial through holes and grooves that allow oil carrying sludge to flow from the outer circumferential side to the inner circumferential side, where sludge is discharged through the flange portion. This prevents sludge accumulation between the side rails and spacer expander.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes oil flow (hydraulic principle) to transport and remove sludge deposits. Oil flows through the spacer expander structure, carrying sludge from the outer circumferential side through radial through holes and grooves to the inner circumferential side, where it is discharged, preventing deposit accumulation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a groove is formed in the surface close to the side rail and a through hole is formed in the flange portion, then oil flow improves and sludge discharge is enhanced, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer expander is segmented into upper and lower pieces, each with integrated side rail support portions and radial through holes. This segmentation allows the incorporation of sludge discharge features without requiring separate complex components, as the discharge functionality is built into the basic structural units.
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 configuration effectively prevents the side rails and spacer expander from sticking due to deposits, enhances the rigidity of the spacer expander, and ensures efficient sludge discharge, maintaining the oil ring's performance.
Implementation Method 1
oil flows in from the opening portion to form a flow of oil from the outer circumferential side to an inner circumferential side, so that the oil containing sludge is easily discharged from the through hole
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
To prevent side rails and a spacer expander of a combination oil ring from sticking to each other. A combination oil ring (10) includes a pair of upper and lower side rails (11 and 12) and a spacer expander (13) arranged therebetween, the spacer expander (13) including a plurality of upper pieces (14) and lower pieces (15) alternately arranged in a circumferential direction with the pieces axially and circumferentially apart from each other, a coupling piece (16) coupling an upper piece (14) and a lower piece (15) adjacent to each other, and flange portions (17 and 18) formed standing at inner circumferential-side end portions of the upper pieces (14) and the lower pieces (15) so as to press the side rails (11 and 12), and a through hole (19) being formed in the flange portions (17 and 18), wherein side rail support portions (14a and 15a) that project axially are formed at portions in the circumferential direction of outer circumferential-side end portions of the upper pieces (14) and the lower pieces (15) of the spacer expander (13).