Piston Ring Drag Measurement Fixture Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring the drag of a piston ring in a cylinder are inconvenient and time-consuming, typically requiring a piston to be attached to a spring scale and pulled out of the cylinder bore.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable fixture with rotatable arms is used to support one or more piston rings, allowing for measurement of the ring's resistance by a force measurement device while the fixture is pulled out of the cylinder bore, enabling precise adjustment to fit within the cylinder bore and support the rings without touching the bore.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a piston is attached to a spring scale and pulled out of the cylinder bore to measure ring drag, then the measurement can be obtained, but the procedure becomes inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the piston ring from the piston and measures it separately using a dedicated fixture. The ring is placed on a support surface within the cylinder bore, and the fixture is pulled out while the ring remains in place, separating the measurement function from the piston assembly and enabling faster, more convenient measurement without handling the entire piston.
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated measurement fixture serves as an intermediary device between the force measurement instrument and the piston ring. This fixture includes a support surface for the ring and a connection point for the force measurement device, enabling direct ring measurement without requiring piston attachment and simplifying the measurement procedure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable fixture with rotatable arms is used to support piston rings, then various ring sizes and configurations can be accommodated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fixture employs rotatable arms that can be adjusted to different positions and locked in place. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the fixture to adapt to various ring sizes and configurations. The arms can be rotated outward to increase the diameter of the support surface or inward for smaller rings, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-size fixtures.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture is divided into separate functional components: a central body, multiple adjustable arms, and a force measurement connection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates easy adjustment of the arm positions to match different ring dimensions, reducing overall complexity while maintaining adaptability.
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 method provides a faster and more convenient way to measure piston ring resistance, accommodating various ring sizes and configurations, and allows for accurate force measurement without the need for complex setup or large-scale modifications.
Implementation Method 1
A spring scale, strain gauge with digital readout or other suitable device is used to measure the resistance or drag caused by the piston ring
Implementation Method 2
The resistance of the ring is related to the weight measurement on the scale. This can be an inconvenient or ungainly procedure
Data Source
AI summary
A fixture for measuring the resistance of a piston ring in a cylinder, comprising an elongate member having a first end and a second end and a central axis extending therebetween, and an expandable platform attached to the second end of the stem, the platform having a top surface facing towards the first end, the top surface being perpendicular to the central axis, the top surface including first, second and third points movable radially outward from the central axis, and methods of use thereof.