Dana Corporation

Mahle International Gmbh

Mahle Engine Components Usa, Inc.

Sealed Power Technologies, L.p.

Steven John Sytsma

Thomas J Smith

John C Lahrman

Jason Bieneman

Vernon M Daffron

Nikhil Nachappa

Searle Frei

A composite engine component comprises a body having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface. The body of the engine component is of unitary, integral, one-piece construction and comprises a radially inner section and a radially outer section having different material compositions. The radially inner section and the radially outer section of the body are welded together using a magnetic pulse welding process in which a metallurgical bond is formed along a bonding interface between the inner and outer sections of the body.

Magnetic pulse welding of engine components

Exemplary oil control rings and methods are disclosed. An oil control ring may include an upper lamella having a first outer radial surface and a lower lamella having a second outer radial surface. An expander ring is in communication with the upper lamella and the lower lamella and generates an expander radial outward force on the lamellas. At least one of the first outer radial surface and the second outer radial surface is comprised of a first contact section and a first tapered section. The first tapered section is configured to generate a first radially inward force greater than or equal to the expander radial outward force when moved in a first direction and a second radially inward force less than the expander radial outward force when moved in a second direction.

Oil control ring assembly

A piston has a body with a first circumferentially disposed groove. A first ring is movably disposed within the first groove. The first ring defines an inner circumferential groove. A blocking ring is at least partially located in the groove of the first ring and the groove of the piston. One or more vent passages may connect a first volume in the piston to a second volume outside the piston.

Piston ring

A secondary seal is provided for an internal combustion engine having a piston, cylinder bore, ring seal, secondary seal, and leak path. Forces are applied from the combustion side of the piston through a cylinder gap and a leak path to the secondary seal. The secondary seal, seated on the piston and ring seal, transmits the forces generally axially to the piston and ring seal, thereby controllably limiting the radial force between the ring seal and cylinder bore.

Secondary piston seal

A system and method for reducing microwelding of a piston ring installed in a circumferential groove of a piston, wherein the ring has at least one piston groove engaging surface which is coated with a polyaryletherketone polymer. This composition provides critical lubrication during the piston and piston ring break-in period and prevents localized high pressure, and high temperature areas that promote microwelding.

Piston ring coating

A piston assembly having a piston and a piston ring. The ring mates to the piston in a groove on the outer surface of the piston. The ring includes two side walls that connect between inner and outer peripheral walls. The side walls converge outwardly at different angles from the inner peripheral wall to the outer peripheral wall. The angles are different to produce a twist feature of the ring within the piston groove to generate a better seal by the ring. The groove of the piston is generally tapered and has top and bottom walls converging at angles approximately equal to the angles of the side walls of the ring. A method of manufacturing the piston assembly includes forming first and second side walls having first and second angles by outwardly converging from the inner peripheral wall to the outer peripheral wall.

Piston assembly and method of manufacture

A piston is disclosed having both downwardly and upwardly inclined piston ring grooves, the grooves being angled less than approximately ten degrees with respect to a horizontally extending axis. In a preferred embodiment, the grooves are less than approximately three degrees in inclination and in a most preferred embodiment, the inclination is less than approximately one degree. The grooves for the combustion seal are angled upwardly from an outer diameter of the piston to adjust for thermal drooping of the piston rings received within the grooves. The grooves for the oil-control seal are angled downwardly so that oil is scraped downwardly, but the oil control ring hydroplanes over the oil when the piston moves upwardly.

Oppositely angled piston ring grooves

Pistons having holes extending from an outer face on piston lands to an interior portion of a piston are disclosed. The holes are used for venting blow-by gasses so that an oil control ring may more effectively scrape a cylinder wall. The holes are covered with special check valves to allow the gasses to be vented while not allowing oil to be pumped from the interior portion of the piston to the cylinder walls.

Piston with blow-by pressure relief

An oil ring assembly comprising a pair of split rails and a piston ring spacer/expander on which said rails are mounted. Each rail is provided with a radially inwardly extending protrusion that lies substantially entirely within the thickness of the rail. The protrusion extends into and engages the spacer expander to limit the circumferential movement of the rail relative to the spacer/expander.

Growing community of inventors

Muskegon, MI, United States of America

Steven John Sytsma