Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Terry A Tomas

Robert S McAlpine

Kenneth L Briscoe

An exhaust valve includes a stem extending to a valve end. The valve end includes a pressure relief apparatus. An engine assembly includes a casing defining a cylinder bore, a combustion chamber and an exhaust passage. The combustion chamber is disposed between the exhaust passage and the cylinder bore. The engine assembly also includes a piston movable in the cylinder bore. The engine assembly further includes an exhaust valve movable between a first position blocking fluid communication through the exhaust passage and a second position allowing fluid communication through the exhaust passage. The exhaust valve includes a pressure relief apparatus configured to allow fluid communication through the exhaust valve from the cylinder bore to the exhaust passage when the exhaust valve is in the first position and a predetermined pressure threshold occurs in the cylinder bore between the exhaust valve and the piston.

Exhaust valve and an engine assembly including the exhaust valve having a pressure relief apparatus

A piston assembly includes an annular body defining a groove, with a ring disposed within the groove. The piston assembly includes a centering device disposed within the groove between an inner face of the ring and a root of the groove. The centering device centers the ring concentrically within the groove when the ring is in an uncompressed condition, prior to installation into a bore of an engine block, to prevent the inner face of the ring from moving radially outward beyond an outer edge of the groove when the ring is in the uncompressed condition.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Terry A Tomas