IMPORTANT FACTORS IN PISTON-RING DESIGN

The purpose of piston rings in an internal-combustion engine is to reduce to a minimum the leakage of gas from and the seepage of oil into the combustion-chamber. Asserting that the widely held idea that the leakage of gas past the piston can be eliminated by the use of good piston-rings is incorrect, the author states three possible paths for such gas-leakage and, after commenting upon them, discusses diagonal and lap joints and the subject of leakage with special reference to them.

After considering the design of rings for gas-tightness, the author shows a fortunate mathematical relationship, in connection with the application of uniform radial pressures, regarding the bending-moment stresses. Oil leakage is treated in a similar manner and the conclusion is reached that the properties of the material used are of extreme importance.