초록 ▼

A piston ring design for a Stirling engine wherein the contact pressure between the piston and the cylinder is maintained at a uniform level, independent of engine conditions through a balancing of the pressure exerted upon the ring\s surface and thereby allowing the contact pressure on the ring to

A piston ring design for a Stirling engine wherein the contact pressure between the piston and the cylinder is maintained at a uniform level, independent of engine conditions through a balancing of the pressure exerted upon the ring\s surface and thereby allowing the contact pressure on the ring to be predetermined through the use of a preloaded expander ring.

대표청구항 ▼

A pressure balanced piston ring for limiting the leakage of a high pressure region on one side of the piston ring to a region of low pressure on the opposite side of the piston ring along a cylinder wall, said piston ring apparatus comprising: a piston ring of low elastic modulus material maintained

A pressure balanced piston ring for limiting the leakage of a high pressure region on one side of the piston ring to a region of low pressure on the opposite side of the piston ring along a cylinder wall, said piston ring apparatus comprising: a piston ring of low elastic modulus material maintained in a circumferential groove in said reciprocating piston; two elastomeric seals, positioned on opposite axial sides of said piston ring so as to isolate an inner surface from the high and low pressure regions; means for balancing the pressure on said inner surface of the piston ring with the average pressure in a leak path between the piston ring and the cylinder wall, thereby rendering friction and wear of the piston ring independent of the high and low pressures; and means for exerting a predetermined force on said piston ring to maintain contact with the cylinder wall and control the friction between the piston ring and the cylinder wall and leakage between the high and low pressure regions.