Piston compression rings of copper-nickel-tin alloys

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10837554-B2
Application number	US-201715843527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2017
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

A piston ring is made from a copper-containing alloy. This material permits the top compression ring of a piston to be moved closer to the piston crown, reducing crevice volume and reducing the tendency for pre-ignition. Ignition timing advance can be realized by installing the rings and letting the ECU advance the timing as the sensors allow, increasing efficiency. Also, shorter pistons and longer connecting rods are possible. The shorter pistons reduces the reciprocated mass in the engine and the longer connecting rods reduce the frictional loss caused by radial forces pushing the piston against the liner. Both reducing volume and tendency for pre-ignition increase engine efficiency.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A piston ring formed from a copper-containing alloy comprising:
about 8.0 wt % to about 22 wt % nickel;
about 4.0 wt % to about 10 wt % tin; and
at least 50 wt % copper.

2. The piston ring of claim 1 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 14.5 wt % to about 15.5 wt % nickel;
about 7.5 wt % to about 8.5 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

3. The piston ring of claim 1 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 15 wt % nickel;
about 8 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

4. The piston ring of claim 1 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 8.0 wt % to about 12 wt % nickel;
about 4.0 wt % to about 8.0 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

5. The piston ring of claim 1 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 8.0 wt % to about 10 wt % nickel;
about 5.5 wt % to about 6.5 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

6. The piston ring of claim 1 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 9 wt % nickel;
about 6 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

7. The piston ring of claim 1 , wherein the piston ring is uncoated.

8. The piston ring of claim 1 , having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section.

9. The piston ring of claim 1 , having a butt cut, an angle cut, an overlapped cut, or a hook cut.

10. The piston ring of claim 1 , wherein the piston ring weighs up to about 0.25 pounds.

11. The piston ring of claim 1 , wherein the piston ring weighs from about 0.25 pounds to about 1.0 pound.

12. A piston assembly, comprising:
a piston body comprising a top ring groove; and
a piston ring in the top ring groove, the piston ring being formed from a copper-containing alloy comprising:
about 8.0 wt % to about 22 wt % nickel;
about 4.0 wt % to about 10 wt % tin; and
at least 50 wt % copper.

13. The piston assembly of claim 12 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 14.5 wt % to about 15.5 wt % nickel;
about 7.5 wt % to about 8.5 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

14. A method of improving engine efficiency, comprising using a piston assembly in an engine, the piston assembly comprising:
a piston body comprising a top ring groove; and
a piston ring in the top ring groove, the piston ring being formed from a copper-containing alloy comprising:
about 8.0 wt % to about 22 wt % nickel;
about 4.0 wt % to about 10 wt % tin; and
at least 50 wt % copper.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 14.5 wt % to about 15.5 wt % nickel;
about 7.5 wt % to about 8.5 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

16. A method of making a piston ring, comprising:
forming the piston ring from a copper-containing alloy that consists essentially of:
about 8.0 wt % to about 22 wt % nickel;
about 4.0 wt % to about 10 wt % tin; and
balance copper; and unavoidable impurities.

17. The piston assembly of claim 12 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 15 wt % nickel;
about 8 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

18. The piston assembly of claim 12 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 8.0 wt % to about 12 wt % nickel;
about 4.0 wt % to about 8.0 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

19. The piston assembly of claim 12 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 8.0 wt % to about 10 wt % nickel;
about 5.5 wt % to about 6.5 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

20. The piston assembly of claim 12 , wherein the copper-containing alloy comprises:
about 9 wt % nickel;
about 6 wt % tin; and
balance copper.

Assignees

• Materion Corp

Inventors

• Krus David J
• Mack Steffen
• Whitaker Andrew J

Classifications

• F16J9/26 Primary

  characterised by the use of particular materials · CPC title

• F16J9/20

  Rings with special cross-section (L-section rings F16J9/02); Oil-scraping rings {(F16J9/06 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F05C2201/0475

  Copper or alloys thereof · CPC title

• F02F5/00

  Piston rings, e.g. associated with piston crown · CPC title

• F01C19/00

  Sealing arrangements in rotary-piston machines or engines (sealings in general F16J) · CPC title