Things to Know About types of Piston Rings and functions

A piston ring is generally a split ring that is used with a piston to completely seal the combustion chamber of an engine. Its a metallic ring which is fitted into the fissure of the piston on the outer diameter of a piston. These rings were invented in 1854 by John Ramsbottom. These are used in internal combustion engines, steam engines and generally in reciprocating engines.

Piston rings are manufactured and classified on the basis of function and applicability. The primary usage is to seal the chamber (where the piston is moving), which can be a combustion chamber of a 2 stroke or a 4 stroke engine. One of the most extrusive materials used in making piston rings is cast iron. This is because it contains graphite in its foliated form which itself acts as a lubricant assisting the smooth motion between the rings and the liner. Alloys and coatings are done on the piston rings, according to their function and type. The most common form of alloying cast iron is chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, titanium, nickel, and copper.

TYPES OF PISTON RINGS:

These are the following types:

Compression rings: To avoid gas leakage compression rings are useful. These are located in the first fissure of the piston. The main objective of these rings is to trap the combustion gases and transfer heat from the piston to the piston walls.

Wiper ring: The wiper rings also known as backup compression rings help in supporting the ring by stopping any gas leakage escaping from the compression ring. As the name suggests its function also acts as same by backing up the oil from the walls to the house.

Scrapper rings/oil control rings: The scraper rings scarp the oil from the cylinder walls and send back to the reciprocating engine.

They spread out the oil evenly around the liner and control the amount of oil passing through the walls.

What are the functions?

1. 1 - The main function of the piston ring is to seal the combustion chamber for minimal loss of gas wastage.

2. 2 - Bettering the transfer of heat through the piston ring and cylindrical wall.

3. 3 - Maintaining the adequate quantity of the oil between the piston and the cylinder wall.

4. 4 - Regulating engine oil consumption by scraping oil from the cylinder walls and send it back to the reciprocating engine.

IMPORTANCE:

Piston rings play an important role in an engine functioning and increase the efficiency of the piston. The main objective of these rings is to seal the combustion chamber and stop any leakage of fuel. Thus it increases the efficiency of the engine and increases the fuel efficiency of the machine. So to achieve an optimum power output we can say they play a vital role.

Piston rings have been an area of tremendous focus in the era of the invention and development of technology. Over a period of time different materials have been used to develop piston rings to check the efficacy of their working under different temperatures. Its invention has caused a major breakthrough in the working of various machines in the main industries, which are building blocks of any nation.

Piston rings mainly help in increasing power and efficiency of the engine and to reduce the maintenance interval.