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Evolution of Piston Ring Technology

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Garima Global
Evolution of Piston Ring Technology

Have you ever thought that piston rings are the smallest part of an internal combustion engine but have the most important job? When putting together a machine, you will never really know what the piston ring will do over its lifetime. This makes the performance of this small part even more important than it seems.


Piston rings have three main jobs that engine should runs smoothly and makes enough power


The Ring Must Seal Each Cylinder Effectively


First, the ring must seal each cylinder well and reliably for thousands or even tens of thousands of miles before it needs to be replaced. When the mixture of air and fuel ignites in each cylinder, the ring must seal to the cylinder wall so the explosion can push the piston down the bore. The piston ring is a bent piece of wire that keeps blow-by gases from getting into the crankcase and keeps the combustion explosion inside the engine.


Transfer The Heat from the Piston Induced by the Explosion to the Cylinder’s Walls


Second, the ring helps to move the heat that the explosion puts on the piston to the walls of the cylinder. The rings are the only thing that touches the cylinder bore and the piston. This is the only way heat from the combustion process can get into the cooling system.


Control Engine Oil from Entering the Combustion Chamber


Third, and this may be the most important, the piston ring needs to stop engine oil from getting into the combustion chamber. Each cylinder bore is like an engine rocker arm in many ways. The hone scratches in the bore allow oil to collect, which keeps the rings from sticking as they move up and down in the cylinder.


However, the oil that is splattered on the cylinder walls by the rotating assembly has to be scraped off so that oil does not get into the combustion chamber. The oil that gets into the combustion chamber can hurt the combustion process by lowering the vehicle's octane, which could have bad effects.


Material Selection


Grey iron, a type of cast iron, is often used to make piston rings. The best thing about making piston rings out of cast iron is that they will not rust or scratch the cylinder bore. In addition, as long as the cast iron ring is big enough, it will seal well enough. Ring sealing can become a problem if the operating loads are increased or the size of the application is decreased. 


Steel’s The Deal


Today, steel makes piston rings, especially for high-performance and heavy-duty applications. Steel rings have many benefits: they are easier to make, stronger and harder than ductile iron, and less likely to break, especially in power-adder applications that are hard on parts. What is the problem? The cost of the materials has risen.


Choosing the Right Rings


The right ring set can make the engine more powerful, but it can also make it last longer. Both are just as important on the street as at the racetrack. The best thing to do is do what the piston ring manufacturers in India say to do. For street engines, use street rings, and for racing engines, use performance ring sets.

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