JP2914786B2 - Spacer expander - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a spacer expander for use in a combined oil ring for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to a joint portion when a radial corrugated spacer expander is fitted in a ring groove. The invention relates to a spacer expander in which nests are mounted in valleys adjacent to the abutment of the spacer expander to prevent overlap.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a radial wave type spacer expander is fitted into a ring groove, there has been a problem that an abutment portion of the spacer expander is overlapped and incorporated. That is, when fitting the spacer expander into the ring groove of the piston, the abutment of the spacer expander is widened and put into the ring groove of the piston, and the abutment of the spacer expander is fitted and fitted in the ring groove. However, the abutting portions sometimes overlapped each other at the time of this butting.

[0003] In addition, when the side rails are combined with the spacer expander after the spacer expander is fitted into the ring groove, the abutment portions of the spacer expander sometimes overlap.

In the state where the abutment portions overlap as described above, the spacer expander cannot apply tension to the side rail, the side rail cannot perform a sufficient oil scraping function, and the combustion of oil and the consumption of oil increase. Such a problem will occur.

In order to prevent the above-mentioned problems from occurring, a through-hole 101 is provided in the vicinity of the joint G of the spacer expander 100 as shown in FIG. , 1
, And a spacer expander 100 in which one metal guide rod 102 is inserted into the through hole 101 is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-47131. In this spacer expander, a metal guide rod 102 is swaged and fixed to the spacer expander at one side 103 of the joint portion.

[0006]

In the spacer expander disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model, the overlap of the abutment portion at the time of fitting into the ring groove and at the time of combining the side rails can be effectively prevented. There was a problem.

[0007] It is necessary to insert a guide rod into a plurality of through-holes provided in the vicinity of the opening of the spacer expander. However, it is difficult to automate this step, and it is difficult to improve work efficiency and reduce manufacturing cost. there were. In addition, since the guide rod is caulked and fixed to the spacer expander, it is difficult to automate the caulking process, and further, unnecessary force is applied to the spacer expander in this caulking process, and the spacer expander itself is deformed. And the improvement of work efficiency was hindered.

[0008] In addition, since the metal guide rod is inserted into the through hole along the spacer expander, a step of processing the curvature to be substantially the same as that of the spacer expander is required, resulting in an increase in product cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to effectively prevent the abutment portions from overlapping at the time of fitting the spacer expander into the ring groove and at the time of assembling the side rails. It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacer expander that can reduce costs by simplification and automation.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a radial wave type spacer expander having alternating peaks and valleys and having at least one joint, and A hole is formed in each of both valley walls forming a valley adjacent to the valley, and a nest for preventing an overlap at the abutment portion fixed in the valley by inserting both ends into the hole. Are inserted and fixed in the valleys.

[0011]

According to the spacer expander of the present invention having the above-described structure, the nest for preventing overlap is inserted and fixed in each valley adjacent to the abutment, so that the valleys are overlapped with each other. The spacer expander is not fitted into the ring groove, and the valleys do not overlap when the side rail is assembled.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a spacer expander according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG.
2 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the joint G of the spacer expander 1. FIG. A plurality of peaks 2, 2, 2,... And valleys 3, 3, 3,... Are alternately formed in the spacer expander 1 of this embodiment, similarly to the conventional radial wave type spacer expander. . Both wall portions 3 constituting the valley portions 3, 3 adjacent to the respective joint portions G, G
A substantially circular hole 3c is formed in each of the holes a and 3b. Further, nests 4 and 4 are inserted into the valleys 3 and 3 adjacent to the abutment G.

The nests 4 are cylindrical nest bodies 4.
a and a nesting wire 4b penetrating the center thereof. As will be described later, a nesting wire 4b protruding from both sides of the nesting body 4a is inserted through holes 3c formed in the walls 3a, 3b forming the valleys 3, 3 using elastic deformation. The nests 4 and 4 are the most
Are fixed in the valleys 3, 3 adjacent to. For this reason, the hole 3c has a diameter larger than the diameter of the wire 4b for nesting.

The nest body 4a has a thickness sufficient to prevent the valleys 3, 3 adjacent to the abutment G of the spacer expander 1 from overlapping each other. Also, the nesting body 4a
Is slightly shorter than the length of the bottom of the valley 3 of the spacer expander 1 (the length along the circumferential direction of the spacer expander). Therefore, when the nest 4 is inserted into the valley 3 of the spacer expander 1, the valley 3 is almost completely filled by the nest. Furthermore, when the nest 4 is inserted into the valley 3, the wire 4 for nesting fixation forms a wall 3 a that forms the valley 3.
It has a length sufficient to fit into the hole 3c provided in 3b.

As the material of the nest body 4a, a thermoplastic resin such as ABS resin, polypropylene, nylon, polystyrene, or fluororesin, or a thermosetting resin such as epoxy or polyester is used. Further, a foamed material of the above substance may be used for weight reduction, and a composite material such as a reinforcing fiber may be used for improving strength. Finally, it is appropriately selected from the above various materials and mixtures thereof in consideration of heat resistance, oil resistance, price, ease of molding, and the like.

As will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C, the nest 4 is inserted and fixed in the valley 3 of the spacer expander 1 by utilizing the elastic deformation of the nest fixing wire 4b. Therefore, the wire 4b is elastically deformed when the insert 4 is pressed against the valley 3, and has sufficient flexibility to fit into the holes 3c provided in the walls 3a and 3b of the valley 3. After the fitting into the hole 3c, the nest 4 has sufficient rigidity to keep the nest 4 in the valley 3 even when a force is applied to the nest 4 in the radial direction of the spacer expander. . As the wire 4b for nesting, a material having appropriate elasticity, such as a piano wire, is used in addition to a steel wire.

A cylindrical nesting body is formed outside the nesting fixing wire 4b made of the above material by injection molding or the like, and the nesting 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed. It is.

As specific examples of such nesting, the length of the valley is 4 mm, the height of the ridge is 1,75 mm, the inclination angle of the wall is 70 °,
Hole 8mm in diameter, spacer expander with diameter
A piano wire of 0.50mm is used as a wire for nesting, ABS
In some cases, the nest body is formed of a mixture of glass fiber reinforced polypropylene and 50% expanded polyethylene containing 30% of resin, ethylene tetrafluoride resin and epoxy resin. The size of each part of the nest 4 is appropriately changed according to the spacer expander used.

In the nest 4, the main body 4a and the nest fixing wire 4b are made of different materials, but they may be integrally formed of a material such as resin or metal. At this time, the nesting fixing wire 4b needs to have the same flexibility and rigidity as those of the nesting using the above-mentioned wires.

Next, a method of inserting and fixing the nest 4 in the valley 3 adjacent to the abutment G of the spacer expander 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C. First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the nest 4 to be inserted and fixed is positioned on the valley 3 adjacent to the abutment G of the spacer expander 1 into which the nest 4 is inserted and fixed. At this time, the nesting wire 4b is oriented in the circumferential direction of the spacer expander 1. In this state, as shown by the arrow, a force is applied to the nest 4 from the outside of the spacer expander 1 inward in the radial direction, and the nest 4 is pressed against the valley 3 of the spacer expander 1. Then, the wire 4b for nesting fixation forms both valleys 3
a, 3b.

When the force is further applied in the direction of the arrow, the wire 4b for nesting is elastically deformed and bent outward in the radial direction of the spacer expander 1, as shown in FIG. 3B. Further, a force is applied in the direction of the arrow, and when both ends of the nesting wire 4b reach the holes 3C, 3C, the wire 4b is elastically restored by the wire 4b.
b, 4b are inserted through the holes 3c, 3c, and the insert 4 is fitted and fixed to both walls 3a, 3b of the valley 3 (FIG. 3C).
As described above, the nesting wire 4b is
Has sufficient length and rigidity to fix the inside of the valley 3 of the spacer expander 1, so that the nesting wire 4b is engaged with the hole 3c even after the force in the direction of the arrow is removed. The nest 4 is fixed in the valleys 3 adjacent to the abutment G of the spacer expander 1.
The pressing force represented by the arrow in the figure is generated by a light blow with a press machine or the like.

According to a modification of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A to 6B, a hemispherical portion 4 having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the wire 4b for fixing the nest 4 is provided at both ends.
c may be formed. In this case, when the nest 4 is inserted and fixed in the valley portion 3, the hemispherical portion 4c passes through the hole 3c having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter. Therefore, the hemispherical portion 4c is formed of a material having sufficient flexibility to pass through the inside of the hole 3c. The nest 4 having this hemispherical portion is often of a type integrally molded with resin.
In the nest 4 of this type, the wire portion 4b hardly comes out of the hole 3c after being inserted and fixed in the valley of the nest by the action of the hemispherical portion 4c. Therefore, the nest 4 is securely fixed in the valley 3.

In the first embodiment, the nesting wire 4b is formed to extend at right angles to the end face of the nesting body. However, both ends of the nesting wire 4b are formed to be inclined in the same direction. May be. In this case, nest 4
As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the nest 4 is connected to the valley 3 of the spacer expander 1 in a state where the direction in which the end of the nest fixing wire 4b is inclined is directed to the bottom of the valley 3 of the spacer expander 1. Insert and secure. By inclining the end of the wire 4b in this manner, the wire 4b easily enters the hole 3c, and the workability is improved.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in a state in which the direction in which the end of the nesting wire 4b is inclined is outward in the radial direction of the spacer expander 1,
The nest 4 may be inserted and fixed in the valley 3 of the spacer expander 1. Also in this case, the hole 3c
The wire 4b is easily inserted into the wire, and workability is improved.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the joint G of the spacer expander 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The spacer expander 10 of the present embodiment has a nest 40
However, this is almost the same as the spacer expander 1 of the first embodiment except that the nest 4 is different from that of the first embodiment.

As in the spacer expander 1 of the first embodiment, the spacer expander 10 is formed with a plurality of peaks 20, 20,... And valleys 30, 30,. Holes 30c for inserting and fixing the inserts 40 are formed in the walls 30a and 30b forming the valleys 30 adjacent to the abutment G.

As shown in FIG. 7, the insert 40 of this embodiment is formed of a coil spring-like member 40a and an end portion 40b. The outer diameter of the coil-shaped portion of the coil spring-shaped member 40a is large enough to prevent the valley portions 30 of the abutment portion G from overlapping each other, similarly to the diameter of the nesting body 4a of the nest 4 of the first embodiment. Is defined as having Further, the length of the coil spring-shaped member 40a is substantially the same as the circumferential length of the bottom of the valley 33 of the spacer expander 10 when the coil-shaped portion is inserted and fixed in the valley 33. Both ends 40b, 40b of the shaped part 40a
Are fitted to the holes 33c, 33c of the walls 33a, 33b. Since the insert 40 needs to be lightweight and have some rigidity, a thin wire of hard steel or the like is used.

Next, a method of inserting and fixing the nest 40 of the second embodiment in the valley 33 of the spacer expander 10 will be described. Also in the case of the present embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the nest 40 is positioned on the valley portion 33, and a force is applied from the outside in the radial direction of the spacer expander 10 to be inserted and fixed in the valley portion 33. . At this time, in the first embodiment, the elastic deformation of the nesting wire 4b is used, but in the present embodiment, the coil spring-like member 40 is used to expand and contract in the longitudinal direction due to its elasticity. .

That is, when the nest 40 is pressed toward the bottom of the valley 30, the coil spring-like member 40 constituting the nest 40 is pressed.
wall portions 33a, 33 where the end portion 40b of
b. Further, when the nest 40 is pressed, the coil spring-like member 40a contracts in the longitudinal direction due to its elasticity, and when the end portion 40b is pushed down to a position where it fits into the hole 33c formed in the walls 33a, 33b, The coil spring-like member 40a is expanded by the repulsive force of the spring, and the end portion 40b is fitted into the hole 33c. as a result,
The nest 30 is a valley 33 of the spacer expander 10.
It will be inserted and fixed inside.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but allows various modifications in accordance with the technical scope described in the claims.

[0031]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, since the nest for preventing overlap is inserted and fixed in the valley adjacent to the abutment portion of the spacer expander, the spacer expander is fitted into the ring groove. At the time of mounting and when incorporating the side rail into the spacer expander,
The valleys adjacent to the joint do not overlap.

Further, since the nest inserted and fixed in the valley adjacent to the abutment has a simple structure and can be easily manufactured by injection molding or the like, the manufacture of the nest is easy to automate.

Also, when inserting and fixing the nest in the valley adjacent to the abutment, the nest can be positioned at a predetermined position on the valley and can be easily inserted and fixed by a press or the like. As a result, the work process can be automated, and the work efficiency can be improved and the product cost can be reduced. In addition, since it is not necessary to caulk and fix the guide bar to the spacer expander, there is no problem that the spacer expander is deformed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an abutment portion of a spacer expander according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a valley adjacent to the abutment in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is an explanatory view illustrating a step of inserting and fixing a nest into the spacer expander according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is an explanatory view illustrating a step of inserting and fixing a nest into the spacer expander according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3C is an explanatory view illustrating a step of inserting and fixing a nest into the spacer expander according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is an explanatory view showing a state in which a nest having a deformed nest used in the first embodiment of the present invention is inserted and fixed.

FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a state where the nest of FIG. 4A is inserted and fixed in a valley of a spacer expander.

FIG. 5A is an explanatory view showing a state in which a nest having a deformed nest used in the first embodiment of the present invention is inserted and fixed.

FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a state where the nest of FIG. 5A is inserted and fixed in a valley of a spacer expander.

FIG. 6A is an explanatory view showing a state in which a nest having a deformed nest used in the first embodiment of the present invention is inserted and fixed.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view showing a state where the nest of FIG. 6A is inserted and fixed in the valley of the spacer expander.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of an abutment portion of a spacer expander according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an abutment portion of a conventional spacer expander.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Spacer expander 3 Valley part 3c Hole 4 Nesting 4a Nesting body 4b Wire 10 Spacer expander 30 Valley part 40 Nesting

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F16J 9/00-9/28 F02F 5/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A radially expandable spacer expander having alternating peaks and valleys and at least one abutment, each of the valley walls forming a valley adjacent the abutment. A hole is formed in the valley, and a nest for preventing overlap at the abutment portion fixed in the valley by inserting both ends into the hole is inserted and fixed in the valley. Spacer expander to do. 2. A nest body for preventing the nest from overlapping at the abutment, and a nest fixing member having elasticity for fixing the nest within the valley of the spacer expander by being inserted into the hole. The spacer expander according to claim 1, comprising: 3. The spacer expander according to claim 1, wherein said nest comprises a coil spring-shaped member.