How is Piston useful in engines?

The piston is an important engine component which is cylindrical in shape. The piston moves forward and backwards in the cylinder bore by energy produced in the combustion process while the engine is active. The piston acts as a flexible end of the combustion chamber. The cylinder head is the stationary head of the combustion chamber. Pistons are mostly made of a cast aluminium alloy. This alloy is preferred for their excellent and lightweight thermal conductivity.

The features of the piston are the piston head, piston pin, piston pin bore, ring grooves, skirt, ring lands, and piston rings. The piston head is the topmost part of the piston and is located very close to the cylinder head. Pistons are often subjected to very high forces and heat even when the engine operation is normal.

What is a Piston Ring?

Piston rings are frequently used on small engines. The parts of the piston ring include the compression ring, oil ring and most importantly wiper ring. A compression ring placed in the ring groove is the most important part of the piston ring and is located closest to the piston head. The piston ring seals the combustion chamber and prevents any leakage when the engine is in action. As the engine roles, the air-fuel is applied, pressure from combustion gases brings life to the piston head, and it also pushes the piston toward the crankshaft.

What is a Piston Pin?

A piston pin is a hollow structure that connects the piston with the small end of the connecting rod. The skirt of a piston is the part of the piston which is situated very near to the crankshaft. The Piston Pin that helps keep the piston in position, as it moves in the cylinder bore. Some skirts have features which are able to reduce piston mass by cutting into them and to provide enough space for the rotating crankshaft counterweights.

The different applications of a piston pin in the engine:

• It reduces inertia which is created by combustion and increases the efficiency of the machine.
• It helps in providing the direction to the engine.
• It increases the pressure and the temper of the fluid in the cylinder.
• It also helps in the compression of fluid inside the engine.

The different applications of the piston rings in an engine:

• Piston rings to close the combustion chamber, therefore helping the heat to be transferred on to the cylinder wall and finally reducing oil consumption.
• Piston Ring with the help of applying inherent pressure, seals the combustion chamber, thereby preventing any leak.
• Piston Ring must provide a considerable and suitable radial fit which should be placed among the cylinder wall and the running surface of the piston ring. This helps in making the seal more efficient.
• The piston ring must also maintain a very tight safeguard on the piston ring lands.

How should an Ideal Piston Ring and Pin be?

Both the piston ring and pin should be very lightweight. It should be very efficient and very silent in operation. For all of the automobile, the piston pin or piston ring are different which are used as per their functionality.