Engine components 3

Piston Rings - What They Do

Piston rings perform two functions:

First, they provide a gas seal between piston and cylinder bore. By creating a gas seal, piston rings
ensure the optimum compression ratio is achieved and that all the power created by combustion is
transferred to the crankshaft.

Second, their piston rings control oil flow. The ring set must allow oil to reach the top ring which
scrapes oil downward to lubricate the other rings. The rings also prevent oil from passing into the
combustion chamber.

Piston Rings - Operating Environment

In a modern diesel engine, pressures can reach 138 bar (2,000 psi) at a continuous temperature of
300 degrees Celsius (572 degrees Fahrenheit).

Piston rings have to control the oil film thickness on the cylinder bore to below 0.002 mm.

Piston Rings

Piston rings are typically made of heat-treated ductile iron.

Pistons normally use a three ring configuration:

The top two rings are compression rings that seal the combustion gases in the combustion
chamber.The bottom ring is the oil ring. It controls the amount and thickness of oil on the cylinder
liner surface. To help the oil ring maintain constant pressure against the cylinder wall, a spring
expander is used. As the oil ring wipes excess oil off the cylinder wall during piston movement, the
oil is returned to the oil pan through slots in the oil ring and drain holes in the piston ring groove.

All piston rings are located above the piston pin bore.

Connecting Rod - What it Does

The connecting rod (1) attaches to the piston at one end and the crankshaft at the other. It changes
the up and down motion of the piston into the rotary motion of the crankshaft.

A press-fit bushing is used in the end of the piston pin bore so the connecting rod can turn freely
around the piston pin.

Parts of a Connecting Rod

There are several parts to a connecting rod:

1. Rod Eye

2. Piston Pin Bushing

3. Shank

4. Cap

5. Rod Bolts and Nuts

6. Connecting Rod Bearings

  
Crankshaft - What it Does
The piston and connecting rod drive the crankshaft (1), changing the reciprocating up-down motion
from the combustion chamber into usable rotational motion. This energy is used to rotate various
system components such as an alternator, air conditioning compressor and coolant pump using
pulleys and belts or gears.

The crankshaft also turns the flywheel, which can drive power take-off (PTO) accessories such as
hydraulic pumps or air compressors. The rotational energy is also transferred to external
applications such as a transmission, generator, or industrial pump.

Parts of a Crankshaft
There are several parts to the crankshaft:

1. Rod Bearing Journals

2. Counterweights

3. Main Bearing Journals

4. Web

Crankshaft Lubrication
The crankshaft is supported inside the engine by main bearing caps that bolt to the block. Drilled
oil passages in the block distribute oil pressure to each main bearing. Cross-holes drilled in the
crankshaft distribute oil from the main bearing journals to the connecting rod journals and
bearings.

A thrust bearing prevents excessive end to end (back and forth) movement of the crankshaft inside
the block.

Flywheel - What it Does

The flywheel assembly consists of:

Flywheel (1)Ring gear (2)Flywheel housing (3)

The flywheel is bolted to the rear of the crankshaft and rotates in the flywheel housing. The
flywheel’s momentum keeps the crankshaft turning smoothly between the power strokes of each
cylinder.

The flywheel performs three functions:

Stores energy for momentum between power strokes.Smoothes out the speed of the
crankshaft.Transmits power to a machine, torque converter or other load.