Method and apparatus for making a two piece unitary piston

• US 6,155,157 A
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Jarrett, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lazo, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US09/167,444
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 92/186, 92/231, 92/260, 123/193.6, 123/193.4, 29/808.04, 29/888.042, 29/888.044
• US Class Current: 92/186
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/10 pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/0621 Squish flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 23/0696 W-piston bowl, i.e. the combustion space having a central projection pointing towards the cylinder head and the surrounding wall being inclined towards the cylinder wall
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 2200/04 Forging of engine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 3/003 the parts being connected by casting, brazing, welding or clamping
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2201/021 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2201/0448 Steel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Past pistons have been susceptible to reduced longevity due to increased forces of combustion thereon during operating cycles of an engine. The present two piece unitary piston increases the longevity of pistons used with increased forces of combustion. For example, a head member has a crown portion defining a ring band portion having a bottom surface and a support portion. And, a skirt member defines a ring band support surface and a top surface. The head member and the skirt member have a preestablished material strength being generally the same. The head member and the skirt member are joined by an inertia welding process. The force of combustion acting on the crown portion is resisted by the ring band support surface being in contacting relationship with the bottom surface. Thus, the skirt member structure supports and resists the bending moment of the combustion forces on the head member.

Claims

1. A two piece unitary piston being adapted for use with an engine, said two piece unitary piston comprising:

a head member being made of a material having a preestablished material strength, having a crown portion to which is connected a ring band portion having a plurality of ring grooves therein, defining a bottom surface being axially positioned below said plurality of ring grooves and having a support portion defining a mating surface having a preestablished surface area;

a skirt member being made of a material having a preestablished material strength being substantially the same as the preestablished material strength of said head member, having a ring band support surface being aligned with the bottom surface and having a top surface being aligned with said mating surface said skirt member being void of a ring groove;

said head member and said skirt member being joined forming said two piece unitary piston, said joining being at the interface of said bottom surface and said mating surface, and said ring band support surface and said top surface respectively; and

said joining being formed by an inertia welding process.

2. The two piece unitary piston of claim 1 wherein each of said head member and said skirt member are made of steel.

3. The two piece unitary piston of claim 2 wherein each of said head member and said skirt member are formed as a forging.

4. The two piece unitary piston of claim 2 wherein said head member is formed as a forging and said skirt member is formed as a casting.

5. The two piece unitary piston of claim 2 wherein said head member is formed as a casting and said skirt member is formed as a forging.

6. The two piece unitary piston of claim 1 wherein said interface of said bottom surface and said ring band support surface being radially spaced from said interface of said mating surface and said top surface.

7. The two piece unitary piston of claim 6 wherein said bottom surface and said ring band support surface being axially spaced from said interface of said mating surface and said top surface.

8. The two piece unitary piston of claim 7 wherein said head member defining a combustion side and said interface of said mating surface and said top surface being closer thereto than said interface of said bottom surface and ring band support surface.

9. The two piece unitary piston of claim 1 further comprising a piston cooling gallery.

10. The two piece unitary piston of claim 9 wherein said piston cooling gallery includes a head ring cooling gallery being positioned within said head member and a skirt member cooling gallery being positioned within said skirt member.

11. The two piece unitary piston of claim 9 wherein said piston cooling gallery includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet.